My name is Hannah and I am 12 years old. I have 3 siblings. One sister, Betty Rose, who is 14 months old, a twin brother named Aidan, and an 8-year-old brother named Declan. My siblings and I live with my Mom and Stepdad, and my Dad is only a short bike ride down the street.
My favorite sport is soccer. I love to play, and I have worked hard to become a good player. This season I made it onto an EDP Premier team- which I was so excited about. I also love to follow European fútbol (soccer). The Tottenham Hotspurs are my absolute favorite team and I love Harry Kane. I enjoy watching him play. My prior team was named the Lady Hotspurs :). I also participate in 3 other competitive sports: lacrosse, field hockey, basketball. Some of my most addictive hobbies are baking, reading and swimming. I spent this summer learning to bake all different kinds of desserts. I made French macarons, cookies, and even a three-tiered cake. I also read 16 novels this summer.
I have 2 furry friends running around my house- Axl and Finn are my two dogs. My favorite vacation spot is in Hawaii. I went there with my family last year and had an amazing time. I take after my mom and I love the beach. I even learned how to surf in Hawaii. One of my goals is to recover from surgery and get my doctors to allow me to travel to Hawaii this winter. My mom has promised me a trip there to surf and eat my favorite food- sushi- when I am able.
One of my long-term goals and dream is to visit Paris- I love art and desserts- so Paris seems like a great fit for me. My mom has traveled there and told me all about it and it seems amazing. I am hoping that maybe she will take me, so our plan is to spend some of the time while I am in the hospital planning our dream Paris trip.
Thanks to everyone for your support! It feels good to know I have a whole team of people supporting me and cheering me on. I will be ready to run on the soccer field as well as make my parents take me to Hawaii soon!
How am I feeling about surgery?
I am not going to lie. I can’t say I am feeling good about surgery, because frankly who would? Honestly, though I am ready. After much preparation I am ready to throw the random back pains out the window, I am ready to start running a mile without huffing and puffing within minutes. I am ready to be the best Hannah I can possibly be even if that means fighting my way through a challenging roadblock. I believe in order to be the best version of myself, surgery is what I have to do. I know it won’t be easy, but that won’t stop me from taking this challenge head on. I will be brave, positive, and determined no matter the outcome.
What are your goals and plans for after surgery?
One thing in particular I am really looking forward to after surgery is traveling to Hawaii, and eventually Paris. Everyone has a dream destination, mine has always been Paris, after developing some jealous feelings for my mom after she traveled there several times for work. For my twelfth birthday me and my brother Aidan were supposed to pick a travel destination separately and my mom would take each of us individually on our choice. Mine was of course Paris, but unfortunately due to COVID-19 I was never able to make the trip. Hopefully, after surgery I will get the chance to travel to one of my favorite travel destinations, Hawaii. As well as my personal dream, Paris France.
In addition to travel destinations some goals I have for after surgery are to inspire young girls my age to be the best version of themselves even in a tough situation.
I have always dreaded the day doctors would tell me this awful news, but I never knew how truly scary and depressing it can be. I am truly inspired by people who hit constant roadblocks and walls but continue to move around them. I can guarantee you that Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan didn’t have a perfect career their whole lives. But now they are so successful because they didn’t give up when they sprained an ankle or tore an ACL and had to sit on the bench. It truly pushed them to their limits, made them better, and tested their overall determination. Hitting challenges didn’t slow them it made them faster. Now, there is nothing holding them back. Both of them are my idols and are truly unstoppable and that is why they are an inspiration to girls and boys all around the world. That is my goal, to be an inspiration.
I want to be a person that kids look up to, respect, and really believe in. For all the kids out there who were born different, know this. Different makes you strong. Different makes you unique, and beautiful in your own way. Never let anyone tell you differently. You are brave, strong, beautiful, unique, special, smart, talented, and overall unstoppable in your own way. Never believe anything different. It has taken me some time to understand that myself – but I believe it and I want to live that every day.
Hannah Defying Gravity 