My name is Micaela Sarzosa. I am 14 years old, Chilean and live in Coquimbo, IV Region in Chile (north of Chile). I was born with Imperfect Osteogenesis (OI), and use a wheelchair, as I am just beginning to learn how to stand up and walk. Both my mother and brother are affected with the disease as well. This disease weakens your bones because calcium is not absorbed normally, and causes the bones to break easily with no apparent cause.
Since this year, 2015, I am a regular pupil at the Amazing Grace English School of La Serena, as I was bullied in my former school. I have felt accepted in this new start, and have adapted myself well. I have not been discriminated.
At Amazing Grace, field hockey is part of the curriculum, besides of having an extra-curricular Hockey Academy. My professor invited me to take part of it. I had never practiced this activity, but it has attracted me a lot from the beginning. Finally, my schoolmates and family supported me.
At the beginning, the plan was to participate in the Swimming Academy, something I knew about and have practiced before. This is why my family was reluctant to accept my decision of playing hockey: everybody was scared I might get hurt or feel bad because I would be the only one in a wheelchair.
This fact of course changes the way I play hockey, and the way my companions play at the pitch as well. I have been feeling well since then and knowing that my family has finally accepted and understood my decision.
I would like to keep on playing for a long time; I need a lot of equipment to carry on developing in the sport, like a sport wheelchair instead of the standard one I use, but not the motorized wheelchair, as this is a seismic country. If I were confronted with an emergency, a lightweight chair would make the difference.
Chile is still not prepared to assist people with special needs as mine, but through my example, I could bring hope to others who are in the same situation, feeling this sport inaccessible and impossible to practice.
I am completely aware of my limitations, but I know my inner strength. I would like to show others that this is possible. I have been integrated into the Indoor Hockey, and I think there could be more examples of integration. Furthermore, maybe this sport could be included in the Paralympics.
In the meantime, my next steps are to carry on playing and maybe going into the Umpiring career.
This is my story so far, I hope it encourages other young Americans to integrate into this beautiful sport.
