“The stares were annoying, but I knew they didn’t mean any harm. So, every morning, smiling at them became part of my routine, too.”

“Even the littlest things were now a challenge, one I didn't understand.”

“I was scared...and did not know what was coming for me next.”

“I was eight years old and scared, and had no idea what was going on”

“Everyone has adventures in their lives. Some good ones, some bad ones.”

“I kept wanting to go back on the stage and do it again since I had so much fun and felt so accomplished. It seemed that I had regained a lot of the confidence that I knew I had years before when I performed onstage all the time.”

“This was the first piece to the whole story—the beginning.”

“The stares were annoying, but I knew they didn’t mean any harm. So, every morning, smiling at them became part of my routine, too.”

“With determination, it is possible to block out the negative things and enjoy the positive ones, despite the cons. Most importantly, it is possible to dance through everything pernicious.”

“I had learned quickly that life doesn't always go the way I want it to, and that's okay. I still plod on.”

“The thought of being able to [move my arms] made me want to give up my legs [instead] since I was accustomed to using them. But, I figured that after a few hours of sitting in a wheelchair...I would switch back...in a flash.”