[Music] my mom always used to tell me when
my mom always used to tell me when
my mom always used to tell me when there’s a room there’s always a way
there’s a room there’s always a way
there’s a room there’s always a way there’s nothing you can’t do
there’s nothing you can’t do
there’s nothing you can’t do I didn’t really understand what she
I didn’t really understand what she
I didn’t really understand what she meant at the age of five years old but
meant at the age of five years old but
meant at the age of five years old but as I grew up I started to understand the
as I grew up I started to understand the
as I grew up I started to understand the effect of being positive and having a
effect of being positive and having a
effect of being positive and having a strong royal power no matter what
strong royal power no matter what
strong royal power no matter what obstacles you faced during the course of
obstacles you faced during the course of
obstacles you faced during the course of your life I am sure you’ve heard this
your life I am sure you’ve heard this
your life I am sure you’ve heard this frequently but I have lived and survived
frequently but I have lived and survived
frequently but I have lived and survived because of these words I have stroke at
because of these words I have stroke at
because of these words I have stroke at the age of five most of you in the
the age of five most of you in the
the age of five most of you in the audience know I had an injury when I was
audience know I had an injury when I was
audience know I had an injury when I was younger well this is the story behind
younger well this is the story behind
younger well this is the story behind that injury I can’t really answer the
that injury I can’t really answer the
that injury I can’t really answer the question of how it happened because I
question of how it happened because I
question of how it happened because I truly don’t remember I don’t remember
truly don’t remember I don’t remember
truly don’t remember I don’t remember the feeling I don’t remember what I was
the feeling I don’t remember what I was
the feeling I don’t remember what I was doing the one thing I can tell you is
doing the one thing I can tell you is
doing the one thing I can tell you is what my family told me happened it was
what my family told me happened it was
what my family told me happened it was December of 2005 and we were sitting in
December of 2005 and we were sitting in
December of 2005 and we were sitting in my grandparents house and I was in my
my grandparents house and I was in my
my grandparents house and I was in my grandma’s lap and all of a sudden I
grandma’s lap and all of a sudden I
grandma’s lap and all of a sudden I became unresponsive
became unresponsive
became unresponsive they tried talking to me but still no
they tried talking to me but still no
they tried talking to me but still no response they realized something was
response they realized something was
response they realized something was wrong with me when I wouldn’t respond to
wrong with me when I wouldn’t respond to
wrong with me when I wouldn’t respond to a bar chocolate they took me to the
a bar chocolate they took me to the
a bar chocolate they took me to the emergency immediately let me go through
emergency immediately let me go through
emergency immediately let me go through several MRIs to figure out what was
several MRIs to figure out what was
several MRIs to figure out what was wrong and mean–you I had hemiplegia on
wrong and mean–you I had hemiplegia on
wrong and mean–you I had hemiplegia on the left hemisphere meaning that my
the left hemisphere meaning that my
the left hemisphere meaning that my right side was spastic and partially
right side was spastic and partially
right side was spastic and partially paralyzed because my right leg was so
paralyzed because my right leg was so
paralyzed because my right leg was so weak and the bones were so weak I
weak and the bones were so weak I
weak and the bones were so weak I developed a new way of walking which is
developed a new way of walking which is
developed a new way of walking which is quite common among children with
quite common among children with
quite common among children with hemiplegia accounts started to develop
hemiplegia accounts started to develop
hemiplegia accounts started to develop on the side of my foot by the time I was
on the side of my foot by the time I was
on the side of my foot by the time I was seven it became noticeable to the public
seven it became noticeable to the public
seven it became noticeable to the public since that point I needed to constantly
since that point I needed to constantly
since that point I needed to constantly be in a leg brace up until my first
be in a leg brace up until my first
be in a leg brace up until my first surgery on June 23rd 2010 their first
surgery on June 23rd 2010 their first
surgery on June 23rd 2010 their first leg breaks I woke him up to my knee and
leg breaks I woke him up to my knee and
leg breaks I woke him up to my knee and had rotating hinges at the ankle and
had rotating hinges at the ankle and
had rotating hinges at the ankle and when my anchor was able to form the
when my anchor was able to form the
when my anchor was able to form the right movement I then shifted to a brace
right movement I then shifted to a brace
right movement I then shifted to a brace from my ankle to the tip of my toes and
from my ankle to the tip of my toes and
from my ankle to the tip of my toes and this was all going to prevent me from
this was all going to prevent me from
this was all going to prevent me from walking on the edge of my foot my first
walking on the edge of my foot my first
walking on the edge of my foot my first surgery was a tendon transfer and tendon
surgery was a tendon transfer and tendon
surgery was a tendon transfer and tendon elongation I didn’t really know what
elongation I didn’t really know what
elongation I didn’t really know what that meant but that wasn’t the important
that meant but that wasn’t the important
that meant but that wasn’t the important part the looks I got for sitting in a
part the looks I got for sitting in a
part the looks I got for sitting in a wheelchair for six weeks were important
wheelchair for six weeks were important
wheelchair for six weeks were important they range from ingots of pity to looks
they range from ingots of pity to looks
they range from ingots of pity to looks of sympathy and anywhere in between it’s
of sympathy and anywhere in between it’s
of sympathy and anywhere in between it’s when you’re in those situations that you
when you’re in those situations that you
when you’re in those situations that you really begin to notice the facial
really begin to notice the facial
really begin to notice the facial expressions and what they all mean
expressions and what they all mean
expressions and what they all mean it made me feel useless and hopeless
it made me feel useless and hopeless
it made me feel useless and hopeless I’ll care about the cast removed and
I’ll care about the cast removed and
I’ll care about the cast removed and rehabilitation begun you’re not to paint
rehabilitation begun you’re not to paint
rehabilitation begun you’re not to paint I have to go through was realize you to
I have to go through was realize you to
I have to go through was realize you to be insurmountable during recovery I had
be insurmountable during recovery I had
be insurmountable during recovery I had to wear leg length brace just to keep my
to wear leg length brace just to keep my
to wear leg length brace just to keep my knee from bending and allow my foot time
knee from bending and allow my foot time
knee from bending and allow my foot time to recover
to recover
to recover then leg brace unfortunately was
then leg brace unfortunately was
then leg brace unfortunately was uncomfortable it made me sweat quite a
uncomfortable it made me sweat quite a
uncomfortable it made me sweat quite a bit and I hated it from the minute I
bit and I hated it from the minute I
bit and I hated it from the minute I wore it but there was no way out of it
wore it but there was no way out of it
wore it but there was no way out of it so I stuck with it not only was I
so I stuck with it not only was I
so I stuck with it not only was I supposed to have physical strength to
supposed to have physical strength to
supposed to have physical strength to keep up with the pain but I also needed
keep up with the pain but I also needed
keep up with the pain but I also needed the mental strength which at certain
the mental strength which at certain
the mental strength which at certain points I doubted I even had to begin
points I doubted I even had to begin
points I doubted I even had to begin with for children one of the most common
with for children one of the most common
with for children one of the most common questions asked is why me why don’t I
questions asked is why me why don’t I
questions asked is why me why don’t I have to be the one to go through so it
have to be the one to go through so it
have to be the one to go through so it could have been anyone else in the world
could have been anyone else in the world
could have been anyone else in the world the amount of years I spent thinking
the amount of years I spent thinking
the amount of years I spent thinking about these questions I’ve only just hit
about these questions I’ve only just hit
about these questions I’ve only just hit my revelatory moment and this revelation
my revelatory moment and this revelation
my revelatory moment and this revelation is something worth sharing as anyone
is something worth sharing as anyone
is something worth sharing as anyone with a stroke can definitely relate the
with a stroke can definitely relate the
with a stroke can definitely relate the reason is no more than that the world
reason is no more than that the world
reason is no more than that the world wants to show you what you can do nice
wants to show you what you can do nice
wants to show you what you can do nice to emphasize you the incredible amount
to emphasize you the incredible amount
to emphasize you the incredible amount of strength that you have strokes in my
of strength that you have strokes in my
of strength that you have strokes in my perspective are tests for two things
perspective are tests for two things
perspective are tests for two things perseverance and endurance how much pain
perseverance and endurance how much pain
perseverance and endurance how much pain can you injure
can you injure
can you injure how much can you push before letting
how much can you push before letting
how much can you push before letting life drown you the more you fight the
life drown you the more you fight the
life drown you the more you fight the better you’ll feel about yourself and
better you’ll feel about yourself and
better you’ll feel about yourself and for those that have gone through a
for those that have gone through a
for those that have gone through a stroke or something similar to it you
stroke or something similar to it you
stroke or something similar to it you know that feeling of victory that
know that feeling of victory that
know that feeling of victory that feeling in your heart that you did
feeling in your heart that you did
feeling in your heart that you did something today that you couldn’t do the
something today that you couldn’t do the
something today that you couldn’t do the day before is astounding and definitely
day before is astounding and definitely
day before is astounding and definitely a sponsor to me each time it may be
a sponsor to me each time it may be
a sponsor to me each time it may be something so small such as moving one
something so small such as moving one
something so small such as moving one toe up and down if I could make the
toe up and down if I could make the
toe up and down if I could make the entire audience feel the way I did after
entire audience feel the way I did after
entire audience feel the way I did after I took my first step after my first
I took my first step after my first
I took my first step after my first surgery I would without hesitation it’s
surgery I would without hesitation it’s
surgery I would without hesitation it’s mesmerizing that’s the only word I can
mesmerizing that’s the only word I can
mesmerizing that’s the only word I can use to describe it you feel flooded with
use to describe it you feel flooded with
use to describe it you feel flooded with joy and your heart couldn’t beat any
joy and your heart couldn’t beat any
joy and your heart couldn’t beat any faster you’re at the same time you’re
faster you’re at the same time you’re
faster you’re at the same time you’re relieved all those exercises that you
relieved all those exercises that you
relieved all those exercises that you viewed as useless and weren’t doing you
viewed as useless and weren’t doing you
viewed as useless and weren’t doing you any good but you did them anyway well
any good but you did them anyway well
any good but you did them anyway well they finally paid off you’ve done it
they finally paid off you’ve done it
they finally paid off you’ve done it what you you doesn’t possible day before
what you you doesn’t possible day before
what you you doesn’t possible day before and that feeling is the most rewarding
and that feeling is the most rewarding
and that feeling is the most rewarding feeling in the world
feeling in the world
feeling in the world those moment
those moment
those moment are crucial children the thing is
are crucial children the thing is
are crucial children the thing is children won’t see themselves improving
children won’t see themselves improving
children won’t see themselves improving they don’t want to stay stuck in that
they don’t want to stay stuck in that
they don’t want to stay stuck in that same mindset with the same future the
same mindset with the same future the
same mindset with the same future the one they have now a stroke is something
one they have now a stroke is something
one they have now a stroke is something that has such a large impact at such a
that has such a large impact at such a
that has such a large impact at such a young age it does rarely talks about or
young age it does rarely talks about or
young age it does rarely talks about or discussed I want to break the barrier
discussed I want to break the barrier
discussed I want to break the barrier that’s preventing us from talking about
that’s preventing us from talking about
that’s preventing us from talking about her being proud about it the way I see
her being proud about it the way I see
her being proud about it the way I see it is that by talking about my stroke
it is that by talking about my stroke
it is that by talking about my stroke I’m making myself the victim and putting
I’m making myself the victim and putting
I’m making myself the victim and putting myself at center of attention I hate
myself at center of attention I hate
myself at center of attention I hate that feeling so much because my story
that feeling so much because my story
that feeling so much because my story just like all other children who have
just like all other children who have
just like all other children who have suffered like I have is not a pity story
suffered like I have is not a pity story
suffered like I have is not a pity story it’s a story of strength and success I
it’s a story of strength and success I
it’s a story of strength and success I don’t live this view I don’t have this
don’t live this view I don’t have this
don’t live this view I don’t have this feeling it’s similar among children with
feeling it’s similar among children with
feeling it’s similar among children with had strokes I feel like I tell people
had strokes I feel like I tell people
had strokes I feel like I tell people about my stroke will be what defines me
about my stroke will be what defines me
about my stroke will be what defines me whenever people look at me they’ll
whenever people look at me they’ll
whenever people look at me they’ll immediately associate me with strokes
immediately associate me with strokes
immediately associate me with strokes and that’s what I want to avoid because
and that’s what I want to avoid because
and that’s what I want to avoid because when you call someone a bird you’re
when you call someone a bird you’re
when you call someone a bird you’re subconsciously making him or her
subconsciously making him or her
subconsciously making him or her inferior to you and I don’t want that
inferior to you and I don’t want that
inferior to you and I don’t want that because strokes truly show what a person
because strokes truly show what a person
because strokes truly show what a person can do with determination and willpower
can do with determination and willpower
can do with determination and willpower belief in myself was one of the main
belief in myself was one of the main
belief in myself was one of the main things that got me through it all I used
things that got me through it all I used
things that got me through it all I used to think I was the only one to go
to think I was the only one to go
to think I was the only one to go through it and I’m sure other children
through it and I’m sure other children
through it and I’m sure other children used to or to this day think the same
used to or to this day think the same
used to or to this day think the same thing it was only till the end of 2015
thing it was only till the end of 2015
thing it was only till the end of 2015 that I realized it I feel like I owe
that I realized it I feel like I owe
that I realized it I feel like I owe this realization to all the children who
this realization to all the children who
this realization to all the children who are suffering you are not alone it may
are suffering you are not alone it may
are suffering you are not alone it may feel like you’re isolated and have no
feel like you’re isolated and have no
feel like you’re isolated and have no one around you who relates to what
one around you who relates to what
one around you who relates to what you’re going through but you have people
you’re going through but you have people
you’re going through but you have people who support you and that’s worth so much
who support you and that’s worth so much
who support you and that’s worth so much more and you’ll begin to realize that
more and you’ll begin to realize that
more and you’ll begin to realize that when people are positive around you
when people are positive around you
when people are positive around you their positivity will be reflected in
their positivity will be reflected in
their positivity will be reflected in everything you do it’s not the physical
everything you do it’s not the physical
everything you do it’s not the physical movement that hurts it’s the loneliness
movement that hurts it’s the loneliness
movement that hurts it’s the loneliness that accompanies it
that accompanies it
that accompanies it 12 the children who have faced what I
12 the children who have faced what I
12 the children who have faced what I faced and worse
faced and worse
faced and worse you can survive it and when you do
you can survive it and when you do
you can survive it and when you do things the world doesn’t expect from you
things the world doesn’t expect from you
things the world doesn’t expect from you you will thrive and empower the people
you will thrive and empower the people
you will thrive and empower the people around you
since my fourth surgery in 2014 I worked
since my fourth surgery in 2014 I worked hard to gain the muscle that wasn’t
hard to gain the muscle that wasn’t
hard to gain the muscle that wasn’t missing when I was younger it started
missing when I was younger it started
missing when I was younger it started out with bodyweight exercises I used to
out with bodyweight exercises I used to
out with bodyweight exercises I used to do in physiotherapy it involved a lot
do in physiotherapy it involved a lot
do in physiotherapy it involved a lot stretching and was made especially for
stretching and was made especially for
stretching and was made especially for children with lack of mobility after one
children with lack of mobility after one
children with lack of mobility after one year physiotherapy my therapist told me
year physiotherapy my therapist told me
year physiotherapy my therapist told me I was too strong to come back and that’s
I was too strong to come back and that’s
I was too strong to come back and that’s when I started personal training
personal training was rigorous and
personal training was rigorous and that’s what most people don’t enjoy
that’s what most people don’t enjoy
that’s what most people don’t enjoy about it I loved it it made me get that
about it I loved it it made me get that
about it I loved it it made me get that feeling of achieving the impossible but
feeling of achieving the impossible but
feeling of achieving the impossible but I guess you could say I’m addicted to so
I guess you could say I’m addicted to so
I guess you could say I’m addicted to so I continued with it I then began
I continued with it I then began
I continued with it I then began weightlifting which mean we feel like I
weightlifting which mean we feel like I
weightlifting which mean we feel like I could do anything because I had the
could do anything because I had the
could do anything because I had the strength to weightless it started out
strength to weightless it started out
strength to weightless it started out with bicep curls I used to do with two
with bicep curls I used to do with two
with bicep curls I used to do with two kgs in each hand another did the more my
kgs in each hand another did the more my
kgs in each hand another did the more my work for weight lifting increased I
work for weight lifting increased I
work for weight lifting increased I ended up being able to do seven pull-ups
ended up being able to do seven pull-ups
ended up being able to do seven pull-ups after four years of personal training
after four years of personal training
after four years of personal training which I couldn’t be happier about I can
which I couldn’t be happier about I can
which I couldn’t be happier about I can also not do twelve bicep curls 15 kg
also not do twelve bicep curls 15 kg
also not do twelve bicep curls 15 kg weights which may not seem like a lot to
weights which may not seem like a lot to
weights which may not seem like a lot to you
you
you but it is to me and that’s all that
but it is to me and that’s all that
but it is to me and that’s all that matters in the end to keep myself from
matters in the end to keep myself from
matters in the end to keep myself from becoming weak again I played basketball
becoming weak again I played basketball
becoming weak again I played basketball all the time especially in between
all the time especially in between
all the time especially in between training sessions every year I go to
training sessions every year I go to
training sessions every year I go to school basketball tryouts for the past
school basketball tryouts for the past
school basketball tryouts for the past six years and every year they make their
six years and every year they make their
six years and every year they make their list of names accepted and my name is
list of names accepted and my name is
list of names accepted and my name is never one of those names nevertheless I
never one of those names nevertheless I
never one of those names nevertheless I continue to go because I believe in the
continue to go because I believe in the
continue to go because I believe in the fact that you miss every shot you don’t
fact that you miss every shot you don’t
fact that you miss every shot you don’t take the slightest chance that I might
take the slightest chance that I might
take the slightest chance that I might make it it’s still a chance no matter
make it it’s still a chance no matter
make it it’s still a chance no matter how small it is this year I’ve made it
how small it is this year I’ve made it
how small it is this year I’ve made it and I couldn’t be happier to be a part
and I couldn’t be happier to be a part
and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it
I’m the manager of the 2016-2017 varsity
I’m the manager of the 2016-2017 varsity girls basketball team and was also lucky
girls basketball team and was also lucky
girls basketball team and was also lucky enough to get the chance to play with
enough to get the chance to play with
enough to get the chance to play with them at one of our away games which I
them at one of our away games which I
them at one of our away games which I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of
couldn’t be more honored to be a part of
couldn’t be more honored to be a part of if I didn’t have the stroke I wouldn’t
if I didn’t have the stroke I wouldn’t
if I didn’t have the stroke I wouldn’t be able to do what I do today so I’m not
be able to do what I do today so I’m not
be able to do what I do today so I’m not ashamed of it instead I’m proud of it
ashamed of it instead I’m proud of it
ashamed of it instead I’m proud of it and proud to say I had a stroke giving
and proud to say I had a stroke giving
and proud to say I had a stroke giving quotes from people who had an impact on
quotes from people who had an impact on
quotes from people who had an impact on me may change the way you look at your
me may change the way you look at your
me may change the way you look at your life as it definitely changed the way I
life as it definitely changed the way I
life as it definitely changed the way I look at mine the one quote I’ve held on
look at mine the one quote I’ve held on
look at mine the one quote I’ve held on since this experience began was it’s not
since this experience began was it’s not
since this experience began was it’s not the mode that breaks you down it’s the
the mode that breaks you down it’s the
the mode that breaks you down it’s the way you carry it there are people in
way you carry it there are people in
way you carry it there are people in this world will tell you you’re not good
this world will tell you you’re not good
this world will tell you you’re not good enough when you’re feeling unstoppable
enough when you’re feeling unstoppable
enough when you’re feeling unstoppable well they can doubt yourself when you’ve
well they can doubt yourself when you’ve
well they can doubt yourself when you’ve never felt more grounded or more certain
never felt more grounded or more certain
never felt more grounded or more certain how you react is what creates you what
how you react is what creates you what
how you react is what creates you what people are seeing you what defines you
people are seeing you what defines you
people are seeing you what defines you for this reason be positive and show the
for this reason be positive and show the
for this reason be positive and show the world what you’re made of because I know
world what you’re made of because I know
world what you’re made of because I know that every single one of you has
that every single one of you has
that every single one of you has strengths just like I did and every
strengths just like I did and every
strengths just like I did and every single person in this room has the
single person in this room has the
single person in this room has the potential to live an outstanding life
potential to live an outstanding life
potential to live an outstanding life all it takes is one step thank you
”
Be First to Comment