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Featured Blog Stories
Inspiring Stories: Christa Wagner
As I flipped head-over-heels out of my saddle — unsure of which end was up or down — my first thought was, “How in the world did I get here?” Like any good “horse-woman” I immediately got back into the saddle and finished my ride. Like a dummy I did not tell... 
Inspiring Stories: Felicia Catarella
December 1st, 2012 is a day that I will both never forget and only half-remember. I was driving home in the late hours of a frigid Massachusetts night, feeling a bit light-headed thanks to a few recent bouts of vertigo. I’m told that I must’ve fallen asleep at the... 
Wendy Garrett
I used to think I was invincible. That was, of course, until a chance accident left me without the use of my left leg. Little did I know that I would soon begin a three year-long journey to even get a proper diagnosis of my injury—let alone return to an active,... 
TeamUP Junior Co-Captain Adam Luke Featured by Lafayette’s KLFY
One of the newest (and youngest) members of the TeamUP co-captain roster, Adam Luke, recently got the chance to tell his story to his hometown news team at KLFY. He and his mother, Kellie, spoke with reporters about Adam’s journey to get back up, from being... 
Inspiring Stories: Lilly Markusch
Lilly Markusch was 19 years old, a Division I college athlete at the University of Nebraska on a cross country and track scholarship. Her entire life was running and competing at one of the highest levels in college athletics. Then a freak accident changed her world... 
Inspiring Stories: Jessica Lee
Jessica Lee’s journey to discovering she has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease was long and painful. At age 12 she was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and told she would not live past the age of 16. She spent countless hours on operating tables and was bedridden for... 
Billy Lister
When I was 15 years old I was diagnosed with a rare and acute brain abnormality known as an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). To address this life threatening malformation, I underwent invasive brain surgery at the age of 16. The surgery was a success in eliminating... 
Sandra Ricker
I was looking forward to enjoying the next steps in my life after retirement, when a painful and sudden incident began to paint a dark cloud over these dreams. Just over two years ago, I was enjoying a play with friends and family when standing up to leave the theater... 
Inspiring Stories: Bobby Salerno
Bobby Salerno was still new to the New York Police Department when he was involved in a shooting that left him with Foot Drop. It was March 22, 2010, when he confronted a gunman threatening a home health aide in a tense standoff. He was shot three times in his... 
Inspiring Stories: Jamie Jazdzyk
In 2016, Jamie Jazdzyk’s life changed. Jamie, a lifelong athlete with a career in brand strategy, woke up one night and upon trying to stand, fell over. She had lost sensation in her lower legs and couldn’t button her shirt. She soon discovered that she had CIDP...
Steven Peace
Just a few years ago I had an entirely different career path in mind until one night changed the course of my life forever. On October 16, 2006, while serving in the Navy, I suffered a massive stroke. The scariest part is that I was all alone when this experience took... 
Craig Vogtsberger: I’m a Stay-at-Home Dad with a Disability
Speaking with TeamUP co-captain Craig Vogtsberger today, you might never know he suffered a traumatic injury so severe doctors didn’t know where to begin. After being crushed between two Humvees during a training exercise in the National Guard, Craig was uncertain...
Inspiring Stories: Christa Wagner
As I flipped head-over-heels out of my saddle — unsure of which end was up or down — my first thought was, “How in the world did I get here?” Like any good “horse-woman” I immediately got back into the saddle and finished my ride. Like a dummy I did not tell...
Inspiring Stories: Jessica Lee
Jessica Lee’s journey to discovering she has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease was long and painful. At age 12 she was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and told she would not live past the age of 16. She spent countless hours on operating tables and was bedridden for... 
Inspiring Stories: Dr. Matthew Mbanga
As a high schooler, Dr. Matthew Mbanga, a native of Zimbabwe, competed in international tournaments in both rugby and waterpolo, earning him Sportsman of the Year at an elite all-boy’s private high school in Harare, Zimbabwe. From there, he captained a university...
