The daughter of a Marine aviator who became a commercial pilot and a civilian nurse who became a stay at home mom, Amelia shared her life with two brothers and a sister. Like most in the military, Amelia’s family moved around a great deal during her formative years. At age 10, the family finally settled in Fallbrook where Amelia attended elementary, middle and high school.
In 1978, four days before her 15th birthday, Amelia was a passenger in a vehicle that went out of control at high-speed, rolled over, and left her severely injured. While once athletically gifted, with a broken back, and several broken ribs, she was told, “You will never walk again.” With two dysfunctional lower extremities, Amelia was no longer able to participate in her favorite sports activities and the fledgling sporting and recreation programs for the disabled in the early eighties were insufficient. Fortunately, those programs, including Challenged America, have progressed dramatically since that time.
She was among the first few students to attend Fallbrook High School in a wheelchair. Although paralyzed from the underarms down, nearly from the day Amelia was injured, she was determined to get back on her feet. In a wheelchair for everyday activities, Amelia underwent years of physical therapy and, being the fighter she is, progressed from using parallel bars to a walker and then to forearm crutches, which she uses today. Fighting an uphill battle, it was a distant two-and-a-half years when she was finally able to give up daily wheelchair use.
Lending a personal insight, Amelia noted, “When initially injured, I was repeatedly surprised that the barriers I faced were not solely physical; I was the same person inside, but outside, I had some obvious challenges and people treated me differently. I found that I had to constantly deal with other people’s perceptions of my abilities. I just wanted to continue living my life, which meant finishing high school, going to college, and getting a job. Just to stay on that course now meant that I had to become my own advocate and change people’s perceptions.”
After working her way through college at the University of California at San Diego, Amelia spent many years working at desk jobs in the defense and high technology industries. In the mid-1990′s, she found that her sedentary lifestyle was exacerbating her disability. “While I had learned to swim in college, it was time to get active on purpose. I started with laps in the pool at the condominium complex where I live. From there I progressed to going to the gym. After several years, I went for a walk (a crutch-walk) at the beach and it changed my life.”
Over the next several years, Amelia became part of the beach community, participating in a wide range of activities with her new beach buddies. From walking on the boardwalk, to barbecues, to traveling, to horseback riding, Amelia spread her wings. “Eventually my beach friends talked me into going into the ocean. With the support of my friends, I first tried paddling on a surfboard. However, I found that my back was too weak to lift my head off the board, so even though I could paddle, I had trouble seeing where I was going and was splashed in the face by the waves.” Next she tried kayaking in a tandem kayak with a back-support seat. Being able to see where she was going made kayaking much more enjoyable. “Getting out through the waves was a thrill; it was wonderful just being out in the ocean and the view was spectacular.” Although Amelia had very little experience, a friend talked her into competing in a tandem kayak in the 2007 Hanohano Ocean Challenge Paddle Race, an annual competition on Mission Bay that allows various types of paddle devices. They finished 106th out of 120 places, but Amelia was thrilled to have gone the distance: 4.7 miles at a time of 1:06:30. Then, when the winners were announced, Amelia and company were surprised to hear their names called. They had placed first in the double kayak division. Go Girl!
While kayaking was great exercise, Amelia found it hard on her back. Inspired by what she had seen at a Challenged Athletes Foundation triathlon held at La Jolla Cove, and persuaded by her ocean-savvy friends, she was spurred into action again. She began doing laps in the pool to prepare for a swim in the open water. On August 4, 2007, with a dozen friends supporting her on surfboards and boogie boards, or by swimming alongside, she was carried out through the surf. “It was terrifying. I just treaded water.” My friends were anxious to see me swim and urged me to press on. I shook my head and stayed put, too scared to talk and too scared to swim.
“If I hadn’t been ocean kayaking that past year, I might not have ever attempted this swim. Then I swam to the first buoy. When I finally looked around to see where I was, I saw many friends right out there with me. I have been ocean swimming ever since.” Over time and with diligent practice, Amelia gained the knowledge of how to swim out through the surf and little by little she built up her endurance and has gone on to compete in the La Jolla Rough Water Swim each year.
The first year that she completed that competition, at the annual La Jolla Shores Surf Association Christmas dinner, the surf club awarded her a letter from then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for inspiring the entire community. Last year, she broke the 40-minute mile on race day. Due to recent surgery, 2013 is the first year since she started swimming in the ocean that Amelia will not be competing in that September race at La Jolla Cove.
In April 2013, Amelia was shocked when she received a diagnosis of breast cancer. She had surgery in May. Her only post-surgical restriction was that she wasn’t permitted to swim for a month. At first, she was bummed that her swim season would start late. ”Then I learned that I had a fairly large tumor (3.5 x 2 x 1 cm) and that I would need chemo therapy.
Expecting to have a chemo-compromised immune system, Amelia decided to check out the Challenged America program that Steve and Jennifer Muse, a couple that sail with CA regularly, had mentioned to her on several occasions. She thought sailing would provide her an outdoor activity that was less strenuous than ocean swimming to take her mind off of dealing with cancer treatments. Hearing the rewards Steve and Jen enjoyed from their sailing experience, Amelia decided to give it a try. She thought “sailing my way through chemotherapy” might be the most stress free manner to handle that stage of her treatment. “I had no idea what to expect, but the people have been amazing, and the adapted boats, borrowed wheelchair and dock-side lift have made it possible for me to try my hand at something new. Sailing is relaxing and more fun than I imagined. It lifts my spirit to be out in the fresh air.”
After acquiring a wig and head scarves and preparing her support team to help sail through the worst of the treatment, the results of the genetic testing of the tumor indicated a low risk for metastatic breast cancer and she was spared from chemo. “But by then, I was enjoying sailing and decided to stick with it.”
While spared from chemo, Amelia is required to take another prescription medication for the next five years, and there are side effects. Although she is trying hard to remain active, she is fighting chronic fatigue and joint and muscle pain, and these new symptoms are exacerbating other conditions that have developed with the longevity of her disability. In coming months, Amelia has a few more surgeries to finish up what was begun in May. But she looks forward to the future with an open mind and a positive attitude.
As a kid, Amelia first sailed with her family on a Hobie 16. However, she notes that she was only a passenger during those family outings. Now she is learning to sail with the tutelage of the volunteers at CA, and loving it all the more. In the July regatta, Amelia finished the three races in fourth, third, and second place. In August, during a single three and a quarter mile race, she placed second. Watch out sailors!
Taking a moment to share an accomplishment that Amelia is especially proud of: “In 2012, I wrote the winning nomination of the SAIC 3GIRS/CHIRP Program for the Aviation Week Program Excellence Award in Sub-System Level R&D/SDD category; in addition to winning, the team received the highest score on its nomination against all categories and was cited as a best practice in two categories. In 2009, I was named national employee of the year by CAREERS & the DISABLED Magazine for my professional accomplishments and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities.” Bravo Amelia!
In sharing what has helped Amelia through her challenging times she notes, “We live in interesting times and life on this earth is short and frequently difficult. I take inspiration from the Bible. As it says in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” I have found that following God’s way is good and full of adventure and joy. And in times of difficulty, I know that God will never leave me, nor forsake me. It’s good to have gratitude and to live in a way where you feel innocence, wonder and love.” Amen.