I was written off as a lost cause. But I'm living proof that miracles can happen.
I will use my voice to change the world, spreading hope, spreading love, and spreading life, 'cause the world needs that. That's enough for me.
I made it to the top five on 'Dancing with the Stars.' To me, that was just a tremendous accomplishment.
I'm an athlete, I'm a competitor, so whenever you have a loss, you feel it in your heart.
'Thank you' is never enough for me to say to my family.
I was bullied in high school. I would go through the hallways and be pointed at and laughed at because I was the new kid in a wheelchair.
There's nothing greater than just having people that pick you up when you get knocked down.
When I was really sick, I loved watching 'Dancing With the Stars.'
I think there's a lot of people going through different things where you feel like your whole world's imploded, and you feel like you lost it all, whether it's physical, emotional, whatever you're going through. If I can be that beacon of hope for people that need it the most through dancing and through our storytelling, then I've done my job.
Being competitive is in my nature. I actually think being competitive saved my life. It's given me the constant drive to be better, and when I was in that hospital bed and that wheelchair, it made me want to get better.
Each of us can provide a positive example to others in our lives, and that's powerful. When I visit those with difficult health conditions, I do my best to provide them with positive motivation because I know I was so inspired by people who showed support for me.
If mornings aren't your thing right now, try making yourself do a happy dance after you get out of bed. It helps me!
I was determined to get back to my life. I had to relearn how to do everything. I had to learn how to talk, eat, move my arms.
I thought my sports career was over once I got into a wheelchair. That was the hardest reality I had to face.
There's always going to be something positive that can come out of any negative situation.
I come from a family of go-getters.
ESPN truly is a game changer and has the ability to unite the world through sports, which is something I'm incredibly passionate about.
My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.
A disability can be anything that you are insecure about, and I teach people that when challenges come your way, you need to face them, you need to embrace these new norms and these challenges, and you need to defy them and conquer them.
