Jack Wallace – Athlete, Student, Inspiration

Date: July 2, 2017

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, paralympics

UPDATE MARCH 2018 – Jack fulfilled his dreams of being on Team USA Paralympic Sled Hockey team and went on to help the team win a Gold Medal at the 2018 Paralympics in PyeongChang South Korea

In July 2008 10 year old Jack Wallace was involved in a boating accident while on vacation with his family on Lake George, NY. His injuries resulted in his right leg being amputated above the knee.

The following summer, Jack went to Camp No Limits with his family for the first time. He was inspired by the other children to work hard and realized that his limb loss was not a limitation. Camp No Limits helped Jack to stop focusing on his limitations and instead focus on all the possibilities that were available to him.

Jack Wallace with Brooke Artesi – Team Sunshine at Lincoln Park Triathlon 2013

“By spending time with all of the other campers who had overcome their disabilities, I stopped noticing their disabilities and mine as well,”

Kelsey Koch – Inspirational Yogi

Date: May 2, 2017

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, yoga

kelsey-koch-main

Born without a tibia in her left leg, doctors decided to amputate below the knee when Kelsey Koch was 9 months old to improve her mobility later in life. Always an active child, the amputation eventually caused a curvature in her spine. When she was 22, her trainer suggested practicing yoga to alleviate her scoliosis and back pain.

“Yoga makes you work both sides of your body. I’m so dominant on my right side, so I first started yoga to hopefully strengthen out my left side.” (Self magazine story)

Jessica Long – Paralympic Medalist Swimmer

Date: July 20, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Jessica Long

Paralympic swimming takes a lot of endurance, experience and strength so when a 12 year old girl brought home 3 gold medals from the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece, the world took notice of her. Jessica Long, now 24, has been capturing gold and breaking world records ever since.

Born in Russia, Jessica was born with fibular hemimelia; she didn’t have fibulas, ankles, heels and most of the other bones in her feet. She was given to an orphanage by her birth parents and at 13 months old, Beth and Steve Long from Maryland, adopted her. At 18 months old, her legs were amputated below the knees so she could be fitted for prosthetic legs and learn how to walk. She was up walking 2 weeks post surgery.

Jason Lester – unstoppable athlete with a mission

Date: September 22, 2013

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Jason Lester running at night

At the age of 12, Jason Lester was hit by a car while riding his bike, resulting in 21 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and a paralyzed right arm. His dreams of being a top athlete seemed to be broken as well. As another strike against him, as he was lying in his hospital bed, his father, who was his sole guardian, died of a heart attack at the young age of 39.

Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team – inspiring heroes

Date: September 8, 2013

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team

The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST), represents some of our nation’s bravest and most determined heroes, soldiers and veterans. These extremely athletic men have sustained severe injuries resulting in amputation while serving in the military/war, and through extensive rehabilitation, they have become competitive athletes again.