By Melissa Taylor
Special to the Hard News Cafe

Sondra Pickering is not your typical mother. She cooks, cleans and takes care of her four little children; but she does this all from a wheelchair.

This June will mark the fifth anniversary of her use of a wheelchair. Five years is a celebratory mark for her. She will celebrate her survival by competing in the wheelchair races in the 2004 Utah Summer Games.

It has been five years since her freak accident, where a tree fell on her back, crushing her spinal cord and paralyzing her from her bellybutton down. Through these past years have been the most trying times of her life, they have also been the most spiritual and soul-searching times for Sondra.

"If I look back four years ago and think of where I was at that time, I never would have imagined I could accept myslef as forever being in a wheelchair," the 38-year-old said. "I long so badly for the days when I could walk, but that this wheelchair has become a part o who I am, I am ready to do something to celebrate my new lifestyle."

After the tragic accident, Sondra was in the Salt Lake LDS hospital for over three months. Immediately, doctors knew she would never be able to walk again. After the first month, she began agonizing physical therapy to help her gain strength in her upper body for more mobilization in her new wheelchair.

"I knew there was something wrong with me when I first woke up in the hospital bed," Sondra said. "Not only was I in excruciating pain, but I could not feel my legs. That was the scariest feeling I have ever had in my entire life. I remember thinking how my life was never going to be the same again.

Sondra has overcome many challenges during the past five years. At the time of the accident, she had four little children under the age of 13. She gives her children and husband much of the credit for her survival.

"I definitely have a new appreciation for my family ever since the accident," Sondra said. "My little 13-year-old was helping me shower and go to the restroom. What a scary thought for a young teen to have to help you mom do these embarrassing things. I wish I didn't have to subject her to that part of my recovery, but she never complained. I will be forever grateful to my family."

Now that she has had plenty of experience in a wheelchair, Sondra said she feels like she needs to accomplish something which will possess a greater challenge. She decided to challenge herself by committing to participate in the wheelchair races at the 2004 Utah Summer Games.

The Summer Games take place every June in Cedar City, Utah. This event provides Utah residents a fun, competitive arena for athletes of all ages and skill levels. The games offer over 30 sporting events for people to compete in.

The Sports Director at the Utah Summer Games, Heath Worley, said, "The Summer Games are such a wonderful place for people of all ages and abilities to gain confidence and satisfaction by competing with other people who are just like them."

Worley said the wheelchair-racing event is fairly new, but has had an incredible impact on the rest of the games. "People will just migrate over to the wheelchair races. No matter who is in the race, the crowd just goes nuts and is so impressed with the competitors," Worley said.

Sondra said she was a little nervous about making this big step in her life.

"After I contacted the Summer Games representatives and hear how encouraging and excited they were for me, I knew that this was what I needed to do." Sondra said.

Although winning is not the number one priority on her mind, Sondra said she wouldn't mind taking a place in the race.

"I don't really care about winning," she said. "I am doing this for me, not for the publicity. This is something that I need to do to prove to myself that, that just because I am in a wheelchair, it doesn't mean I can't accomplish great things. I am so excited. I can tell this is going to be a wonderful, life-changing experience for me."

--Melissa Taylor is a USU student majoring in public relations.

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