CAPTAIN INFORMATION
Savanna Spencer
Knoxville, TN
Hi! My name is Savanna Spencer and I am 9 years old. I am a rising third grader at Bluegrass Elementary in Knoxville, TN. I am involved in Girl Scouts, Horseback Riding, yoga and AWANA's at my church. I love to play and sing with my friends. I love going to concerts, sleepovers and American Girl dolls! I am the current Little Miss Wheelchair TN. I sang Demi Lovato's, "This is me" , in the pageant in Nashville last October. I also love to spend time with my family, especially grandparents and cousins!
I have a special connection to MI because I was born in Ann Arbor. Although I was a healthy 9 lb baby, when I was 14 months old I got really sick and lost my ability to walk, talk and even to sit up on my own. We now think that a bad virus caused swelling and injury to my brain that resulted in my CP. They tell me that I am a MIRACLE beacause the doctors did not think that I would make it to my second birthday!
Well last year my parents started bringing me to Grand Rapids to conductive education at the Conductive Learning Center. It is an amazing therapeutic program where I have learned so much and have made some amazing new friends. When I first came here last year, I could barely sit on a bench without help. Just this past February, I was able to take my first independent steps on parallel bars and now have learned to walk with a walker! I have also just learned how to ride an adapted bike. I am so proud of my hard work and accomplishments.
I am really excited to be a part of Team Triumph! I know first hand how hard the athletes train. I love to GO FAST and I am excited to race with my good friend Matt Smith! He told me how much fun the races are! Thank you for letting me have this amazing opportunity and I hope that I can be an inspiration for all of you atheletes who didn't think you could do it... I know that YOU CAN!
Love,
Savanna