Introduction

DENISE L MCGEE

Description

Title:

Introduction

Creator:

DENISE L MCGEE

Date:

11/5/1997

Text:

My son Eddie McGee lost his left leg 5 years ago due to Osteogenic Sarcoma.
Needless to say that we were all devestated at the time. We were very
fortunate to be approached by a man who played wheelchair basketball for
the Long Island Express Wheelchair Athletic Club here on Long Island. He
introduced my son to the sport of wheelchair basketball. Through this
wonderful team of men and women, who were all adults (my son was only 12
then) my son learned how to play basketball. He was also introduced to
wheelchair racing, field events and swimming. Since then, we as a family
have made some wonderful friends all over the country. Eddie particapated
in wheelchair sports at Junior Nationals in racing and basketball all over
the U.S. Through this exposure, he was invited to particapate on an
international level in racing in Ireland and Australia and this past August
particapated on the Junior Mens World Cup basketball team in Canada. We
have been through some crazy times in the past four years, trying to make
different meets in different states, mostly driving, who can afford to fly.
Out of all of this Eddie has achieved goals that at one time he had never
dreamed of and is now attending The University of Texas at Arlington on a
full four year wheelchair basketball scholarship. If at anytime you feel
lost check out the wheelchair sports on the web, maybe get involved, it
opened a whole new world to my son and to us. Even though Eddie is many
miles away, my younger son and I still go to basketball practice and games
and volunteer for the team as we have for the past 4 years. We have made
lifetime friends there. It was not easy, driving my son two nights a week
to practice, being there for each game, driving to Oklahoma, Virginia,
North Carolina, Wisconson, Illinois, ect. Was it worth it? You bet it was.
Eddie has grown up to be a fine young man particapating in a sport that he
loves and he is getting a free education besides. What more could we ask
for?
 Good Luck..... Denise McGee

Citation

DENISE L MCGEE, “Introduction,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 27, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210091.