Mobile by Wheels and Waves
By: Stephanie Milot Name: Sarah Nguyen For some, limited mobility may bring life to a screeching halt, but for Sarah Nguyen, 18, a senior at Westminster High School in California, this is not the case. She volunteers in her town, goes swimming, camping, skiing, and recently began surfing thanks to They Will Surf Again (TWSA), an annual event in Huntington Beach, CA, for people living with spinal cord injuries. TWSA is a free program held by Life Rolls On (LRO), a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. LRO is committed to encouraging people living with spinal cord injuries to embrace life with a sense of community and involvement in sports, such as adaptive surfing and skiing with the help of volunteers, that the program provides. Her diagnosis Initially, returning to school in a wheelchair was a culture-shock for both Nguyen and her classmates. "I definitely saw a difference in how people treated me and how people stared at me," says Nguyen of her childhood school days. "Growing up with Transverse Myelitis, it was difficult for me to understand what was happening." Although a majority of her day is spent in a wheelchair, Nguyen is able to walk for about 15 minutes at a time with crutches. Her ability to walk, though for a short while, is an improvement from her diagnosis in 2004. In 2010, Nguyen participated in a 5K walk on the beach. After a year of training, she managed to walk the first two miles, and used her wheelchair for the remaining distance. Forever active One of Nguyen's high school accomplishments includes recognition for academic greatness in a program called A.V.I.D. (Advancement Via Individual Determination), that allows students to take college-prep courses. In the 2010-2011 academic year she served as the program's acting president. In addition to Nguyen's dedication to academics, she is a devoted volunteer in her community. She has volunteered for activities including a summer reading program, tutoring for middle school students in the A.V.I.D. program, serving as a teacher's aide for the John Land Elementary Head Start Program, and mentoring children and teenagers living with disabilities. Nguyen's community involvement has been a great experience for her future educational plans. In the upcoming academic year, she will be attending California State University Fullerton with a major in history and a minor in English, while also obtaining a certification in special education. From swimmer to surfer "I think it's just me going to college and knowing that I want to do something new, because every year I tend to do something new," explains Nguyen about her motivation for participating in TWSA. "I tried skiing the year before, I walked a marathon last year, and I thought this year surfing would be a good goal." Why not try surfing There is genuine happiness and gratitude in Nguyen's voice as she tells of her day with TWSA. "It was just a great experience being on the beach in the sand, in the water again, because I haven't had that chance in seven years," says Nguyen. "Having that feeling of freedom, being able to do what you want when you want, and having everyone there just to keep me safe and comfortable. It was amazing." Her life rolls on "I should be more confident," says Nguyen as she reflects on her Transverse Myeltitis after attending They Will Surf Again. "I'm just really happy that I got to go surfing. I'm definitely coming out again to do more events." Learn more |
