Art Martens
livingsignificantly.ca
When the phone rang in my home last week and a congenial voice said, 91裸聊视频淗ello, this is Michelle Stilwell,91裸聊视频� I instantly sensed her exceptional vitality.
An elite athlete, she has won an impressive array of medals, including six gold and one silver in the Sydney, Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.
At age 17, while being piggy-backed by a friend down a flight of stairs, she fell and suffered a life altering injury. In spite of requiring the use of a wheelchair, she exudes a sparkling zest for life.
I wanted to understand how she had been able to move ahead and become a highly regarded athlete, and more recently, an effective member of the B.C. Legislature.
Michelle expressed gratitude for a good early beginning. 91裸聊视频淢y parents owned a hotel in Winnipeg,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淥bserving them, I learned the value of a dollar. I was expected to work for the money they gave me. At first it was chores at home. Then I bussed in the hotel restaurant and cleaned rooms. Eventually I became the front desk clerk. I liked people and I liked responsibility. I was class president in school and a youth leader in church. Through sport I learned about teamwork, leadership and dedication. Prior to my injury I wanted to become a flight attendant and travel the world.91裸聊视频�
Her aspirations and dreams crashed when, three weeks before graduation, she landed in a helpless heap on the floor. For most victims of such physical and psychological trauma, it might have seemed there was little left to live for.
91裸聊视频淚n the rehab hospital there were certainly occasional days when I didn91裸聊视频檛 want to do anything,91裸聊视频� she acknowledged. 91裸聊视频淔ortunately, they had a program that enabled me to graduate. I was introduced to wheelchair basketball and I began to see a path ahead. I committed to that path.91裸聊视频�
She began playing on a mixed basketball team, the only female. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 have hand function so my role was to get the big man into the key so he could score.91裸聊视频� There were new challenges when she started travelling with the team. Bathroom doors weren91裸聊视频檛 wide enough for a wheelchair, or the bed was too high to get into. For over three years she spent a lot of time in the hospital.
Michelle didn91裸聊视频檛 deny reality. Instead, she decided to view her situation through a positive prism. 91裸聊视频淚 knew I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 get a reset button to start over. I needed to do the best with what I had. Walking isn91裸聊视频檛 everything.91裸聊视频�
She reflected a moment, then said, 91裸聊视频淚 could make choices that would create my future. We are all responsible for our choices and decisions we make.91裸聊视频�
Michelle committed to training for Paralympic competition, first in wheelchair basketball, then in wheelchair racing. 91裸聊视频淭raining was full on hard core. I ate the right food, spent hours in the garage where I had stationery rollers for my chair and surrounded myself with people to help me succeed. To get to Olympic competition you need God given talent, but it also takes sweat, tears and pain, pushing yourself past exhaustion. It became my world. For me it was everything. Each day I tried to go faster. Tried to get better. I loved the challenge. Those were some of my best days.91裸聊视频�
She met Mark while playing wheelchair basketball. Although able bodied, he was allowed to compete in the integrated sport. 91裸聊视频淔or me it was love at first sight,91裸聊视频� she said, and I sensed a smile in her voice. 91裸聊视频淚t took four months before he asked me to marry him. We have a sixteen year old son, Kai.91裸聊视频�
Since winning a gold medal in Paralympic basketball and five gold plus a silver in wheelchair racing, Michelle has taken on a new challenge. 91裸聊视频淚 never, never, thought of getting into politics,91裸聊视频� she said, seemingly surprised at this new venture. As Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation in the Christy Clark government, she brought in the Single Parent Employment Initiative which provides help to single parents to get off social assistance. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 especially important because these parents become positive role models for their children,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淲ould I undo the injury if I could go back in time?91裸聊视频� Michelle asked at the end of our conversation. 91裸聊视频淣o. I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have had the opportunities to accomplish what I91裸聊视频檝e been able to do, and I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be where I am today.91裸聊视频�
