Cycle Of Hope Tricia Downing Analysis

Cycle of Hope Tricia Downing was a very competitive athlete, and her favorite activity was cycling. Her life changes one day when she was out cycling with a friend and accidentally collides with a vehicle. This accident caused trauma to the lower spinal cord rendering her paralyzed below her waist. This causes bountiful changes in her life. Adjusting to these changes is very difficult for her at first. She struggles with accepting what happened. She realizes that she can overcome the challenges that face her and continues to be a competitive athlete as she once was. Through Downing’s journal entries and letter, we see what it is like for those who are paralyzed as well as her change in attitude throughout her journey.
As Downing begins her journal entries, her tone is pessimistic. The difficulty of every day tasks that are simple for an able-bodied individual really impacts Tricia’s attitude in a negative way. She expresses in multiple entrees the lack of respect she has for the new version of herself. “…I’m a new person and it’s a person I do not like or respect.” (Downing 114). She was very proud of all that she had accomplished. After her accident …show more content…
She participated in a locomotor study. She was put in a harness suspended above a treadmill as two students guided her legs into stepping movements. During these sessions she gains the motivation to further her athletic career. “When Rita let go of my ankle and my leg went through flexion on its own — how exciting! That was truly a sight for sore eyes and all I needed to see to get my butt in gear.” (Downing 119). This inspired her to compete in a half-marathon. Finishing this half-marathon got her excited once again about racing. She went on to compete in many races, including The Chicago Triathlon. Downing did not even limit herself to competing against other disabled people, she competed against able-bodied people as