Isabella Vasquez knows that her life will never be the same - but that won't stop her from striving to find the similarities that existed prior to October 7th, 2023.
One of five people in a car that rolled multiple times in a single vehicle accident on Skead Road more than a year ago, Vasquez suffered a T4 spinal cord injury. While the spinal cord was not severed, the now grade 12 student at St Charles College was left with essentially no feeling from the chest down.
An active youth who participated in a variety of sports at both the elementary level as well as during her freshman year at SCC, Vasquez is now heeding the advice of supporters and loved ones, looking to reincorporate sport in her life.
For as much as her early experiences did not spell success 100% of the time, the fact is that remaining active is still (and was always) clearly part of her DNA.
"Volleyball was the first sport I ever played," said the eldest of three children in the family and a graduate of Northeastern Public School. "In grade six, it was floor hockey - but I was no good at it at all, so never again did I play," added Vasquez with a laugh.
Enjoying her competitive outlet via the Northern Chill Volleyball Club, Vasquez was also a prominent contributor when it came to the St Charles flag football program.
"My friends were doing it so I figured: okay, I'll try it. Then I met a couple more of my really good friends. I think for me, it was just the running. I was speedy, so I could get there (on defense) and I have the aggressiveness."
In fact, her clinical counsellor suggested that this inner drive is very much at the root of her current desire to get back into sport.
"She is a warrior," stated Chris McPhee, who has known Vasquez both as a client, but also a close friend to his own daughter, Paige. "She has that eye of the tiger. Nothing has changed with her brain."
On the day that we gathered, para-nordic ski coach Patti Kitler was also on hand, a woman who has produced Paralympians and national calibre athletes with regularity.
Kitler is also one of the region's top advocates for seeking out opportunities for special needs athletes, part of a network of encouragement that Vasquez can tap into.
"At the hospital, we talked about sports a lot," acknowledged Vasquez, a young woman who served as both a coach and manager with the Cardinals city champion junior girls basketball team - and has now moved on to the volleyball squad.
"During my rehab and my physio, people were talking about getting me back into sports. I remember sitting in my first sports wheelchair and thinking that I could see myself feeling comfortable with this."
The final party in the room could not be happier to hear these words.
"Sport was such a big part of her life prior to the accident," said Vasquez' mother, Sarah Kowalchuk. "It's a passion for her. She understands that being in a wheelchair is not a reason to quit her passion."
"We just have to find the people and the resources that can help her pursue these passions."
With an eye towards giving wheelchair basketball a shot, Vasquez is open to a variety of options.
"I look at some sports that I used to play and think to myself: I can still do this, just in a different way now."
Anyone interested in assisting with Vasquez and her participation in para sports - or those dreams of others in the area in similar situations - are asked to reach out to either Patti Kitler (pattikit@gmail.com) or Chris McPhee (cmcphee1@live.ca) - or even Randy Pascal (info@sudburysports.com), for that matter.
