Wheelchair-bound teen takes dis out of disability
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A UMNS photo courtesy of Deborah McFadden Tatyana McFadden celebrates her accomplishment at the 2004 Paralympic Games held in Athens, Greece.
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Tatyana
McFadden, the second-fastest wheelchair racer in the world, celebrates
her accomplishment at the 2004 Paralympic Games held in Athens, Greece.
Tatyana, a member of Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in
Clarksville, Md., was born with spina bifida. Her coach, Gerry Herman,
says she “has a drive to use her ability to do the best job in anything
that she undertakes.” A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo #06-136.
Accompanies UMNS story #082. 2/14/06 |
Feb. 14, 2006
By John Gordon*
CLARKSVILLE, Md. (UMNS) ? Tatyana
McFadden excels as one of the fastest wheelchair racers in the world.
But learning to drive on suburban Maryland streets is a new challenge.
At 16, Tatyana eases through traffic
using hand controls on the family?s van. Just like many other challenges
she has faced, driving is one she does not hesitate to tackle.
"When someone writes ?disabilities,? they
should cross out the ?dis? and just keep the ?ability,? because I think
that everyone is able to do something," says Tatyana, who cannot walk
because she was born with spina bifida. Tatyana was 6 when Deborah
McFadden adopted her after visiting a Russian orphanage.
Tatyana won silver and bronze medals in the 2004
Paralympic games in Greece (?Teen overcomes obstacles to win in Paralympics ?
and life,? UMNS, Oct. 20, 2004). Now she spends weekends practicing ice hockey,
swimming and playing wheelchair basketball and football.
"I never use the word ?can?t? in my vocabulary," Tatyana says.
"I?d rather embrace what I do because I
really like doing all the sports, and I?d rather see other people
getting involved too, because they shouldn?t take pity on themselves if
they?re in a wheelchair."
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A UMNS photo by John Gordon Tatyana McFadden worships at Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church with her family.
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Tatyana
McFadden (center), a Paralympic athlete, attends worship at
Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Md., with her
mother, Deborah (right), and her sister, Hannah. Tatyana, born with
spina bifida, “has a drive to use her ability to do the best job in
anything that she undertakes,” says her coach, Gerry Herman. Members of
her church installed an elevator when Tatyana had trouble navigating the
stairs. A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo #06-135. Accompanies UMNS
story #082. 2/14/06 |
Tatyana is a role model for her 9-year-old sister, Hannah, who lost a
leg and was also adopted by Deborah McFadden. Hannah and other younger
children get coaching help from Tatyana on the basketball court.
"She?s been like the person who I look up to for all my problems," Hannah says. "So it?s been really good with her."
Tatyana?s actions ? and her words ? show her determination.
"The Russian word is ?ya sama? ? I can do
it myself," Tatyana says. "When I was younger, people would try to help
me because, you know, they?d take pity on me ? a little girl in a
wheelchair. But I always said, ?I can do it myself.?"
One of her coaches, Gerry Herman, says her physical abilities and "inner competitiveness" help her compete and succeed.
"She just kind of stands out there as a
standard for others to reach for," Herman says. "To show people that if
you really apply yourself ? you can get there."
Tatyana draws strength from her family
and friends as well as her church, Linden-Linthicum United Methodist
Church in Clarksville.
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A UMNS photo by John Gordon Most Saturdays, Tatyana McFadden is practicing ice hockey or helping coach other wheelchair athletes.
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Tatyana
McFadden, a Paralympic athlete, practices hockey. Most Saturdays, the
Clarksville, Md., teenager is practicing ice hockey or helping coach
other wheelchair athletes in basketball and football. Tatyana, a member
Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Md., was
adopted from Russia. She was born with spina bifida. Her coach, Gerry
Herman, says she “has a drive to use her ability to do the best job in
anything that she undertakes.” A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo
#06-137. Accompanies UMNS story #082. 2/14/06 |
"She?s been wonderful," says Ruth Agwuna, a Sunday school teacher who sponsored Tatyana in her confirmation class.
"Just seeing her and seeing the odds with
which she has to go through life makes you look at your own self and
see that you can do anything that you want to do, as long as you
believe," Agwuna says.
Deborah McFadden is often amazed by Tatyana?s abilities.
"I don?t know what God has planned for
her," she says. "But I do know it is my job to help her be all that she
can be and to not put restrictions on her."
McFadden was not looking to adopt a child
when she visited the orphanage in St. Petersburg, but the connection to
Tatyana was immediate.
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A UMNS photo by John Gordon Hannah McFadden (left) says she looks up to her sister, Tatyana (right).
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Tatyana
McFadden (center), a Paralympic athlete, races with her sister, Hannah.
The Clarksville, Md., teenager inspires her sister, who is also in a
wheelchair. “She’s been like the person who I looked up to for all my
problems,” Hannah says. Most Saturdays, Tatyana, born with spina
bifida, is practicing ice hockey or helping coach other wheelchair
athletes in basketball and football. A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo
#06-138. Accompanies UMNS story #083. 2/14/06 |
"When I left that day, she told everybody at the orphanage, ?That?s my
mom,?" McFadden says. "For us to meet across the ocean ? I had no
business going into that orphanage, other than to meet my daughter."
McFadden is president of the
International Children?s Alliance, a Maryland-based group that has
arranged 3,000 international adoptions.
After she finishes high school, Tatyana
plans to attend college to become a nutritionist or pharmacist. She also
wants to continue wheelchair racing and basketball and compete in
future Paralympic games.
"The secret to doing well is to get out there and experience it first," she says. "And then just keep on practicing it."
*Gordon is a freelance producer and writer based in Marshall, Texas.
News media contact: Fran Coode Walsh, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5458 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
U.S. Paralympics Team
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church
Disability Theme Page
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