Previously published in Rite Up, 2024 – Issue 3.
Eight-year-old Déborah aspires to be an athlete like her role model Darlene Hunter, a 2016 Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA’s wheelchair basketball team. Déborah actively engages in dance, golf, tennis, softball and swimming with recreational teams in Dallas, like Team IMPACT for softball and the Dallas Wheelchair Tennis Club. “I am Déborah’s No. 1 fan,” says her mother, Michelle. “I know she will be great at any sport. She has always defied the odds since the womb.”
Originally from El Salvador, Déborah was born with no left arm or leg. Her parents searched for care after her birth throughout Central America, and, in 2019, they discovered Scottish Rite for Children.
Déborah’s multidisciplinary care team includes experts from Occupational and Physical Therapy, Scoliosis, Orthotics and Prosthetics, and Therapeutic Recreation. Her passion for sports was fueled by Director of Therapeutic Recreation Dana Dempsey and recreational therapist Karla Palacios-Reagor. “I can’t say enough about the dedication of Dana and Karla,” Michelle says. “They are extremely special and make teaching children how to love a sport easy.”
Therapeutic Recreation services empower children to engage in recreation, leisure and sports in their communities. Déborah’s goals included using community leisure resources, boosting her strength and confidence, and maintaining independence. While Karla designed the exercise plan, Déborah challenged herself to tackle different sports.
Déborah recently accepted the challenge of learning to ride a bike. She trained with an adaptive hand bike, tailored for her limb absence. Building coordination, upper body strength and balance were key to independently ride. “Déborah would come to my sessions and flex her arm or stand up by herself to show me how strong she is,” Karla says. “It is great to see her confidence boost.” After six months, Déborah rode her bike fearlessly with minimal help, completing her Therapeutic Recreation journey!
The possibilities are endless regarding which sport Déborah will try next, and Michelle is behind her to celebrate every triumph. “Never let a physical condition determine the bright future your child will have,” Michelle says. “We are extremely grateful and blessed to find the best care for our greatest treasure.”
