Art Martens

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When the phone rang in my home last week and a congenial voice said, 香蕉视频直播淗ello, this is Michelle Stilwell,香蕉视频直播� 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. 香蕉视频直播淢y parents owned a hotel in Winnipeg,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淥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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

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Michelle committed to training for Paralympic competition, first in wheelchair basketball, then in wheelchair racing. 香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

She met Mark while playing wheelchair basketball. Although able bodied, he was allowed to compete in the integrated sport. 香蕉视频直播淔or me it was love at first sight,香蕉视频直播� she said, and I sensed a smile in her voice. 香蕉视频直播淚t took four months before he asked me to marry him. We have a sixteen year old son, Kai.香蕉视频直播�

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