CMT & the Struggles
Hi, my name is Taylor Knox and I have CMT. I am 15 and I am going into my junior year of high school. CMT is a muscle disease that affects my legs, feet, arms, and hands. CMT stands for Charcot Marie Tooth Disease. I have had CMT for my whole life but I was diagnosed when I was 5. My dad also has CMT, it is a genetic disease. I also have scoliosis which is the curvature or the spine. Some struggles that I have are walking long distances, standing for a long amount of time, balancing, gripping objects, and holding objects. CMT is a progressive disease, so that means that I will get worse when I am older. But that doesn't stop me from doing whatever I put my mind to.
Wheelchair Basketball
In middle school, I met a girl named Shanayha Welsh. She is in a wheelchair. We became best friends over our similarities. She told me about wheelchair basketball and the team she played on. So I decided to give it a try. In November of 2013, I went to my first practice, I fell in love with the sport and the family that came with it. I have been playing ever since. I play for the San Diego Hammers for the organization, ASRA.
Camps
During the summer, when the basketball season is over, I go to a lot of sports camps or just camps in general. I go to MDA Camp which is a camp for kids with muscle diseases every year. I also go to the ASRA Camp which is a camp for kids with disabilities in San Diego, members of my team and I go to this camp every year. As of this year, a member from my team, Michelle Baustista, and I went to a wheelchair basketball sports camp in Tucson, Arizona. I learned so much from this camp and it was such a great experience. In each of these camps I have created a bunch of friendships and a lot of amazing memories.
Hobbies & Family
Other than basketball, some other hobbies that I have are listening to music, hanging out with friends, swimming, and spending time with my family. My family and friends give me so much support. I can't explain how much gratitude I have for them. They mean so much to me. Through thick and thin, they will always be there for me and I love them so much.
My life is CMT
Yes, I have CMT but that doesn't mean that I can't do anything I put my mind to. One day, my mom asked me, "if there was a cure for CMT, would you take it?" I said no because CMT is a part of me and makes me... me. I can't imagine my life without Charcot Marie Tooth Disease.
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