Hi, my name is Libby, and when I was 2 years old I was diagnosed with SMA ( Spinal Muscular Atrophy) type 3. I am now 11 years old and have not let my condition stop me from doing the things I love.
Over my years with SMA I’ve thought that I could not do anything I wanted, until one day I discovered horse riding. It was not like cantering across fields and jumping over poles because of my condition I have not got the best balance I could have, so to be able to do horse riding I had to have people each side of me so I did not fall off and also a lady leading the horse.
I loved going every weekend until I sadly found out I was allergic to the horses so I could not go anymore, it broke my heart mostly because I bonded with people and a lot of horses it also really helped with my core strength, balance and my posture. But then I discovered gymnastics.
I have overcome fears of doing flips and jumping off high equipment. It helps with again my core strength, balance, flexibility and confidence. I have entered competitions and won certificates along with 1st place medals!!! I would not have been able to achieve any of this if it wasn’t for my amazing coaches, they have help me the most and are part of the reason why I have won those prizes and been so successful. I am currently still competing and training every Saturday.
I also attend wheelchair racing, which is at Medway park. I go most Saturday mornings and this helps with my cardio and also my upper body strength. Right at the beginning of my journey in this I was only able to travel at 2.5 kilometres per hour and doing only half a lap. I have now over the months achieved 12.5 kilometres per hour and do a whole lap!!
Another sport I do is sitting throws it helps with my posture, core and upper body balance. Sitting throws is basically ( for those who don’t know ) throwing a discus , javelin, shotput and cricket ball from my chair. When I first started I could only throw each piece of equipment a very short distance. Now I am able to throw them a lot further. My coach puts a cone out each week and if I manage to hit it I am allowed to give my coach a forfeit. Each week the cone gets further away.
In my half terms and summer holidays I do aqua aerobics and aqua circuits training in the swimming pool which helps my cardio, vascular ,bone density and breathing. It so much fun even if its hard work to the point that when I come out I’m so tired and hungry that I get “hangry”!
At some weekends, I go swimming with my grandad at my local swimming pool and may even use it as a dance studio. I even dive off the side to see how far under the water I can go holding my breath. I can hold my breath for about 40 seconds and this has helped with my lung capacity and breathing.
So anyone who is reading this with SMA type 3 believe in yourself and you can be the person you want to be. So if you are seeing this believe in yourself and parents if you are reading this pass this message on it may help your children. One more thing, Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it, I hope that this has inspired the young and older to believe.
