Mission Moment: Cami Wood
Cami is a confident, outgoing 12-year-old girl who has a passion for competition and trying new things. She enjoys spending time with friends, playing outside, caring for her cats, coloring, and sports. She has tried a variety of sports including, volleyball, basketball, sitting volleyball, adaptive tennis, adaptive surfing, baseball, track and field, biking, and more. Just like any athlete, Cami has faced obstacles, though some might say her biggest obstacle was one that reshaped her life at a very early age.
As an infant, she was diagnosed with Scleroderma, which was affecting the tissue and bone in her leg. Doctors recommended many surgeries that required long recoveries and had uncertain success rates. As Cami and her family considered their options, Cami’s mom brought up the idea of amputation after her sister made the suggestion. Wanting Cami to decide for herself, her mom and dad educated her on what choices were possible and helped her understand the various outcomes. After weighing the pros and cons, praying, and learning about prosthetics and amputation, Cami made the decision, at age seven, to have an amputation.
“I asked her why and she said that she didn’t want to have to wear funny shoes anymore and she said she wanted to beat her gym teacher in a race. Those were her top two reasons,” said Cami’s mom. Looking at pictures of cool prosthetic designs with her dad and knowing that she could improve her speed and ability to be competitive were also important motivators behind Cami’s choice.
“Before I got my new leg, it was hard to run and walk because of my foot and knee. It was hard to keep up with my friends and it was super annoying,” said Cami.
Three months after her amputation, she was fitted for her first prosthetic leg. Within a week, Cami was out playing baseball with her team, The Wildcats. The amputation never seemed to weaken her ambitions. In fact, Cami and her family agree that it allowed her to do a lot more than she could before.
She wasted no time working hard to become the best athlete she could be. Coming from a competitive family, Cami is naturally driven to try new things without any hesitation. When she found Turnstone, it gave her more opportunities to try new things and improve her skills.
“When I first went to Turnstone, I had already had my leg for a year and I had just got my first running blade. I felt super proud of myself because I was running on a treadmill and it was super fun. I felt like I was at the highest level and it felt good to be at the top,” beamed Cami with pride.
Since then, she has been an active participant in many different sports and recreation opportunities. One of her favorite activities has been the inclusive All Abilities camp where kids with and without disabilities spend time together trying a variety of new adaptive sports like baseball, volleyball, basketball, wheelchair basketball, and tennis. Cami also loves participating in the Turnstone Endeavor Games and adaptive tennis.
“Being at Turnstone it feels good to be around people like me because then we can compare and help each other learn, where if I am with my friends who have all four limbs, I can’t always do everything they do.”
“One of the best things about being connected to Turnstone is not just the sports. The sports are kind of the reason you’re there, but it’s really the connection to this national community,” said Cami’s dad. “Turnstone is very open and by being very open, they’ve connected us to people, outlets and services that expand our network and minds of possibilities.”
Cami and her family are grateful for the possibilities that Turnstone offers through adaptive sports. Because of Turnstone, Cami has the opportunity to embrace her inner athlete, make new friends with similar experiences, and discover new heights as she continues to grow and push herself past limitations.
Cami said, “It feels good to be achieving more and accomplishing more than I could.”
As she continues to aim high for her future, she hopes to go to college for sports, travel the world and eventually become a physical therapist. Though life will likely bring more obstacles ahead, Cami has proven that she is ready to tackle any challenge as long as she has her tenacious attitude, Turnstone, and her community.
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