Veteran.
Paralympian.
Mom. Speaker.
When I woke up in the Baghdad ER on April 13, 2004, the furthest thing from my mind was being a Paralympian.
At the time, I didn't even know what that word meant. After 24 years of having both my legs, I was suddenly missing one, taken from me by a roadside bomb on the streets of Iraq.
My initial thoughts were being thankful to have my life and then the endless questions on what my life would be like moving forward.
I got to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to start that process of moving forward. I saw immediately that I was one of the lucky ones. I had three good limbs, my mind, my eyesight and I was alive. It was then I made a promise to live my life for those that didn't make it back and who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
I was a lucky girl. And a proud American.
The days turned into weeks and those into months. Too many surgeries, too many infections, but the constant knowledge and reassurance that things would be OK. I took my first steps on my prosthetic leg 52 days after I lost my real one. A day that reassured me that I would walk again and the assurance that I would once again be independent. But as a lifelong athlete, I wanted more. An aspiring young gymnast who dreamt of the Olympics, I was looking for something bigger. Once an athlete, always an athlete.
Multiple organizations helped me realize that not only could I still be athletic, but I could do things I never imagined doing with both my legs. Thanks to the Vail Veterans Program I skied down the ski slopes of Vail, Colo., on one leg proving to myself that there were no limits. Achilles’ Freedom team gave me the chance to handcycle the NYC marathon on 2005, one that I would go back and run years later. The Challenged Athletes Foundation invited me to do a triathlon with Operation Rebound, and as I crossed that finish line I felt invincible, like I could do anything.
It was a life changing couple of months and the start of a life lived through sports.
In early 2005, a man named John Register from the United States Olympic Committee's Paralympic Military and Veteran Program came to Walter Reed to present on the Paralympic Games. In 2005, I knew that in 2008 there would be a Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, held just weeks after the Olympic Games in the same venues.
And a dream was born.
After being medically retired from the Army in April 2005 with a Purple Heart and bronze star, the hard work began. Swimming was an obvious choice as I swam at Walter Reed for rehab. I loved the water and had lots of room for improvement. I joined my first competitive swim team, learned to love the smell of chlorine and slowly improved my times.
The 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games came and went. Although there were no medals won, I learned that in life, sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. And as I carried that American flag into that sold out Bird’s Nest Stadium at the Closing Ceremony, I had never been so proud.
A proud American. And a proud Paralympian.
Since 2008, my life made a turn into the sport of Paratriathlon.
I’ve been lucky to compete around the nation and around the world and stand on top of podiums becoming a 3x World Champion. On Sep 11th of 2016, Paratriathlon made the debut at the Paralympic Games and I raced my way to bronze as part of a USA sweep. It felt like a personal gold and standing on that podium with 2 of my Team USA teammates was one of the best days of my life.
Getting back to Chicago and putting my medal around my son's neck is a moment I will never forget.
After the postponement of the 2020 Paralympic Games, I was able to compete at my 3rd Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. I suffered a broken back in a bike crash 8 weeks prior to the games so I was thrilled with a 5th place finish! Being the flag bearer for opening ceremonies was a highlight as well.
One of my proudest professional accomplishments is giving back to a community that I am so fortunate to be a part of. Through co-founding Dare2Tri paratriathlon club, I am giving other athletes with disabilities the chance to experience the thrill of a triathlon and realize what they are capable of. We serve youth, adults and injured service members and inspire many! I am forever grateful to the organizations that helped me on my way.
I am thankful daily for those that have helped me build a life I love.
And on the personal side, my husband Brian and my 2 children, Dallas Patrick born in Nov 2014 and sweet Millie Lynn, born Aug 2017. Brian and I opened our own prosthetic and orthotic company in Colorado Springs called Tolsma/ Stockwell Prosthetics and love helping our patients get their life back. I also have a published autobiography called the Power of Choice.
I am thankful daily for those that have helped me build a life I love. I proudly live a life of sport knowing it builds confidence, changes lives and as I compete and stand on podiums around the world I realize that I wouldn't have it any other way. I look forward to what the future is going to bring and continue to share my story as a motivational speaker in hopes of showing others their own power of choice.
