From the moment Oliver was born, we knew his life would bring unique challenges, but also opportunities for strength and resilience. When such a fact about your child settles in, a lot of thoughts go through your head. What can you do, as a parent, to give them the best childhood possible?

I had a friend who also had a son with a physical disability. I was so thankful to have someone I could connect with and confide in about my hopes for Oliver’s future. She was the one who introduced me to the world of adaptive sports and the opportunities for an active life for children like Oliver.

Oliver was just five years old the first time we saw an in-person adaptive sports event. We had flown out to Los Angeles with my parents to meet up with some friends to watch a series of sports in the Angel City Games competition. I can distinctly remember parking in the garage and feeling a sense of belonging. There were so many kids making their way to the competition using wheelchairs, walkers and crutches.

These children had braces on their legs like Oliver: that moment was so eye-opening for our family. Several of the adults in our group were tearing up at the thought of entering a world of opportunity that would allow Oliver to see that he could play sports, just like his friends at school.

Coming back from the Angel City Games, I knew I had to find an adaptive sports program for Oliver here in Texas. I didn’t know where to begin, so I just started banging on doors around the community, trying to find any program that he could participate in. It was during my search that someone told me about the Hotwheels basketball program at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston.

At the time, Hotwheels only fielded a varsity team, and Oliver was just a little boy. This served to make me even more determined to get a program started for younger kids. After talking with TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Adaptive Sports Coordinator Peggy Turner and Coach Trice Ham, I learned that TIRR Memorial Hermann might be rolling out a prep team for younger kids. I’ll admit that I was enough of a squeaky wheel who just kept trying until they finally started the program.

I think the term “adaptive sports” is a bit of a misnomer—to me, it is just sports; it’s how Oliver and folks like him play sports. The competition is fierce, the action is exciting and these athletes really put in the work.

We have seen Oliver’s skill rapidly evolve. Looking at the team now compared with when they started. I mean, they were so little! There was the challenge of adjusting to a sports chair (which is different than his everyday chair), and most of the kids couldn't get a basketball anywhere near the hoop. It's just been fun to see Oliver and his friends grow and see how they've come together as a team.

Today, they have good collaboration and chemistry on the court, and it is a blast for them to travel to different tournaments and develop as a team. And sometimes I get a little carried away on the sidelines with my cheering. Oliver says that I scream so loud that everyone in the facility can hear me! I’ve seen how far he’s come, and I couldn’t be prouder.

TIRR Memorial Hermann has been instrumental in giving him the opportunity to not just play a sport but play it competitively. Competing with other athletes has been life-changing for him. Oliver frequently tells me that winning drives him, that he wants to be the best there is on the court.

I've seen his confidence grow, and I know he's so excited as summer winds down and we start counting down the days to the start of basketball season. Last season, we showed up 45 minutes before the first practice because he was so excited!

TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Hotwheels program has also been impactful for our family. Connecting with other moms and dads with kids who are facing the same challenges as our family has been incredibly helpful. You are part of a community that knows what you’re going through and is there to celebrate the ups and downs of this journey.

This program is just the beginning for Oliver. He has already attended multiple basketball camps on college campuses across the country. These summer camps are amazing opportunities for Oliver to meet the coaches and the players and to realize that this is a goal he can strive toward. Right now, he has dreams of playing for the University of Alabama and competing for gold in the Paralympic Games.

I am extremely grateful for TIRR Memorial Hermann and all they do for the kids in our community. They are not only providing opportunities for these athletes but also bringing awareness to adaptive sports. Just because you use a wheelchair or have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t participate in competitive sports and other similar programs. With his natural ability on the court and his will and work ethic to make it to the next level, we’re excited to watch Oliver play and see what happens for him in the future.