Kiara Trussell thought her dreams of being a cheerleader would never happen.
This is partly because Friedreich’s ataxia has made her wheelchair bound. Friedreich’s ataxia is a progressive neurological condition. Before she found out she had the disease, she enjoyed dancing and considered herself flexible. Kiara believed that she would not be accepted since she had the disease.
In her senior year of high school, she decided that she would try out for the cheerleading team regardless of her concerns. When Kiara told the assistant cheer coach, Trudy Mair, she was interested in becoming a cheerleader; she told her that she should at least try. From that point, the assistant cheer coach encouraged and supported her during the tryouts.
Despite Friedreich’s ataxia, Kiara was able to make the team and fulfill her dreams.
Coach Mair sees how much Kiara goes through and sees that she keeps pushing forward. Her team acknowledges how positive she is and that she has made the cheerleading squad a closer team. One senior on the team states that the team is more positive because of her.
Kiara is a dedicated member of the squad. She performed in the snow for a homecoming game and even made it to a wrestling match just hours after having an operation.
Kiara is an inspiration! You never know what you can do until you try.
Click here to read more about her story.
