Young girl finds confidence in swimming after losing leg
“Being in the water made me realise that I’m stronger than I thought I was.”
A lot of people's self-esteem can be badly affected by their looks.
From the age of nine, a young girl named Zaarah Reid was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer - osteosarcoma.
This led to her losing her hair and going through rounds of chemotherapy, reports Beautiful News.
Later on, her leg had to be amputated.
The young girl lost her confidence and started isolating herself.
“Going to school, I was insecure and scared about having to be constantly looked at, being judged,” she told the publication.
READ: Woman designs spaces for disabled people in public spaces
But, fortunately, her parents who hail from Kraaifontein, Cape Town, came up with a hobby that revived her excitement for living.
Her parents signed her up for swimming at Foxxie Foundation, the local NPO which offers a 12-week Adopt-A-Swimmer programme to teach kids water safety and the basics of swimming.
Although she had issues with walking, swimming came so naturally.
“After only three weeks of swimming lessons, I could swim faster than kids who had months of swimming lessons,” she told the publication.
She says being in the water made her feel stronger.
“Being in the water made me realise that I’m stronger than I thought I was,” she told Beautiful News.
Being academically strong gave her the confidence to return to school and her instructors have hope that she will someday be a Paralympic athlete.
READ: Losing child to drowning causes mother to teach others to swim
More From Jacaranda FM
Follow us on social media:
Listen to Jacaranda FM:
- 94.2
- Jacaranda FM App
- http://jacarandafm.com
- DStv 858/ OpenView 602