Way back in the day, my Sassy Sister Zena became fascinated with the challenge of wheelchair sports and she excelled in sports during her high school years and as a young adult. She has faced many obstacles due to the automobile accident that nearly cost her life a couple years ago along with post-polio medical conditions but she still nourishes a healthy passion for sports. Zena has been a long-time member of Toledo Raptors, a wheelchair sports team associated with the National Spinal Cord Injury Association of Northwestern Ohio which she is also actively involved with.This morning the Raptors team headed off to attend the Southeastern Wheelchair Games in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and I'm wishing them all the best as they make this annual journey in pursuit of challenges and championships.
A competitive spirit has kept her active and the activity has helped maintain muscle mass in spite of the continuous attack being made against the muscles and organs of her body from the polio virus that is ever-present in her system.
I am really proud of Zena's efforts to stay active but even moreso, I am proud of the encouragement she gives to younger people who are facing challenges we can only imagine. She is always cheering them on and lifting them up. These are a couple of the younger participants, one from the Toledo Raptors team and another from the competing team, all friends, at a competition in Michigan. Break a leg gals ... Good luck to the entire team. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing about the results in SC! I love you, Z.
