“Skiing felt so good and liberating for me,” said Molei. “For once, after my accident,I felt like I was on the same playing field as everyone else. My disability didn’t define me, because I looked just like everyone else!”
MOLEI AND HER BOYFRIEND WERE DRIVING UP TO THE MOUNTAINS WHEN A SEMI-TRUCK HIT THEM. SHE WAS THE WORST INJURED – DOCTORS SAID SHE WAS INTERNALLY DECAPITATED (AN AOD). THE DOCTORS GAVE HER A LESS THAN 1% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. LUCKILY, AN OUT-OF-TOWNER WAS PASSING BY AND HE STOPPED, PUT HIS OWN LIFE AT RISK (IT WAS A SNOWY NIGHT ON A MOUNTAIN PASS) AND DID CPR ON HER FOR 45 MINUTES! BECAUSE OF THE AOD, SHE’S NOW RELEARNING HOW TO WALK/STAND, SWALLOW, BREATHE ETC. SHE’S RELEARNING EVERYTHING!
THE BELT PROGRAM, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A KARATE BELT SYSTEM, REWARDS HIGH FIVES ATHLETES WITH AN ARCADE BELT CONTAINING A NEW GOLD STAR FOR EACH MILESTONE ACHIEVED. THIS FRAMEWORK IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CLARITY, SUPPORT, COMPETITION AND INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS AS THESE ATHLETES WORK TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
