{"id":18374,"date":"2026-04-06T10:17:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/?p=18374"},"modified":"2026-04-06T10:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:17:59","slug":"nataliesjourney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/news\/nataliesjourney\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Path to Independence: Natalie\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p data-start=\"123\" data-end=\"176\">Natalie\u2019s journey is a reminder that independence evolves\u2014and finding the right support can make all the difference. Her story highlights the importance of access to the right equipment and how even a small change can open the door to greater comfort, confidence, and freedom in everyday life.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"178\" data-end=\"451\">Born with Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele L4-L5), she has spent her life adapting and finding ways to navigate the world on her own terms. Today, she works as a Park Greeter at Disneyland, welcoming guests with a smile and positive energy that reflects her resilient spirit.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"644\">For years, Natalie relied on an electric scooter to get around. It gave her a sense of freedom and control, and for a long time, it felt like the best option for maintaining her independence.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"646\" data-end=\"680\">But as time goes on, needs change.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"682\" data-end=\"925\">Her current scooter has become too large and difficult to manage\u2014especially in her home. Tight spaces, limited maneuverability, and the physical challenges of using bulky equipment have made everyday tasks more complicated than they should be.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"927\" data-end=\"993\">That\u2019s when Natalie began to consider something new: a wheelchair. Through our Wheelchair Loaner Program we were able to offer her greater mobility, comfort, and ease in her daily life.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1354\" data-end=\"1392\">This is why programs like this matter.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1572\">Access to the right equipment can be life-changing. It can mean the difference between struggling through daily routines and moving through life with confidence and independence.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1574\" data-end=\"1711\"><strong data-start=\"1716\" data-end=\"1770\">You can help make stories like Natalie\u2019s possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1574\" data-end=\"1711\">Your support allows us to provide essential equipment, resources, and hope to individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1912\" data-end=\"1992\">Donate, get involved, or share this story to help us continue changing lives.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_video_widget wpb_content_element vc_clearfix   vc_video-aspect-ratio-169 vc_video-el-width-100 vc_video-align-left\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_video_wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A New Path to Independence\" width=\"174\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CQ_OvhbwBTE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-center vc_do_btn\" ><a class=\"vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-block vc_btn3-color-warning\" href=\"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/donate\/\" title=\"MAKE A GIFT\" target=\"_blank\">MAKE A GIFT<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"112\" src=\"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/8abced5a-b9d6-87ad-b908-3a2cdce2ce1e.png\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"8abced5a-b9d6-87ad-b908-3a2cdce2ce1e\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/8abced5a-b9d6-87ad-b908-3a2cdce2ce1e.png 800w, https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/8abced5a-b9d6-87ad-b908-3a2cdce2ce1e-300x42.png 300w, https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/8abced5a-b9d6-87ad-b908-3a2cdce2ce1e-18x3.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">If you or someone you know needs help, <a href=\"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">please contact us.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Natalie\u2019s journey is a reminder that independence evolves\u2014and finding the right support can make all the difference. Her story highlights the importance of access to the right equipment and how even a small change can open the door to greater comfort, confidence, and freedom in everyday life. Born with Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele L4-L5), she has [...]","protected":false},"author":888,"featured_media":18379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-noteworthy","category-youtube"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/888"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18374"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18383,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18374\/revisions\/18383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumph-foundation.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}