Allr1ght

12/3/2019 5:04 PM

Today is the International Day of Persons With Disability, and today we celebrate not only how far we’ve come, but how far we hope to go.

This international celebration began in 1992, and has been celebrated on December 3rd in the years since. Until 2007, it was called International Day of Disabled Persons, but was changed that year and has remained “Persons WITH Disability” since then. Even this small change in wording can have a huge impact.

This change turns an identifying adjective into an individual person who happens to have an extra challenge. These small steps move us forward to a greater future where inclusion does not have to be forced, where differences are celebrated, and where labels don’t define us.

Speaking as someone who was born with their disability and has known nothing else, I can honestly say that I am proud to be exactly as I am. Being an amputee has given me opportunities I could never have dreamed of, and has helped me grow as a person, discover my identity, and strengthen my faith.

Tomorrow, I fly to Dallas for the U.S. Paralympics Swimming nationals this weekend. I am so excited to reunite with friends I haven’t seen in far too long, race for Team USA, and make unforgettable memories. Representing the stars and stripes is always an indescribable honor.

12/2/2019 8:02 PM

To highlight another story of great courage and triumph, take a look at Hari Budha Magar, a double amputee from Nepal who lost his legs to an IED explosion. Rescued by American soldiers, his road to recovery was not only physical, but greatly mental as well.

It was Magar’s dream to climb Mount Everest, far from the small village he grew up in. He started small, “One step at a time,” he says, taking on multiple sports over the years and challenging himself every day. 

In January of 2018, however, he faced a roadblock - the Nepalese government banned amputees and the blind from getting climbing permits. The ban was eventually overturned, but the small window in which it is safe to climb had already passed, and Magar and his team had to extend their plan again.

Patiently, they have been planning and preparing, and hope to conquer the climb in 2020, and will become the first double above-knee amputee to make the climb. 

Cedric King lost his legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan, but his recovery and his story has given so many others inspiration. Along his road to recovery, King even ran the Boston Marathon only 21 months after his injury, and now has brought his total marathon runs on prosthetic legs to an impressive 9.

Even close to Charlotte, with the Carolina Panthers team, King has served as a motivational speaker for the team, having connected with the head coach after his injury.

King stays close to the team, coming to their games, cheering, and banging the “Keep Pounding” drum. As he spent more time with the team, and became almost part of it, both sides learned from each other. In fact, it was his time with the team that helped him build the courage to run the Boston Marathon in the first place.

Cedric King uses his story to inspire others to search for a light in even the darkest of places. One of his most profound quotes can be found in the article: “I know something good is going to happen to me every single day.”

Life is a gift, and King understands this, intending to use his for the good of others. Through this tragedy, he has found new meaning for his life, and that is to show others the light where most may not find it.

And as King says, if he can help even one person find their way, “we win.”

11/29/2019 7:57 PM

Identity is such an ambiguous word. How we identify ourselves and others is a tricky concept to understand. Your identity can stem from your family, religion, politics, physical characteristics, language, origin... and so many other factors. The groups that you identify with can say a lot about you as a person, good and bad. But how about the way you express yourself? How about the way you dress? The way you talk, act, think? All of these things play a role in your identity exploration and discovery.

Personally, I have seen a strong example of this just the other day. In a recent post, I explained why I am running low on usable crutches. A few days ago, I picked up two new pairs from the mailroom. I remembered my mom telling me she wasn’t sure they would have the color I usually use in stock, and that one of the only options showing up online was the default gray color. But, I needed crutches to walk with, so I figured we would just have to order them.

As I carried the box back across campus to my room, I remember having a very strange feeling come over me. A little backstory I’ve previously mentioned: I’ve been ordering the same “Pastel Blue” crutches for over 10 years now. The thought of them not making that color anymore crossed my mind, and I actually panicked for a moment.

It’s just a pair of crutches, right? It’s just a piece of metal to help me get from one place to another... isn’t it? But the truth is, that specific color and brand of crutch had almost become an extension of myself. The gray just wouldn’t feel the same, wouldn’t be as “me”. And so I worried, and I stressed, for no reason because they DID have the Pastel Blue in stock, thankfully.

My crutches became a way of expressing myself, similar to the way I dress, and act, and the groups I associate with. They were an accessory. A colorful accessory to distract from their fundamental purpose and being seen as “medical equipment”... or whatever.

It had never occurred to me until that day just how important a simple crutch color was to me, and to my identity. Gray just wouldn’t do. The Pastel Blue felt like my color, my look, my choice of self-expression.

11/21/2019 10:23 AM

Everyone I have met through Paralympic sport has a unique story to tell. Theo Curin from France has had quite a tough journey to be where he is today, but he has never let that hold him back from chasing his dreams.

I first met Theo in Rio at the Paralympic Games in 2016. He was the youngest Para swimmer from France to make the team. Theo talks in the interview about how when he was younger, he was always afraid of the water. Today, though, he thrives.

Theo lost sections of all four of his limbs to meningococcal meningitis at the young age of 6. He attributes much of his recovery and later great success to his mentor and friend Philippe Croizon, another French Para swimmer with the same level of amputation.

Having someone in the same situation to look up to motivated Theo to accept that his life had changed, but he was more determined than ever to live it to the fullest.

Theo continues to swim, and has his sights set on Tokyo in 2020. Outside of Para swimming, however, he also acts in a French comedy show, appears on talk shows and other interviews, and is featured in many articles, photoshoots, videos, etc. that showcase people living with disabilities and place them in a new light.

11/20/2019 11:15 PM

This past weekend, I was out with some friends at the Billy Graham Library (which was super interesting and y’all should check it out sometime!)

It was all fun and games, of course, until I broke my crutch. I have since ordered new ones, and will be hopefully picking them up at the mailroom tomorrow, fingers crossed. However, for a few days now, I have been walking on quite a mismatched pair.

I have one fully-functioning crutch, and 3 busted ones. One is completely irreparable and honestly just sad to look at, one is barely holding on after my dad had to literally bolt the pieces together, and one is actually awkwardly bent. How did this happen, you might ask?

...I know, mom... crutches are not toys... sorry

That one bent after I let my friend the German Giant mess around walking on them... so really I can only blame myself for that one.

The other two, though, were completely inexplicable.

I posted about the dilemma on my Instagram story and received some interesting reactions. Some from complete strangers, in fact. One of them even offered to send me money through PayPal to pay for a new pair!

Never underestimate the power of community and compassion. 

11/17/2019 4:50PM

Similar to the newly-renamed Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, where a diverse group of high-level athletes have access to some of the best training facilities in the world, a new center has just opened in Japan!

In Kita Ward, Tokyo, the National Training Center East just opened as a space for Olympic and Paralympic athletes alike to train and chase their dreams!

This integration of both sides of the same world shows how the barriers and stigmas around people with disabilities are being broken down and redefined. Recognizing Paralympic athletes as being of the same caliber as their Olympic counterparts is a huge step towards inclusion around the world.

Whether a person has a visible disability or not, everyone faces their own set of challenges, and athletes are no exception. This shared training space will allow people of all ability levels to learn things like adaptability, physical and mental toughness, and acceptance from each other.

Many of the rooms and utilities in the new training center are specifically designed with the athletes’ uniqueness in mind and have been made easily accessible for all.

11/16/2019 11:16PM

Dubai 2019 Worlds are officially over, and China leads the medals table with 25 gold, 23 silver, and 11 bronze. Team USA takes fourth in the overall medal count with 12 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze.

At the World Championships in Dubai, 43 world records were broken, surpassing the previous record for most broken by 9 from the last World Championships in London 2017. 

In addition to seasoned veteran athletes and upcoming youngsters, the Dubai 2019 Worlds showcased an athlete by the name of Shahrad Nasajpour who was the only representative of the Refugee Para Team. He finished 7th in the men’s discuss throw for his classification.

The next big stop for Para athletes around the world is Tokyo 2020 at the end of next summer! First, though, we have to make it through Trials and be selected for the team.

11/10/2019 4:36PM

This week, the largest World ParaAthletics Championships ever kicked off in Dubai. Today, Sunday, marks day 4, and already these 1,400 athletes are making history.

After the events of day 4, China leads the medals table with 9 Gold, 10 Silver, and 5 Bronze, followed by Brazil, Ukraine, Great Britain, and Australia. Come on, U.S., where you at??

On day 3, 7 WORLD RECORDS were broken. There were some VERY close races from people who defended their titles, and underdogs who overtook first by a hair. Made for some very exciting events to watch! And the interviews/reactions afterwards are always priceless, heartwarming moments to capture.

For Team USA, Lex Gillete, a blind track and field athlete, earned his 4TH World Champion title in a row yesterday.

11/7/2019 1:56PM

Yesterday, I had the chance to be part of a panel of students selected to talk at a Coffee@Knight gathering about the events of the upcoming year. Along with three other swimmers, a track and field athlete, and a triathlon athlete, the panel talked about the group of Queens students heading to Tokyo next year to cover the Olympic Games and related news, as well as the athletes hopeful to earn a slot on the Games team to represent their countries.

The students will be covering the event from many different perspectives, including the impact that the Games will have on surrounding communities, businesses, families, and cultures.

As athletes, we were asked to define greatness from our own perspective, for our team, and for our country, and to describe the ideal Tokyo performance. The panel consisted of myself, another American swimmer, as well as a swimmer from Germany and one from Mozambique. We each had unique points of view from which we shared our stories, especially the internationals whose cultures in their home countries are so different from their experiences here.

11/3/2019 6:04PM

Now that we’ve officially passed Halloween, it’s time for Thanksgiving! (That’s right, folks, we’re not skipping over it!) Even though I’ve heard my first Christmas song of the year already... we’re not there yet.

All year round, really, we should be thankful, but especially now, in the time of year where classes get crazy, work gets busy, sickness spreads, and family time is so close... it’s important to remember all that we have and all that we are thankful for. 

I am thankful for so many things, but here is a short list to start off this holiday season:

- My family - for the unconditional love and support, for the laughs and the hugs and the long talks, my parents for raising me with strong values and for my siblings being my best friends.

- God - my faith is one of the most important things in my life. It’s what gets me through each day and each challenge, and it’s the reason there’s always a sliver of light in any dark place.

- Swimming - without swimming, I wouldn’t have the support system I do now, I wouldn’t have had the chance to travel the world and meet new people, learn new cultures. Swimming gives me a place to channel my energy, my competitiveness, and a place to prove that I am capable of more than I look like.

- The way I was born - God created me this way for a reason, and I am grateful for that. There are some days that are a struggle, yes, but every day is a gift, and I intend to live my life believing that. Being born without a leg has opened doors for me that I could never have imagined otherwise. And being born this way has allowed me to reach so many other people who have been born with differences like this, and to spread the message that no matter what it is that makes you unique, be proud of it and be proud of who you are.

- Friends - I am so grateful for my teammates, my friends, my second family who have accepted and supported me through the ups and downs of life. They push me and challenge me every day, and we embrace each other’s differences, learning to celebrate them and use them to unite us as a team.

This holiday season, I want to encourage all of you to think about all the things that make you unique, and be grateful for them. Think about the events in your life that have shaped you into who you are, and the people who have been there every step of the way.

And he does it again! Josh Sundquist, as I’ve discussed on this blog before, really outdoes himself every year, showcasing a new, unique, and custom-made costume each Halloween. But he doesn’t dress up in just ANY costume. These costumes always have a theme of highlighting the one leg he has, and incorporating it into the look.

This year, he dressed up as the classic Pixar lamp, even posting a video to his Instagram (that you should totally check out because the dude’s hilarious) of him doing the famous hop out and jump onto the letter “I”.

Unfortunately, I did not have the time or energy to participate in much of the Halloween hype this year as I’ve been very sick all week, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating the creativity of others!

A friend of mine who is a double leg amputee posted a photo of her costume to her Instagram this week. She and her friend dressed as Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan - and for anyone who has seen the movie, I’m sure you know who dressed as who.

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time for an abundance of reasons, one of them being how the main characters connect over the fact that they both have to overcome living with a challenge, whether physical or mental. For Forrest, this comes naturally as it is all he has known, having been born that way. For Lieutenant Dan, after his accident, it takes time, and a friend to show him the way.

Long story short, I love any story where a person is able to be totally free and comfortable with themselves. I think it shows a lot of confidence, and encourages others to embrace their differences as well.

I hope you all had a very happy Halloween, and though you may have worn a mask for a day, remember to always show your true face to the world!

10/27/2019 7:44PM

Today was an interesting day. Isn’t every day?

Today, I went shoe shopping. Referring back to one of my first posts on this blog about commonly asked questions, yes, I have to buy both shoes. Now, that isn’t even the most difficult part. In order to buy shoes, I first have to FIND shoes. As a woman who wears a size 11 or 12 shoe, let’s just say they’re in short supply.

If I wanted a nice pair of sneakers and had to buy from the men’s section, no big deal. But dressy shoes? Flats? God forbid I want to wear heels! Forget about it. Even if I did find a pair, I always end up looking like a baby giraffe learning to walk for the first time. One of these days, I swear I’m going to snap the one ankle I’ve got just by messing around in a shoe store.

It’s almost impossible to find the sizes I need, but sometimes I get lucky. Today, for example, I was able to find a few pairs of nice flats and boots. You know, because it’s almost WINTER even though it was 70 degrees out today...???

It’s a long story, but I’ve got a recent obsession with red high heels. No particular reason, no occasion, nothing to wear them to or with, but I just think they’ve got an awesome vibe. Anyway, I’ve never been able to find a pair in my size, so let me know if y’all happen to stumble across any...

Also, I’ve brought only the right shoe of my pairs today back to my dorm room, and the rest have gone home with my mom. I’ve decided to start practicing with my prosthetic again when I go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas breaks, and will actually need to find all of my left shoes again (hoping they haven’t gotten thrown out! Oof)

I’m excited to get back into walking on two legs again, as I talked about some situations in which I’d love to have that option in a previous post. Especially now that my crutches are hanging on by a thread, and a new pair will not arrive until the middle of November haha

10/26/2019 10:54PM

It’s that time, ladies and gentlemen. It’s the highlight of spooky season. Halloween is next week, but some of our friends are celebrating early. My favorite part of this week’s festivities so far was filing through the racks of $1 (that’s right! $1!) costume pieces outside of caf, courtesy of the theater department - thank you very much!

From colonial costumes to jazzy jumpsuits to glorious gowns... the theater kids really outdid themselves this year. On top of having every piece of clothing you could need for a last-minute outfit, they also had some super fun props including hatchets and dismembered limbs.

I must say, I was extremely tempted to buy a fake leg stump. I mean, for a dollar, imagine the prank possibilities... Alas, I didn’t buy it. I was running to English class where we were analyzing a ghost story oOoOoOOooOOOoH

Less gory than a bloody stump, but one year I dressed up as a scarecrow, wearing a pair of jeans that I cut the left leg off of and taped some straw sticking out of the left pant leg. That’s about as creative as I’ve gotten with my costumes as they relate to my amputation. Though, one of my friends who is missing both legs once dressed as a zombie and proceeded to run around on her hands, chasing terrified bystanders down streets.

This year, I didn’t have much time to prepare a spooktacular costume like Josh Sundquist does every year - see previous post if you don’t know what I’m talking about. But next year (and I’m taking suggestions!) I’ll have to make up for it.

Back to my point: if you are celebrating *cough cough* partying this weekend, have fun but be safe!

So far I’ve seen a Harley Quinn and Joker, a Naruto, and a pair comprised of a poop emoji and a toilet seat. Queens students are getting quite creative this year. At this point, nothing about the students here shocks me anymore.

Between the Gravediggers concert, Haunted House on campus (from which I have MANY stories from last year), and Haunted Trails throughout North Carolina, there are so many things to do this Halloween! Unfortunately, it appears the rain will ruin our fun this weekend, but stay in the spirit (aha... spirit...) and maybe next weekend will be clear enough to get your SPOOK on again!

10/20/2019 9:42PM

As a swimmer, getting disqualified in an event is often frustrating or embarrassing. However, in 2 of my 3 lifetime disqualifications, all I could do was laugh in response.

The first time I was ever DQed, I was able to have it overturned for reasons I will explain in a moment. The next two held, unfortunately.

The first time I was disqualified, it was in a breaststroke event - you can probably see where this is going. No, it was not for a false start, or a one-handed touch. It was for a “non-simultaneous kick”! In breaststroke (for any non-swimmers reading this) and butterfly as well, both of your legs must kick at the same time, and you can be DQed for non-simultaneous movement. With this in mind, let’s think about it for a second... picture the flush of embarrassment when the official saw me get out of the water and crutch over to him with my coach to protest.

I really wonder sometimes what was going through that official’s head when he looked at me swimming and decided to make the call. I still know that official to this day, and he is actually the father of a former teammate. To this day, we are able to laugh about it. This call, we were able to get overturned, but the next two were made at a PARALYMPIC MEET and we were not able to get them corrected.

At a small Para meet in Georgia, they were in the process of training new officials - a recipe for disaster for both rookie and experienced swimmers. They were laser-focused and searching for any opportunity to prove they’ve actually read the handbook cover to cover. 

Once again, in an event containing breaststroke, I was disqualified for a non-simultaneous kick - at an event with dozens of amputees walking, rolling, or crutching across the pool deck. When we protested, they tried to change the ruling to a different infraction, but eventually the disqualification that was officially posted was the non-simultaneous kick, a small and confusing stain on my career.

Next, totally unrelated to any topic of disability, I was DQed in my 100IM race (that is not offered at most meets) where I had rebroken my own American Record - thus the following frustration. This time, I was DQed for a one-handed touch in my butterfly turn, despite the video footage showing that was completely incorrect.

Speaking of qualifying to even be disqualified, I have also been asked if I am swimming for the “paraplegic Olympics” which I understand is an attempt at saying “Paralympics” but I wouldn’t even qualify for anything paraplegic, which always gives me a good laugh.

10/17/2019 11:02PM

As the last few posts have been related to prostheses, more or less, this story continues that theme. In honor of me pretty much breaking my crutches (again), I began reflecting on some other times throughout my life that I was very glad and lucky to have broken mechanical parts, and not real bones.

In fact, I have never broken a bone before - and going to try to keep it that way!

I’ve broken or bent my crutches more times than I’d care to admit (sorry, mom), from bending the cuffs to snapping the handles to the pole stabbing a hole through the rubber tips... One time a few years ago, I was playing soccer with my older brother. You think you can guess the ending? Try again.

We were running after the ball, fighting for it, and he ran straight through - yes, through - my crutch. He will forever say that I “tried to trip him”, as siblings do, but that’s not how it really happened, though the debate will withstand the test of time. He ran through it. 

Did it break his leg? No. A fracture? No. Even a bruise? Nope. This dude’s bones were so strong that rather than the crutch damaging his leg, his leg BENT the crutch past the point of functionality. 

It was at this time that I tried (though I had failed every time in the past) to convince my mom to let me get my next pair of crutches in the color lime green. It was middle school. Neon was a thing. But my mom was smarter than that, and saved me a lot of future embarrassment as that phase ended soon after, so thanks for having my back, Mom!

Another one of my favorite disastrous stories actually happened at school. I was in the fifth grade, playing on the playground, and I landed on my prosthetic leg the wrong way. As a result, my left (prosthetic, to clarify) foot twisted around backwards and snapped at the ankle - to the point where I could actually spin it 360 degrees. I wasn’t too concerned with it, of course. It was difficult to walk on, but who needs a second one anyway, right? I continued through my day, getting even more stares than usual, but the most shocking part of my day came at the very end during carpool.

As my dad arrived, driving through the line to pick me up from school, a teacher approached me as I was climbing into the car, foot dangling. This teacher, bless her heart, didn’t know that my leg was fake. She PANICKED. She went straight up to my dad and said, “You need to take your daughter to a hospital right now!!! Look at her ankle!!!”

And my dad, casual as usual, looked out the window to see my left foot, laughed a little, and said, “It’ll be fine. I’ll stop by Home Depot and fix it in my garage later.”

I swear her soul left her body. She was speechless. I hopped in the car and we drove home. It wasn’t until a few days later that my parents actually explained the situation to the poor woman.

10/13/2019 11:40PM

Roderick Sewell is a good friend of mine that I met years ago through the Para swimming community. This article touches on his heartbreaking and heartwarming story and journey from homelessness to the incredible man he is today. 

This article talks about his training - the struggles and triumphs - as he prepared for this race.

Yesterday, he became the first double amputee in HISTORY to complete and Iron Man race.

I couldn’t be more proud of him.

This is what it’s all about: changing perceptions, making history, proving to the world that nothing is impossible.

Roderick talks a bit in his interview about how people often offer help or assistance, or jump to conclusions about what he can and cannot do. But, in his own way and with a smile on his face, he rises to meet every challenge.

This proves that everything seems impossible until someone steps up and DOES it. And sometimes that is all it takes - for someone to stand up and say “I CAN DO THIS.”