The Unstoppable Kumaka

    Before I was born, my mom’s doctors told her I wouldn’t have a very good life. I would never walk. Everything would be a struggle for me. Why? I had a condition called spina bifida. That means my spine didn’t develop correctly. 

    Everyone with spina bifida is different. Some people don’t even know they have it. Others, like me, are paralyzed.

    When I was 2, I started to use a wheelchair. While other kids were learning to walk, I was learning to get around in my own way. My parents tell me that I seemed so happy to finally be able to move by myself. 

    Before I was born, my mom’s doctors said I wouldn’t have a very good life. I would never walk. Everything would be hard for me. Why? I had a condition called spina bifida. That means my spine didn’t develop correctly.

    Spina bifida is not the same for everyone. Some people don’t even know they have it. Others, like me, are paralyzed.

    When I was 2, I started to use a wheelchair. Other kids were learning to walk. I was learning to get around in my own way. My parents say I was happy to be
    able to move by myself.

    Before I was born, my mother’s doctors told her I wouldn’t have a very good life. I would never walk, and everything would be difficult for me. That’s because I have a condition called spina bifida, which means my spine didn’t develop correctly.

    Everyone with spina bifida is different. Some people don’t even realize they have it, while others—like me—are paralyzed.

    When I was 2, I started using a wheelchair. As other kids were learning to walk, I was learning to get around in my own way. My parents tell me that I seemed delighted to finally be able to move by myself.

    When I was 5, I had surgery on my hips. I spent most of that year in gigantic double leg casts. I couldn’t do much other than sit on the couch and watch YouTube videos. 

    My favorite videos were from a man named Aaron Fotheringham. He had spina bifida and was in a wheelchair, just like me. But he was also an extreme athlete. He invented a sport called WCMX. That’s short for wheelchair motocross. 

    WCMX is inspired by skateboarding and BMX biking. People practice it at skate parks. I thought it was so cool! I loved to watch Aaron perform crazy tricks. When he was 14 years old, he became the first person to do a backflip in a wheelchair.

    I was so surprised one day when my mom told me I had a special visitor. It was Aaron! My mom had gotten in touch with him. He brought me a special WCMX chair. As soon as I was out of my casts, I started practicing.

    When I was 5, I had surgery on my hips. I spent most of that year in leg casts. I couldn’t do much. But I could watch YouTube videos.

    My favorite videos were from a man named Aaron Fotheringham. He had spina bifida, just like me. He was in a wheelchair, just like me. He was also an extreme athlete. He invented a sport called WCMX. That’s short for wheelchair motocross.

    WCMX is like skateboarding. It’s like BMX biking too. People practice it at skate parks. I thought it was so cool! I loved to watch Aaron do tricks. When he was 14, he became the first person to do a backflip in a wheelchair.

    One day, I had a visitor. It was Aaron! My mom had reached out to him. He brought me a WCMX chair. As soon as my casts were off, I learned to use it.

    At the age of 5, I had surgery on my hips. I spent most of that year in gigantic double leg casts, unable to do much other than sit on the couch and watch YouTube videos.

    My favorite videos were from a man named Aaron Fotheringham. He had spina bifida and was in a wheelchair, just like me—but he was also an extreme athlete. He invented a sport called WCMX, short for wheelchair motocross.

    At skate parks, people practice WCMX, which is inspired by skateboarding and BMX biking. I thought the sport was incredibly cool, and I loved watching Aaron perform crazy tricks. At just 14 years old, he became the first person to do a backflip in a wheelchair.

    One day, I got a surprise visit from Aaron Fotheringham! After hearing from my mother, he had come to see me and brought me a special WCMX chair! As soon as I was out of my casts, I started practicing.

    It took a lot of practice to get comfortable in my WCMX chair. It’s different from my regular wheelchair. It has no brakes, and it can tip backward. That was a little scary! But after a few weeks, I was ready. It was time to go to the skate park. 

    I’ll never forget my first day there. Kids ran up to me and told me how cool my wheels were. I had so much fun rolling down ramps and dropping into half-pipes. 

    Since then, I’ve done other sports. I’ve tried basketball, volleyball, rugby, tennis, waterskiing, and surfing. Surfing is my favorite because it’s something my whole family loves. (My dad is from Hawaii, so surfing is in our blood!) 

    And of course, I still do WCMX. I compete, I teach other kids, and I spend a lot of time at the skate park.

    I had to get used to my new chair. It’s different from my regular chair. It has no brakes. It can tip backward. That was a little scary! But soon I was ready. I went to the skate park.

    My first day there was great. Kids were friendly. They told me my wheels were cool. I rolled down ramps. I dropped into half-pipes. It was fun!

    Since then, I’ve done other sports. I’ve tried basketball and rugby. I've tried tennis, surfing, and more. Surfing is my favorite. My whole family loves it. (My dad is from Hawaii, so surfing is in our blood!)

    I still do WCMX too. I even teach other kids.

    It took a lot of practice to get comfortable in my WCMX chair. It’s different from my regular wheelchair because it doesn’t have brakes and can tip backward. That was a little scary—but after a few weeks, I was ready to go to the skate park.

    I’ll never forget my first day there. Kids ran up to me and told me how cool my wheels were. I had a fantastic time rolling down ramps and dropping into half-pipes.

    Since then, I’ve done a bunch of other wheelchair sports: basketball, volleyball, rugby, tennis, waterskiing, and surfing. Surfing is my favorite because it’s something my entire family loves. (My father is from Hawaii, so surfing is in our blood!)

    And of course, I’m still involved with WCMX. I compete, I teach other kids, and I spend a lot of time at the skate park.

    After I landed my first backflip, I was so proud. Once again, my wheelchair had allowed me to do something beyond my wildest dreams.

    Sometimes people still tell me they’re sorry that I’m stuck in a wheelchair. Well, I’m not sorry! My wheelchair gives me freedom. It has allowed me to get around by myself, play sports, and make friends. 

    One of my favorite things to do is to be a mentor to other kids in wheelchairs. I like to teach them about WCMX and how many sports are accessible to them. They can do anything they set their minds to—just like I do.

    After I did my first backflip, I felt proud. Once again, my chair had allowed me to do something great.

    Sometimes people still tell me they’re sorry that I’m stuck in a wheelchair. Well, I’m not sorry! My chair gives me freedom. It helps me get around. It helps me play sports. It helps me make friends.

    I like being a mentor to other kids in wheelchairs. I tell them about WCMX. I show them that a lot of sports are accessible to them. They can do anything they set their minds to—just like I do. 

    After I landed my first backflip, I felt incredibly proud. Once again, my wheelchair had allowed me to do something beyond my wildest dreams.

    Sometimes people still tell me they’re sorry that I’m stuck in a wheelchair. Well, I’m not sorry! My wheelchair has made it possible for me to get around independently, play sports, and make friends.

    One of my favorite things to do is to be a mentor to other kids in wheelchairs. I enjoy teaching them about WCMX and the many other sports that are accessible to them. I want them to know that they can do anything they set their minds to—just like I do.