Welcome

I was born in October 1989, three months premature. I have Cerebral Palsy and I am in a wheelchair. My birthday should have been January 1990. Being so premature my heart valve was open and my lungs were closed. The wonderful doctors at Children’s Hospital in Vancouver saved my life, but for a while all was not great. I was on a ventilator, which was breathing for me and my heart kept stopping. At just a couple of weeks old I had a grade 4 brain hemorrhage. This is what caused me to have Cerebral Palsy. One of my ventricles was filling up with cerebral fluid and pushing my tiny brain into the back of my head. I went into surgery to have a reservoir put in place to try to drain off the extra fluid but when that wasn’t enough I went back into surgery and had a shunt put in. My parents were asked to take me off life supports and let me die as I stood a 98% chance of being severely mentally and physically disabled. They chose that 2% chance and I, within a couple of months, pulled out my own breathing tube to show everyone I could breath on my own. I guess that was the first step in becoming the fighter I am today. I spent the next three months in the hospital and finally got to go home to my parents and sister on my real birthday in January 1990. During my first years there was lots of therapy, both physical and occupational and I am thankful to all of the people that helped me. I began walking with a walker at the age of 3 or 4 but found it very hard and tiring. When I was 5 and about to enter school my mom and I made the decision to try a wheelchair and I haven’t slowed down since. Life has not been without its ups and downs. I have had surgery numerous times to correct my shunt as it breaks down every now and then, as well as other surgeries. Every time I have been going into surgery my mom has whispered to me *“It is just a walk in the park”*. That has been our motto for everything life has thrown our way, even though the terrain gets rough sometimes.

At a very young age, I couldn’t even sit up, my mom, with the help of my sister, put me on a horse and this started my life long passion for horses and riding. I used to watch my sister ride and wish that some day I could be like her. At the age of 5 I started Disabled Riding in 100 Mile House where we lived. When we moved back down to the Lower Mainland I rode at PRDA in Langley. I loved to ride but wanted more. In 2003 I met Lauren Barwick, a Para-Equestrian, and realized that if I worked hard I could ride for Canada just like her. She became my mentor and friend.

I have been riding now for 6 years seriously and 4 years ago set my sights on becoming an Elite Para-Equestrian. I train 3-4 days a week now using two different horses and I compete at as many Gold level shows as I can. My sights are now set on being able to be part of the Canadian Para-Equestrian Team headed for Kentucky in 2010 for the Alltech FEI World Championships and then 2012 for the Para Olympics in England.

I finished high school on the honor roll and received the “Most Inspirational Student” award. I have competed in track and field as part of the Canadian Track and Field Team in Connecticut 2005 where I won three gold medals and set two world records.

Riding is my passion and my life. Being able to compete for Canada is my dream.