Prologue: Nattitude

As most of you know, one of the goals I set for myself years ago was to publish a book about my story.

It looks like that dream may be happening sooner than later so please stay tuned.

To get you all excited, I thought I'd share a quick synopsis of my book. The title of it is still up in the air but most likely will be called 'Nattitude.' So typical me, right?

So here goes......

A young firefighter is staring at me with enormous eyes asking me, “Honey, can you feel me touching your toes?”

With a shaky response I reply, “I can't feel my toes. Why can't I feel my

toes?”

It's December 29th 2007, which later I would find out would be the most terrifying day of my entire life.

When I was fifteen, I always imagined I would grow up, play softball for my favorite University,earn my degree in physical therapy and help those less fortunate along the way in any way I could possible. I always envisioned myself as someone who works hard and sees life as a series of opportunities all just waiting for me to seize.

On December 29th 2007, during my sophomore year in high school, my life changed in a blink when I sustained a cervical spinal cord injury rendering me paralyzed from the neck down in a skiing accident.

After the inpatient rehabilitation and all the doctors informing myself and my family of the things I was never going to be able to achieve in my young life I decided then and there to defy all the odds. I was going to live my life the only way I knew, and that was to continue to make goals and work hard to achieve them. Even though my path now was very different, I had this deep

feeling in my gut that told me I was to stay the course I originally chose for myself. I felt a sense of confidence and focus inside myself that exuded to others.

Being forced into a very different life direction, I was beginning to change the definition of myself. But what was the definition of myself anymore? I couldn't play sports, I couldn't sit up without falling over, how could this happen to me? Looking at myself in the mirror, I almost couldn't recongnize myself anymore.

I knew it was up to me to make the positive changes necessary to achieve my goals and obtain the success I had always seen for myself. I learned quickly that my new life was going to be filled with incredibly difficult daily challenges. Many people take for granted the small tasks we do on a daily basis. Such tasks include eating, combing your hair, getting dressed and getting in and out of a vehicle independently, these are all things I struggled for months to learn again.

When you're a young adult and your confidence is abundant, it is very frustrating to have to slow down and be taught basic life skills again. It can absolutely challenge your attitude and weigh heavily on your self esteem. Since I could no longer turn to sports for a mental release, I turned to writing. The more and more I wrote the more I found it helped people. I started a blog about my struggles going through a spinal cord injury at a young age and I found so many people that were extremely interested and receptive to my struggles.

While my situation at 23-years-old is drastically different than I ever envisioned it being, I never let it hold me back from being able to achieve anything. Whether it is conquering fears of the unknown or going out and attempting stand up paddle boarding. Today I am known for my “Nattitude”, which is a nickname that I received that defines me for my fearless, sometimes stubborn spirit and go-getter attitude.

After two years of intensive rehab, I was able to walk and receive my high school diploma. A year later, I received my acceptance letter from USC. Adversity is a word known to describe people overcoming a hardship or challenge in their life. Even when doctors stripped me of all hope of ever walking again, I continued to remain positive in my hopes of reaching my infinite goal of being 100% independent again. I believe that if you set goals, work hard enough, stay

positive, focused and patient you will achieve whatever goals you set for yourself.

Everybody will have a time in their life when they will be faced with some sort of adversity. I have found that it is not the adversity that defines you but how you respond to it that ultimately shapes who you are.