"I Am. . .So Much More Than You See!"

Basketballs dribbling, wheelchairs banging, baskets shot and fans cheering. This is the scene I took in yesterday as I watched with fascination the amazing sport of wheelchair basketball.  Wheelchair basketball is an incredible and intense sport that takes true athletic ability. One of the reasons why I enjoyed watching so much was that I felt such a community in the bleachers and on the court. From the fans cheering to opponents helping each other when they fell, I felt like I was witnessing something truly amazing. At one point, I did cheer for the wrong team due to my visual impairment and the fan sitting next to me clapping but I only felt embarrassed for a few seconds because I knew that I was in a community that would accept me for me.  There was a little boy sitting next to his dad in the bleachers. The little boy had a physical disability and was watching the game intensely. This was such a great father-son outing because it shows the little boy that one day ...

I believe that being your best self is important to your physical and mental well-being. I am so lucky to have parents and my physical therapist who have pushed me to keep improving despite the steps being small and even microscopic at times. In recent years, my walking, including my endurance and gait, and balance has increasingly gotten worse. Admittedly, this has been something that has made my daily life more difficult because I am constantly worried about falling.  I have used a walker for the last year but it is not helping me as much anymore and is causing more headache and pain than anything else.  I have also tried AFO braces in the past and a walking stick but both of those got in my way more than they helped me.  But I am not giving up because I know I can walk better than I am at the moment and I hope there is something out there to aide my walking, so I can be the best version of myself.  I recently went to an orthotist who gave me ...