{"id":10024,"date":"2019-05-22T20:06:43","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T03:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shayneletford.com\/test-triumph\/uncategorized\/extraextra\/"},"modified":"2024-04-21T20:23:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T03:23:26","slug":"extraextra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/news\/extraextra\/","title":{"rendered":"Extra Extra! Our WSF is FAMOUS!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take a look at these awesome videos from Spectrum News 1 SoCal <\/a>highlighting our recent Wheelchair Sports Festival!<\/p>\n

This first one features our wonderful Ambassador Norma Villar as she celebrated her injury anniversary by experiencing scuba at our recent Wheelchair Sports Festival.<\/p>\n

The second one is a fun video showcasing our Festival\u2019s Powerchair Rodeo featuring none-other than the amazing Bobby Rohan, Larry Dunn, and more.<\/p>\n

SoCal Woman Celebrates Triumph Over Paralysis By Scuba Diving<\/h2>\n
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By Kristen Lago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

PUBLISHED 2:14 PM ET May. 20, 2019 SANTA CLARITA, Calif.<\/p>\n

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - You wouldn\u2019t think the anniversary of a life-altering injury would be something to celebrate, but that\u2019s exactly what took place at the eighth Annual Adaptive Wheelchair Sports Festival.<\/p>\n

The event is put on every year by the Triumph Foundation, and gives athletes from across Southern California the chance to triumph over their disabilities.<\/p>\n

This year, Pasadena resident Norma Villar took part in the festival. She celebrated the five-year anniversary of a surgery that resulted in her paralysis.<\/p>\n

\u201cEver since my injury, I've thought let\u2019s just experiment life, let\u2019s explore,\" she said. \"And I\u2019m doing so many things that I never did prior to my injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of those things is scuba diving. In partnership with a group called Dive Heart, Villar got the chance to go under the water \u2014 to swim for the first time in years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI literally felt that I wasn\u2019t paralyzed,\" Villar explained. \"For however long I was underwater, I felt free. I couldn\u2019t believe I did this.\u201d<\/p>\n

It's just one of many activities she's been involved with through Triumph. But it was not an easy road to get here.<\/p>\n

Five years ago, Villar began experiencing symptoms like drop foot and dizziness. After a few doctors visits, she was diagnosed with a congenital defect in her spine.<\/p>\n

Although her surgeons reassured her it would be an easy fix, several back-to-back surgeries left her an incomplete paraplegic.<\/p>\n

\"I hated myself and I hated my life. I hated everything about what happened to me,\" she said.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward five years later and you'll meet a very different Villar. She's excited and determined to take on new challenges, inspiring others along the way.<\/p>\n

\"What I\u2019m doing here,\" Villar said, \"is showing the newly injured people that life does go on and despite our circumstances we can conquer the world still.\"<\/p>\n

READ FULL STORY<\/a><\/p>\n

Powerchair Rodeo at our Wheelchair Sports Festival<\/h2>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TriumphOverSCI\/videos\/vb.211939626426\/325963954718708\/?type=2&theater<\/p>\n

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Thank you Kristen Lago for telling our stories.\u00a0 Follow her @kristenmlago<\/a><\/p>\n

Relive the amazing, all-inclusive weekend in our video:<\/p>\n