My Story

MY SHORT STORY:

My back injury happened from a fall at the age of 2.5 years old.

Following two back surgeries in T5-6 and intense PT therapies throughout the school years brought me back to normal life until I had the children.

Since my last back  surgery in 2019 I am in a wheelchair. Having no family to support and having two minor children as a single mother it was a tremendous change to adjust.

Discovering Triumph Foundation Organization helped me with many resources to be able to live life again actively and to raise my kids enjoying all sport activities that Triumph organizes.

I became an Ambassador at Triumph and created this site to be able to give back and help people with disabilities.

MY STORY IN PICTURES:

Before the accident – when I fell and hit my back on the sharp corner at childcare (Age 2).

After the first back surgery with my grandma (Age 2.9).

After the second back surgery, where donor bone was inserted at T5-T6, with my grandma Muse again (Age 5.5).

I had to wear a plaster vest in pre-K and first grade.

Fully recovered after the two surgeries (Ages 2.5 & 5.5). In first grade, I was finally accepted into the TB boarding school: https://images.app.goo.gl/1MdQEd12HBQBgN3z9

A true triumph over surgeries—finally feeling like a normal child at age 10.

Me & my mom before the New Year’s school ball/carnival.

Sweet 16 – my first summer camp abroad in the city of Stavropol. It took us two days by train to get there. I still had to follow up with the rehab and spine TB dispensary until I was 18.

Sweet 18 – graduation from college (and countless doctor visits) with my best friends.

At 21, I went to Japan, doing acting and modeling in the summertime while earning a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Market Economics in Belarus. Appeared on NHK’s cooking show with Harumi Kurihara.

Modeling portfolio with Danz Studios, Tokyo, Japan.

Doctors advised me to exercise carefully, avoid sports, and not have children. (Modeling for Stella McCartney’s sports shoes collection).

Played golf in Australia and traveled all over the world…

Worked at Summer Sonic Festival in Japan (2009). The Ting Tings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTINe

Ne-Yo signing my T-shirt: https://youtu.be/IxszlJppRQI

K-1 fights – photo with champion Remy Bonjasky (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcXBlBmepE

K-1 Ring Girl (2004–2006).

Motherhood in 2011 – a very happy milestone. However, pregnancy and childcare led to back complications. The traumatized area at T5-6 caused the spine to bend and press on the spinal cord, which accumulated fluid called syringomyelia, leading to numbness in my left leg (2013).

After my second child in October 2014, I had to undergo an emergency back surgery in June 2015, when my baby was only 8 months old. MRI shows my spine before (right) and after (left).

I was still able to walk and run but began limping on my left side due to increasing numbness.

Holi Festival, Long Beach, 2016.

As a single mother, I was still working full-time at a commercial real estate company while keeping my kids active in dancing, acting school, and IMTA competitions.

Complications worsened, leading to a major back reconstruction surgery in July 2019 to prevent paralysis. Two top surgeons—orthopedist Dr. Bederman and neurosurgeon Dr. Muhonen—corrected the deformity from 45° to 25°. Three shunts were inserted into the spinal cord, supported by four rods, twelve screws, and an implant at T5-6.

Spent six days in UC instead of two (July 2019).

My girls (ages 8 and 4.5) visiting me at St. Joseph Hospital.

After the last surgery, I never fully regained walking ability. I can walk only with support, or I use a wheelchair. But life continues! I still enjoy activities with my kids, traveling, and going places with the right equipment—you can find more information at Overcoming Change.

Brazil (March 2022): São Paulo & Rio. Visited a local club for Brazilian Carnival and the famous Italian restaurant Terraço Itália on the 41st floor.

Visiting some local club for Brazilian Carnival (March 2022).

Airport assistance makes customs and luggage handling much easier with a wheelchair.

Some airlines may even upgrade your ticket to Business or First Class if space (or sympathy) allows.

View from Sheraton Grand Rio, Rio de Janeiro.

Helicopter VIP private ride, Rio de Janeiro.

Took the kids to Disneyland for my youngest daughter’s birthday (Oct. 2021).

Went to the beach and participated in many different sports activities (Nov. 2021), thanks to Triumph Foundation: https://triumph-foundation.org/about-us/

New wheelchair ramp built at Huntington Beach (2021).

Adaptive skiing with USARC (Jan. 2022).

Continuing acting with my kids—we’re waiting for their first movie to be released in cinemas soon: Me Time with Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg.