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‘I feel alive’ Tampa Veteran overcomes spinal injury to race to the finish line at Walt Disney World

By Nicolle Osorio, WFTV.com

‘I come over here so I can feel alive’ Tampa Veteran overcomes spinal injury to race to the finish line at Walt Disney World Resort.

By Nicolle Osorio, WFTV.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — Overcoming obstacles is nothing new to Nathalia Paradise, an Army veteran from Tampa who tackled the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10-Miler during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend despite suffering a spinal injury a few months ago.

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Paradise got her spinal injury due to a slip-and-fall at home in November. Since then, she has experienced frequent falls, constant pain, and difficulty controlling her legs.

“After the injury, I just really wanted to lay down and do nothing. I was very frustrated,” Paradise said.

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Paradise was very active and loved running, but doctors said she would never run again after her injury, and her mobility from the waist down would be limited.

The injury wasn’t the first challenge that Paradise experienced, as she is also a cancer survivor.

Paradise wanted to get back to what she loved the most: running. She found motivation by attending physical and occupational therapy four days a week.

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Four months later, Paradise ran the 10-Miler using a walker along the course during runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort. She says she is grateful for this experience.

“runDisney helped me regain independence, a renewed infinite love for sport, and a sense of accomplishment that I thought to be lost to me forever,” Paradise said.

runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is the final on-site race weekend during the 2022-23 runDisney season.

For more information on future race dates, please click here.

Video: Tampa Veteran overcomes spinal injury to race to the finish line at Walt Disney World Resort (WFTV)

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