In December of 199o, I was in a head-on car collision coming home from a day of ice skating with my family. I was sitting in the back seat, and suffered a spinal cord injury along with intestinal injuries. I am a complete paraplegic and have been in a wheelchair ever since, but have had a remarkable and normal life, thanks to amazing parents and a wonderful support system.

I use a piece of equipment to get around and still have to frequently deal with the ignorance of others, but my life is otherwise amazing and I feel incredibly lucky. In my case, life in a wheelchair has been something that I just need to make the most of it - from playing tennis to running a half marathon and having awesome travel experiences, I can't wait for what comes next. Chair and all.