Life's lessons Forgiveness is a life lesson I learned at a very young age. It has empowered me to accept and overcome my disability, to live a productive life, to maintain a close relationship with my father, and has given me the deep desire to help others who find themselves in similar circumstances. Let me explain. At the age of 4, I was injured in an accident involving a riding lawn mower operated by my father Mark. As a result, I suffered the amputation of my right foot and a portion of my lower leg. Such a traumatic event would cause most everyone to have their world flip upside-down and destroy a parent/child relationship. Really, my dad was the direct cause of my injury, although I have chosen not to view it in this manner. In fact, …show more content…
Volunteering at The Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding for the last nine years opened my eyes to see the difference that one person can make in the lives of others. The mission of Equest is to assist the physically and emotionally disabled through the use of horses. To be a part of something so magical has been my goal from the first time I came to Equest. I have had the chance to get to know many riders and their families, making the experience very personal. One instance I can recall was when I was leading a horse for a young girl with Cerebral Palsy in therapy classes at Equest. The young girl's father spotted my brace through the breeches on my lower leg and asked me if I had broken my leg. Matter-of-factly I stated that I don't have a foot and what he was seeing was the brace for my prosthetic foot. The impact this had on the young rider AND her parents was astounding. They had been watching me and the instructor leading their daughter with mobility issues for months and witnessed my own riding abilities. They never suspected that I, too, had mobility challenges that I triumphed over. What an inspiration for the young girl AND her parents to dream big beyond any preconceived notion of what I (or she) would be able to accomplish in