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Chapter 19: Kate—Paralysis, Auto Accident
- University of North Texas Press
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133 Chapter Nineteen Kate—Paralysis, Auto Accident KateStutevillewasagoodathlete.Shehadfuninthefirstgrade, particularlywhileplayingsports.Shewasalsoagoodstudentandenjoyed learning.Beforesheknewit,thefirstsemesterendedandholiday vacationhadcome.MorefuntimesforKate—herfirstChristmasasa student,notjustalittlekidanymore.Neatthingsunderthetree,like coolsweaterstoweartoschoolandothergrown-upitems.Shewasanxious togobacktoschool.Itwouldbeanotherweek,whichseemedlike alongtimetoasix-year-old. ItwouldbealongtimebeforeKateenteredaclassroomagain.The dayafterChristmas,anautomobileaccidentsenthertothehospital.A spinalcordinjurykepthertherefortwoandahalfmonths,paralyzed fromthewaistdown.Tragically,theinjurywascomplete.Katecould notwalk. Herfightingspirit,however,sufferednodamage,ifanythingemerging strongerthanbeforetheaccident.Onlytendaysafterherrelease fromthehospitalduringspringbreak,shewentbacktoschool,courageously tacklinganew,unknownlifeinawheelchair. “Twophysicaltherapistssuggestedthatridingahorsewouldgive herhelpfultherapy.Shehadriddenalittlebit,ontrailridesduringoncea -yearvacations,andhadnofearofhorses,”Kate’smother,Theresa Stuteville,said. KatestartedaridingprogramwhenschoolletoutinJune. horse2.indd133 3/11/052:09:54PM PROFILES 134 Themonthsspentinahospitalbedandwheelchairhadtakentheir tollonKate’smuscletoneandbalance.Shebeganwithhippotherapy, ridingonabarebackpad,withsidewalkersholdingherupbysupporting herattheshouldersandhips. Herbalanceandabdominalstrengthincreasedsodramaticallyand quicklythatshesoonprogressedtoridingwithoutusingherhandsfor stability.Herneedforsidewalkersupportdecreasedtoonlyahandon herlegs. Inamerethreemonths,aboutthetimeschoolstartedinthefall, Kategraduatedfromhippotherapytorecreationalriding.Shewantedto reallyride,notjustsitpassivelyinthesaddlewhilesomeoneelseledher horse.Sheworkedhardatlearningtorein,andtofeelthemovements ofhermount—animportantpartofhorsemanship.Inabilitytouseleg pressuretoreinforcecommandsmadehertaskdoublychallenging. In December, or maybe not until January, neither Kate nor her motherrecalledforsure,shelearnedabouttheTopHandsHorseShow inHouston,tobeheldthefirstpartofFebruary. NowKatehadagoal.Thelittlegirlwithabigcompetitiveheart sethersitesfirmlyonparticipatingintheshow,andshedidn’twastea minutegettingready. Onlyafewweeksremainedtolearntiming,thetrailpattern,how tolookgoodforthejudge,plusalltheintangiblesthatmakeawinner. Katepracticeddiligentlyatherweeklysessionstopolishherskills,and togainmorestrengthandbalancetoexecutetherequiredmoves. ByFebruaryKatesatherhorselikeapro,herpostureperfect,her reiningbrilliant.Thereweretwoeventsinwhichshecouldcompete— TrailandWesternEquitation.Sheenteredboth. Kate’seventsrequiredaleaderandonesidewalker;however,the morecontroltheriderexhibited,thehigherthescore.Theleaderwalked alongside,holdingKate’shorsewithalooseropewhileallowingherto commandhermountwiththereins.Thesidewalkerkeptahandlightly onherheel. IwatchedKatemakeherentranceintothearena.Shesatramrod straight,reinsinherlefthand,righthandrestingonherthigh,headheld high.Ifshewasnervous,itcertainlydidn’tshow. horse2.indd134 3/11/052:09:55PM [3.147.62.92] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 21:31 GMT) KATE 135 IntheTrailClass,sheguidedherhorseflawlesslythroughacourse setwithobstaclestogooveroraround,interspersedwithapatternfor turning,trotting,andbackingup. Katedidn’tknowrightawaywhereshehadplaced.Thecontestants workedoneatatime,andtheorderoffinishwasnotannounceduntil everyoneintheclasshadcompletedthecourse.Thefamilystayedlate intheeveningtoheartheresults,andKatehadaprettyanxiousfew hoursbeforetheannouncer’svoiceboomed...