July 25, 2025 • 34 mins
On One Leg Up On Adpating, I highlighted AbleNews profile on Ali Stroker, disabled Broadway actress who won a TONY for best featured actress as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!
I also welcomed #BecauseICan creator and influencer Cheri Srour to share her story of adapting at the age of 18 to a sudden diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disease . This diagnosis has not stopped Cheri from living an incredible life and an I'm honored to welcome her to One Leg Up With Alex Garrett (https://www.instagram.com/cherisrour/?hl=en)
I also welcomed #BecauseICan creator and influencer Cheri Srour to share her story of adapting at the age of 18 to a sudden diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disease . This diagnosis has not stopped Cheri from living an incredible life and an I'm honored to welcome her to One Leg Up With Alex Garrett (https://www.instagram.com/cherisrour/?hl=en)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, in our eighty eight thirty five countdown, we're
almost there. Tomorrow is the thirty fifth anniversary, and where
I land all of this is to be very honest
with you here on adapting with Alex Garrett. I've had
adapt with my Roleblady, that's true. But I'm more inspired
when I see others who adapt to their life circumstance
(00:29):
that may prove to be inaccessible in the world around them.
That's why we fight to make life more accessible, because
I believe that this podcast is meant to bridge the gap,
as I've been saying, but also to I don't know,
pay it forward. That with all the opportunity to begin
(00:52):
in my life, it's time to make the world more
accessible to others as well. And that's why we're here
today on one leg up, Alex. In my countdown to
thirty five. However, eighty eight thirty five, I want to
shout out someone that's been connected to the Viscardi Center,
now written about in Able News multiple times, Ali Stroker.
(01:15):
You remember Ali? She made history as the first Broadway
star in a wheelchair in the Broadway production of Oklahoma.
How cool is that? And I know for a fact
Ali has spoken at Reach for a Star luncheons before,
and I believe she was at Viscardi Center a couple
of times as well for a celebrity night. So I
(01:37):
got to give a shout out to Ali's Stroker and
here's what was written about her in able News. This
is what I love is that we're building a partnership
with able News. Full disclosure. I am an editor on
the editorial board as well, so to highlight them feels
very close to home. Especially since the Viscardi Center acquired
able News. How big of its story was that. I
(02:00):
think in the thirty five years of eight you know,
disability rights, able News being acquired by Viscarti was such
a game changer and such a great move by doctor
Chris Rosa. And so when you visit the able News
website you'll see the Viscardi Center attached to it. I
think it's brilliant. I think it's making Mscarti Center a
hub for disability news and disability opportunity to thrive in
(02:24):
the world today. But Ali Stroker, as written by Esma
mazo Or Masio, says, Ali Stroker is leading the way
for disabled women in the entertainment industry, They go on
to write. The actress made history as the first wheelchair
user to appear on Broadway as part of the cast
(02:45):
of Deaf West Theater's Spring Awakening, which ran from twenty
and That's Where I Got Started September twenty fifteen to
January twenty sixteen of the Brooks Actions in Theater. In
twenty nineteen, the Tony Award was awarded to her for
Best Featured Actress This is the History Part and a
(03:08):
Musical for her performance as ado Annie in Oklahoma. Award
winner Right There. Stroker used her acceptance speech to offer
words of encouragement to young kids with disabilities. This award
is for every kid out who is watching tonight, has
a disability, has a limitation or a challenge, and who
(03:29):
has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena.
You are meaning you are represented, she said. When she's
not breaking barriers on Broadway, Stroker performs a cabaretio based
on her life experiences at Acclaim. There's across the United States,
from m Kennedy Center Did You Know This? In Washington,
(03:51):
d C. To Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
She was first produced the World on season two of
the reality television series The Glee Project, during which a
second place finish earned her a guest spot on season
four of Glee.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
She's also appeared.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
On Only Murders in the Building and Just Like That
and The Bold Type. Stroker also portrayed disability rights pioneered
Judy Human How About That on an episode of Drunk
History in twenty eighteen, and starred in the Lifetime movie
Christmas ever After in twenty twenty. In twenty twenty one,
she co authored the YA novel young adult novel The
(04:31):
Chance to Fly with Stacy David Viduits, which celebrates authenticity, diversity,
and adaptive choreography. Stroker continues to shine a spotlight on
the importance of authentic disability representation. Keaty carrying forward the
legacy of the ADA. That's a little bit of Ali's Stroker,
And I'll put her website in the description below as well.
(04:53):
But she's definitely someone you want to keep an eye
on in the disability space, in the advocacy space, because
she's living out her life right in front of our
eyes as a Broadway actress. How cool is that? All right?
The other feature tonight, I wanted to bring on is
Sherry Swore sro you are And here's a gal who
(05:19):
was diagnosed with an auto immune disease at the age
of eighteen, right out of high school. And she's made
a lot of her life. And she's not just made
something with her life, she's built her life up to
be an advocate and to move the message forward for
(05:44):
disability rights, for empowering others, and for saying why not
because I can? And she says that in a hashtag
because I Can. We welcome Sherry now to tell talk
about her story of adaptability and always adapting right now
(06:06):
on One Leg Up with Alex Garrett.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Sherry, first of all, thanks for joining One Leg Up
with Alex Garrett.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, my story
has been a journey one day, is still continuing and
probably live for the rest of my life. I grew
up in Brooklyn. I still live in Brooklyn. And then
I was a healthy child and right out of high
school and I was eighteen years old, I was diagnosed
(06:36):
with an automni neurological disorder where my nerves pretty much
attacked my body to a point that I was completely paralyzed.
I couldn't walk, I couldn't talk, I couldn't breathe my
own and I had to learn how to do everything
all over again. And I had that conchance that life.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, what I love about your story is once you
got diagnosed, you didn't really crumble. You actually got back
into rehabit, regraining your regraining your strength. So talk about
how you've been always adapting, because that's sort of a
theme I have here on one leg. If was always adapting,
helping others adapt, how did you adapt to all of
that at eighteen years old?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Oh, shorts, Really, at first I did. I did grumble.
I've loved eighteen and I was still very much of
a child and now fully understanding the scope of what
was ahead of me. And I didn't have a point
where I did actually surrender and then give up and
(07:39):
just said, okay, God, I'm ready for you to take me.
I did what it is I understand the circumstances, and
also because the doctors had lost so much hope in
me and my recovery, so I did. I tried to
give up, and I saw that that wasn't working and
I was only getting worse, and I kind of used
that my advantage to get stronger and ate myself to
(08:03):
getting better and trying to prove to the doctors that yeah,
you can say whatever you want, believe whatever you want.
Back the end of the day, it's all in contend
and if you have a little to fight and a
little to live, then it'll happen. And that's what I did.
And I spent many many months in rehab and I
(08:24):
was strong enough to eventually went a home where I
so needed a lot of assistants and a lot of dependence,
and I was an appasion directory for a very long time,
consistently on a daily basis. And as we were stronger,
I eventually got down my therapy at a facility I
(08:46):
did someone home and kind of implemented that into my
new daily routine.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
You know, I gotta say this, Sherry, I love your
workout videos.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I love that you actually did run a marathon to
raise after all, lot look at that in a second,
but the moment that you realize you can regain the
strength and get back out there. You also got a
college degree, so talk about that transition between high school
to college. I mean, you're coming into college with this
auto immune disease, and talk about that journey.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
So when I wanted to apply to play a Flight
to college and I wanted to go to college, I
had this mind set that I was not going to
attend until I was one hundred percent back to where
I was, and you know, I don't want to depend
on anyone, and I wanted to just go to college
and have that f FO college experience. And I kept
waiting and waiting and waiting, and then I said, there's
(09:42):
never going to be there's never a time bringing ready.
You just got to get up and do it. And
if you are not in this state where you start
would be that's fine because we can learn to adapt
and you can do whatever you need to need to
be done. And I decided to start with one class
and I said, okay, it's one hour, I have it
be you know, and my name adult chair, and I
(10:03):
might say whatever device is to need at the time.
And I loved it. And then the folling semester, I
had a full schedule and a full time student, and
before I knew it, I graduated. I bachelors agree. I
took some time off to figure out what I want
to do with that, and then I decided to go
into social work and I found my manster's in social
(10:25):
work very cool.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
That's awesome that you've been able to build and we're
catching right before your work your day job today.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, sure, I gotta ask this. You did mention the wheelchair,
and I believe you also use a walker. There's a different
kind of mobility you have.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
We're thirty five years of the ADA, and as someone
who had to adapt and utilize the power chair of
the wheelchair and the mobility, I asked you off there.
We tried a first recording and I asked this in
the first recording about if the city of New York
was the perfect place to adapt was successful, and you said, no,
tell me how New York City easier is not accessible
(11:01):
for you?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Yeah, it's definitely continue some works. It definitely has a
lot of obstacles, some point that I now learned to,
you know, research where I was going beforehand, find out
if it is the NBA compliant, if there's stairs, if
there's an elevator, if there's a ramp.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Many times, if I'll attend the venue, I'll reach out
to that before and just say, hey, this is not coming.
What's the protocol. How do I Renevor myself. It's it's unfortunately,
but it's it needs to be done in order for
me to have a fun experience. There are many times
I'll go to a venue, I'll go to a place
and I'll say, like, no disrespect, I here's the suggestion
(11:42):
of how you don't improve with you know, your accommodations.
And it'd be so helpful, not just for me, but
for others. And I feel that it's so important to
you know, raise your voice because a lot of times
it's not about the intention, you know, I just don't
realize it. And if some help educate and half others,
but why not. When I went back to school, I
(12:04):
actually wanted to be an independent as fastile and it
was on a larger campus where I had a place
to building a and then I had a pla to
building within a five minute you know stretch to get there.
And I actually went to the disability division and said,
this is a nice schedule and I would like to be
(12:25):
an independent as fossil. I would like not to have
someone common touch around or you know, just gets where
I need to be. So we actually rearranged my entire
schedule to have all my sizes in two buildings that
were adjacent to each other, and then ended up creating
this program helping others you know, have this option too,
(12:46):
and they were so friendful for it because they didn't
realize that it's it's a complication, and from my end,
I was so grateful that that still have been adjusted.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
It hunter. You say, or which college.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Jes that was in Brookham College of.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Brooklyn College, Okay, and that's such a spacious campus. You
would think it would be accessible. Yeah, so interesting it is.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
It's accessible, just that it's because my schedule was so drastic.
Were at my classitor they were very accommodating.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
While you are making stride for people like yourself and
others with disability, you also break out of the community,
meaning you socialize with by people.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
You sort of just interact with everybody.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
And I feel like that's an important message to tell
others that sort of still are in that.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Little bubble if you will, and say, hey, get out
of that bubble. Let's start all expanding and being in
the within the world. If you will.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Yeah, I mean there's no reason why I should say
in the bubble. And like from my advantage point, I
try to be as independent as possible, and and yeah,
I just walk around there. I do need assistance here
and there, and I've time to realize that people are
wanting to help. You know, if I'm going to an
(14:00):
office or a store and then there's a door that's there,
I don't mind it, and so on, Hey Jimon holding
the door, and then they're very grateful to do it
and then happy to do it. Sometimes people are just
unsure if it's appropriate to ask for of her health,
and it's it's okay to ask for it because they're
more than happy to do it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
All right, Let's get to the big thing. That guy
on the map, which was this Disney marathon. E News
ESPN covered your story, which is pretty awesome. I mean,
if you go to Sharey's Instagram right now, you could
watch her walking to the finish line, walk running to
the finish line, no mobility aids or anything.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
She just did it on her own two feet. Talk
about that process, Shery, how you got to that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Okay, it's cred a story. So I am a very
big Disney fan. I still believe in happy endings and
fairy tales and then love all the princesses. And I'm
definitely still a child at heart. IAM across a Disney
marathon opportunity, and it was a half marathon, and it
(15:06):
was a consistent of a twenty thousand runners, and I
decided I wanted to participate in twenty sixteen, and I
applied to join, and I received an email back saying
that if I was unable to propel myself in a marathon,
that I was not able to participate. I was like,
(15:29):
you know, safety issued, and I reached that vaccent and said,
I physically cannot push myself at thirteen miles, but I
do have my brother in laws, an elite runner, and
I've offered to push me the entire a marathon, and
Disney gaded some pushbacks saying it's out of their protocol,
(15:49):
it's not safe for the other runners. So I kind
of read in my mission to you know, break that
barrier and tell them that I would not give up
until I said, yeah, so let's figure out a way
to make it happen. And Disney is the place where
dreams were true, and this was my dream to do it,
So let's figure out.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
That shock you when they first said no, I mean,
here's a place that seems so welcoming.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Yet here they are telling you, no, you cannot have
this kind of assistance.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
That's very interesting that they would deny that.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
This is actually very exomic baby that actually happens to
be very very accessible. I think it was more out
of like a safety hazard for the other runners, I understand.
So we worked together and we figured out a way
to make it happen. And in twenty sixteen, my brother
in law and I were the first considered powers you
(16:38):
Will to participate in the Disney Marathon, where he approached
me for the entire a marathon, and twenty seventeen came
along and every shot the Disney again, I said, hey,
I want to participate again. And when I registered on
the West site, there was now an option participating as
a power dull, so that was really cool to see.
(16:59):
So seventeen that was our you know, I was going
to explot me accomplish it, and by the finish line,
I pushed myself across the finish line. And then in
twenty eighteen I was growing stronger physically and I decided
to train and surprise everyone and talbot the finish line.
(17:22):
My brother in law said, my veilchair. I got up
and I pushed him across the finish line. And then
in twenty nineteen, I said, Okay, how are we going
to make this given more cool? I was at the
time still growing stronger as I continued here today and said, okay,
let's train for something really cool. And I got out
(17:44):
of my wheelchair about a half a mile before and
walked independently across the finish line, which was a massive
accomplishment and took a lot of training. And Disney called
Window that story and decided to publish it and advertise it.
And then a few days later, I guess the kind
(18:05):
of blew up and ABC was attracted to it in
the news, then CNN, and then before we know it, it
was all over the place.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Talk about whether you're ever going to do in New
York City marathon, can your body do something like that
for New York City style or is that in the
works at all?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
So actually, my brother inlad and I did participate in
a New York City full marathon. Wow, it was throughout
the five hourrows. That took a lot of time. And
I told him I hope they got that out of
his system because I was never doing that again.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
The mother's eye, I asked you this last time we
talked about your energy, because you know, at a lot
of hospitalization last.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Year in May twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Don't want to really go down memory later on that,
but I just noticed my body was telling me, Hey,
you've done enough for today. And you both seemed like
we're both very active people. So does your body also
tell you, Okay, we're dumbing it. Let's relax a little bit,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I think it's so important to listen to your bout
it and to know when it's not to take a
break and when it's not to follurday. It's also important
to be active and to do what you want to
do and to not let their disabilities stop field. But
it's also very important to know when it's not to rest.
And I've come to realize that if you don't listen,
(19:24):
be valuable to shove it to you in other ways,
and we're going to do force to rest, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
So talk about your independent lifestyle in your workplace then,
because obviously another goal is to get people to work
with the disability they can work. I think that's a
Massachuse to talk about your work style and how you
adapt to that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
On a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, for sure, I wanted to wind some then that
was meaningful to me, and I realized that I have
been helping other people go through their challenges on my own,
and I I seem to realize that, hey, am I not?
You know, I use this as a tool to help outthers.
(20:06):
So I did get my master's and social work and
I decided to try it out and so going to
work and like I said, yeah, I made it my track.
It made its my walker, and it's okay. And there
are people there that are willing into help if it's needed.
And even so, there's always a way to adapt into
(20:26):
sonoday and to made it happen. And it's more about
like the will to want it. How bad do you
want to get you mad to find in some extra work,
But it's just a test of how bad do you
want it? And if you want to do it, it
can definitely happen.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
All right.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
I love that you say you were friends with John Stamos.
How did that connection build up? And did Full House
actually help get you through all that? Like what did
you lean on that while you were trying to get
into this rehabbing process.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
I grew up watching Full House. I always had a
crush on John Stamos, I decision is a very comond person.
I went to see one of his Broadway shows and
I got to meet him after the show, and ever
since that show, we've met it to each other and
they kept up with each other and we've befriended each
(21:19):
other throughout the years, and anytime he's in town, he'll
send me a chat with a message saying like, Oh,
I'm going to be here here if you don't want
to come and see me. And he just kept up
to wrap the years, and he's such a kind person.
And the first time that I actually met him, obviously
he didn't know my story. I did know what happened
to me, and I was actually in a much worse
state than I am today, and he left me this
(21:43):
message and I'll never forget and he's like, I don't
know what happened to you. I obviously don't know what
you're going through, but whatever, they you're longer than I'll
ever try to kill you. So the fact that they're
here is systemling and shows your strength and don't ever
let that strength go. And I always tell them that
I've never forgot to saying that because it has definitely
(22:05):
pushed me along the way, especially in moments where I
needed an autivation.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
I love it, and your family, obviously through all of this,
has been supporting you day by day. I'm sure since
it's star starting, were they in shock as much as
you were out? Did they react when at first all
did diagnose its happened, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
For sure. I'm very, very blessed to have an amazing
support this gime. I have an incredible family, immediate family,
extended family, friends that have become my family, and the
community that's amazing and supported and has been to me,
been with me the entire way. When I was first diagnosed,
(22:48):
I don't think that I or anyone else understood the
magnitude of it, and it just happened so quickly, and
once we realized and that was been much worse. They
never let my side. My friends never left my side,
even when I was in the eyes to you and
I physically asked when I want to come and see
(23:10):
me because I did not feel well physically, mentally, emotionally.
I just don't want to be there anyone. And my
friends did not let them stop them. They just they
just stuff and scrubs and came in and marching around
and dancing around, and they knew I needed it, even
if I didn't realize I needed it, And they had
(23:31):
never left my side, continued to never meet my side,
and I'm very blessed, and I know that I've blessed,
and I always tried to remind myself how luckily I am,
and truthfully do not think I would be where I
am today without their continue my so forth.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I love it, and I love your optimism and positivity,
and we need something like that as we ad ad
eight thirty five, because I do feel like some people
I don't want to say sit in.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
The disability, but they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
They don't expand beyond that, they sort of living it
and they let define them. And you're not letting defind it.
You are out there kicking ass every day. And I
know it took a long way to get to that point.
But for those that may be upset they're disabled or whatever,
But how do they find that road to not not
be upset but just drive them to go further?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Mhmm. I mean, yeah, listen, I don't disability to define me,
but it definitely has Shafe tigh On today. And yeah,
if you're feeling well and you're feeling sad and you're
stuck in that's okay. It's important to feel and you
should definitely not you know, I did it, and if
(24:41):
you don't address it, it's just gonna sit and then
build up and then and manifest in other ways. So
definitely feel it. I just you know, and don't sit
there too long because the longer just sit there, you're
missing out all the things that you can experience. So
that's pretty much also why I started, because I can page.
I've just you know, showing the world that, yeah, I
(25:02):
have disability and I may have some challenges. What everyone does.
Everyone has their own you know, own craft to deal
with and that's okay. And just to know that they're
all here, we're all ready to help, and we're all
you know, trying to live this in theful life. And
as long as you find a way to do it,
(25:24):
you can definitely achieve it.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
All right.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I gotta ask you this, As a social worker, do
you do you both able bodied and disabled clients?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Like, what's the clientele range?
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Yeah? I actually did. I actually specialize in trauma and
work with children. I think I subconsciously chose that because
I can relate to it very well. I was a
child that to travel, and I think that especially for children.
(25:55):
I mean, people are always saying, oh, children are so resilient,
and then you find out ten years there that this
person who's in therapy for trying to dress what happened
in their childhood. So I don't know how it done
as they really are, but they definitely had a special
spark in them. And if they're going through something or
I need some assistance, I'm so happy to be ill
(26:17):
the one to show them and remind them of the.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I love it, Sherry, this has been awesome. One last
couple of things here. Why did you start that? Because
I can campaign because that's sort of my pitch to
me was from Steve Cohen. Thanks for him for introducing us,
by the way, But why because I can't. Was that
something you woke up in today I'm going to start
using this? What was the motivation for using that specific constuct?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
So I love as that which I mentioned earlier. And
I had noticed that I was bumping into old classmates
from high school or really just said anyone, and and
I saw a little morse in their eyes, and they
felt so good to me, and and I was just
good to myself, Like, why do you feel like I'm
(27:04):
not just happy? I'm the happiest I've ever been. So
I kind of use that I feel too, sort of
start this because I can't page, which happened in by accident,
and I wanted to show the world that, yeah, I
may have challenges that I ris up to nick, and
I didn't mean that I can't live my life or
(27:25):
be happy. So I started this model. I may not
be able to do the things you do, but what
I can do will surprise you. And I just exploded
into this campaign that showed the bell that yeah, I
may have some challenges. We all do, but it's okay
and you're not alone. And whatever you do get from
(27:47):
this page, I just hope that you see it and
decide not to give up.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Sure as an athlete, like doing the running myself for
thirty years or so, I have to ask you this,
Were you playing sports before all of this onto mean disease?
Were you active like that in the sports world and
the running world, and then you know, refinding yourself after
the diagnosis must have felt like even a bigger accomplishment,
not just growing to the visuline, but getting back to
that state of athletic A.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Yeah, so I describe I was not as sports star
tom a tomboy. I was very much incidanced. It was
danced in my entire life. I was always in dance
classes and dance competitions, So that definitely hip the toll
on it. I actually don't really talk about it, I'm
much because it's such a It hits such a personal
(28:36):
stop and it's something as happy as I am today
and how much I am grateful for I am today
and how much I have, but she just continued to
grow stronger. That's something that I hope none of these
are not warning because as much as I can dance
today with adaptations, it's not how I was before. And
(29:00):
that's okay. It's just something that I will forever miss
and hopefully when they I'll go back to it now.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
I know you want to think you have a lot
of doctors that help you through this, but also you
were you were maybe listening to your body's warning signs,
and how many people do that?
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Right?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
I mean, what did were there warning signs before the
diagnosis happened, or how did you listen to your body
with all of that.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
When it first happened, Yeah, it's actually something I don't
talk that much also, but it's okay. I did. It
did not feel right one morning, and I did call
the doctor and he said, oh, maybe it's just you know,
it's coming down with that vigress or you getting the flow,
or you know, just just brushed it off. And I said, okay,
(29:42):
And it's right. And after if you did, it's kept
you know, deteriorating. And it's the point that I needed
to be hostialized. And I noticed that it's really, really
really important to listen to your value and to advocate
for yourself. And there's something that's gonna feel right, do
not go with it and seek out of help. It's
(30:03):
better to be hold you're fine, you're fine, you're fine,
and take all the tests and to be seen that
you're fine, versus just you know, listening to one doctor
and just waiting for some reverse to happen.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
All right, you will the experience where the ada is necessary. Right,
the accessibility is necessary. But we're thirty five years and
what can be done to make it more accessible? As
we said earlier, it's not all accessible but what do
you think can be done? Not just in a I
guess physical way with all the accessibility, but just in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
There's a lot more to go, right for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
I said that there's so many different communities out there
that let's say that the VP or things like that,
and I just think that there's so much more work
to be done with the ADA and we're just I
don't know if that's on the back runner, and I
(31:00):
wish they don't do it. And I feel that we are
as a community doing it, but as a nation or
as the world, and that it does again reflected sometimes,
which is why our community is so strong, because we
advocate for each other and try to accommodate with each other.
But it definitely can use I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
Do you feel like these kids, I'm the ones that
you're wide, you're helping on your work, But do you
feel like kids are.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Looking up to you? People are looking up to you?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Now? I mean, you're such a grounded person for a
big eelight on ESPN, and yet you're just you sound
so grounded, so it doesn't sound like it. Let it
get to your head a little bit, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Like you're very grounded.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But do you notice people, hey, we look up to
your shares that type of thing you're seeing.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, I definitely gets stopped here and there and from
adults to children and stay with you know, I think
for a page, I really didn't spile me and I
don't want to get to my head because the reason
why I continue to, you know, share my story is
because I want others to see it and know that
(32:07):
they're not alone. And I know that there is like
under the tunnel, I know that you can look at
but use me, use my story to you know, to
as draw instariation to do what ever you want to do.
And if you have a feeling stuck, I hope that
you see it and say okay, and she can do it,
so can I. And that's that's really my only goal.
(32:28):
I'm not here and I did. I'm not here for
the fandom in the start, and I'm not I don't
care for the spotlight.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Sherry Shore s r o u R Sherry c h
e R I. You can find her on Instagram as well.
I love the story that you said that someone was
not really wanting to do the exercise, you know, go
to the gym in the morning.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
But they saw your videos that Okay, I'm going I
saw the video. It's a great story.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Yeah, it happens somewhere a few times. I'm grateful for that.
If someone's doing stuck, are unmotivated and we need the
extra push, so I'll say like, oh, I stay your page.
And you know if I if Sharry can do it,
then what's my excuse? I have no reason, you know,
I like working, my arms are working on healthy. I
have no reason or excuse not to do anything. And
(33:16):
there's having that momentum, you know, to fresh themselves and
that's really my many message.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Well, I love that I was able to feature you
on the countdown the eighty eight thirty five. Are you
celebrating the eighty eight tomorrow or are you going to
be involved or what's your plans for the weekend?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Just living whatever comes with it. I just I'm just
trying to enjoy the summer and then enjoy my life
whatever way that means, which trying to family, the beach,
I left, go the ocean, So.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yeah, which is I think the best way to honor
the day. Just keep living for sure, living the life,
you know.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Yeah, living my second life, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
All right, Cherry.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Love to having you and we're definitely going to have
you back on as you're story continues to be out
there and and developments that you want to talk about.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
You're welcome back on the One leg A Network.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Thank yous so much for having me
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Hang on one second,
Here's your host, Alex Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, in our eighty eight thirty five countdown, we're
almost there. Tomorrow is the thirty fifth anniversary, and where
I land all of this is to be very honest
with you here on adapting with Alex Garrett. I've had
adapt with my Roleblady, that's true. But I'm more inspired
when I see others who adapt to their life circumstance
(00:29):
that may prove to be inaccessible in the world around them.
That's why we fight to make life more accessible, because
I believe that this podcast is meant to bridge the gap,
as I've been saying, but also to I don't know,
pay it forward. That with all the opportunity to begin
(00:52):
in my life, it's time to make the world more
accessible to others as well. And that's why we're here
today on one leg up, Alex. In my countdown to
thirty five. However, eighty eight thirty five, I want to
shout out someone that's been connected to the Viscardi Center,
now written about in Able News multiple times, Ali Stroker.
(01:15):
You remember Ali? She made history as the first Broadway
star in a wheelchair in the Broadway production of Oklahoma.
How cool is that? And I know for a fact
Ali has spoken at Reach for a Star luncheons before,
and I believe she was at Viscardi Center a couple
of times as well for a celebrity night. So I
(01:37):
got to give a shout out to Ali's Stroker and
here's what was written about her in able News. This
is what I love is that we're building a partnership
with able News. Full disclosure. I am an editor on
the editorial board as well, so to highlight them feels
very close to home. Especially since the Viscardi Center acquired
able News. How big of its story was that. I
(02:00):
think in the thirty five years of eight you know,
disability rights, able News being acquired by Viscarti was such
a game changer and such a great move by doctor
Chris Rosa. And so when you visit the able News
website you'll see the Viscardi Center attached to it. I
think it's brilliant. I think it's making Mscarti Center a
hub for disability news and disability opportunity to thrive in
(02:24):
the world today. But Ali Stroker, as written by Esma
mazo Or Masio, says, Ali Stroker is leading the way
for disabled women in the entertainment industry, They go on
to write. The actress made history as the first wheelchair
user to appear on Broadway as part of the cast
(02:45):
of Deaf West Theater's Spring Awakening, which ran from twenty
and That's Where I Got Started September twenty fifteen to
January twenty sixteen of the Brooks Actions in Theater. In
twenty nineteen, the Tony Award was awarded to her for
Best Featured Actress This is the History Part and a
(03:08):
Musical for her performance as ado Annie in Oklahoma. Award
winner Right There. Stroker used her acceptance speech to offer
words of encouragement to young kids with disabilities. This award
is for every kid out who is watching tonight, has
a disability, has a limitation or a challenge, and who
(03:29):
has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena.
You are meaning you are represented, she said. When she's
not breaking barriers on Broadway, Stroker performs a cabaretio based
on her life experiences at Acclaim. There's across the United States,
from m Kennedy Center Did You Know This? In Washington,
(03:51):
d C. To Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
She was first produced the World on season two of
the reality television series The Glee Project, during which a
second place finish earned her a guest spot on season
four of Glee.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
She's also appeared.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
On Only Murders in the Building and Just Like That
and The Bold Type. Stroker also portrayed disability rights pioneered
Judy Human How About That on an episode of Drunk
History in twenty eighteen, and starred in the Lifetime movie
Christmas ever After in twenty twenty. In twenty twenty one,
she co authored the YA novel young adult novel The
(04:31):
Chance to Fly with Stacy David Viduits, which celebrates authenticity, diversity,
and adaptive choreography. Stroker continues to shine a spotlight on
the importance of authentic disability representation. Keaty carrying forward the
legacy of the ADA. That's a little bit of Ali's Stroker,
And I'll put her website in the description below as well.
(04:53):
But she's definitely someone you want to keep an eye
on in the disability space, in the advocacy space, because
she's living out her life right in front of our
eyes as a Broadway actress. How cool is that? All right?
The other feature tonight, I wanted to bring on is
Sherry Swore sro you are And here's a gal who
(05:19):
was diagnosed with an auto immune disease at the age
of eighteen, right out of high school. And she's made
a lot of her life. And she's not just made
something with her life, she's built her life up to
be an advocate and to move the message forward for
(05:44):
disability rights, for empowering others, and for saying why not
because I can? And she says that in a hashtag
because I Can. We welcome Sherry now to tell talk
about her story of adaptability and always adapting right now
(06:06):
on One Leg Up with Alex Garrett.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Sherry, first of all, thanks for joining One Leg Up
with Alex Garrett.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, my story
has been a journey one day, is still continuing and
probably live for the rest of my life. I grew
up in Brooklyn. I still live in Brooklyn. And then
I was a healthy child and right out of high
school and I was eighteen years old, I was diagnosed
(06:36):
with an automni neurological disorder where my nerves pretty much
attacked my body to a point that I was completely paralyzed.
I couldn't walk, I couldn't talk, I couldn't breathe my
own and I had to learn how to do everything
all over again. And I had that conchance that life.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, what I love about your story is once you
got diagnosed, you didn't really crumble. You actually got back
into rehabit, regraining your regraining your strength. So talk about
how you've been always adapting, because that's sort of a
theme I have here on one leg. If was always adapting,
helping others adapt, how did you adapt to all of
that at eighteen years old?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Oh, shorts, Really, at first I did. I did grumble.
I've loved eighteen and I was still very much of
a child and now fully understanding the scope of what
was ahead of me. And I didn't have a point
where I did actually surrender and then give up and
(07:39):
just said, okay, God, I'm ready for you to take me.
I did what it is I understand the circumstances, and
also because the doctors had lost so much hope in
me and my recovery, so I did. I tried to
give up, and I saw that that wasn't working and
I was only getting worse, and I kind of used
that my advantage to get stronger and ate myself to
(08:03):
getting better and trying to prove to the doctors that yeah,
you can say whatever you want, believe whatever you want.
Back the end of the day, it's all in contend
and if you have a little to fight and a
little to live, then it'll happen. And that's what I did.
And I spent many many months in rehab and I
(08:24):
was strong enough to eventually went a home where I
so needed a lot of assistants and a lot of dependence,
and I was an appasion directory for a very long time,
consistently on a daily basis. And as we were stronger,
I eventually got down my therapy at a facility I
(08:46):
did someone home and kind of implemented that into my
new daily routine.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
You know, I gotta say this, Sherry, I love your
workout videos.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I love that you actually did run a marathon to
raise after all, lot look at that in a second,
but the moment that you realize you can regain the
strength and get back out there. You also got a
college degree, so talk about that transition between high school
to college. I mean, you're coming into college with this
auto immune disease, and talk about that journey.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
So when I wanted to apply to play a Flight
to college and I wanted to go to college, I
had this mind set that I was not going to
attend until I was one hundred percent back to where
I was, and you know, I don't want to depend
on anyone, and I wanted to just go to college
and have that f FO college experience. And I kept
waiting and waiting and waiting, and then I said, there's
(09:42):
never going to be there's never a time bringing ready.
You just got to get up and do it. And
if you are not in this state where you start
would be that's fine because we can learn to adapt
and you can do whatever you need to need to
be done. And I decided to start with one class
and I said, okay, it's one hour, I have it
be you know, and my name adult chair, and I
(10:03):
might say whatever device is to need at the time.
And I loved it. And then the folling semester, I
had a full schedule and a full time student, and
before I knew it, I graduated. I bachelors agree. I
took some time off to figure out what I want
to do with that, and then I decided to go
into social work and I found my manster's in social
(10:25):
work very cool.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
That's awesome that you've been able to build and we're
catching right before your work your day job today.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, sure, I gotta ask this. You did mention the wheelchair,
and I believe you also use a walker. There's a different
kind of mobility you have.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
We're thirty five years of the ADA, and as someone
who had to adapt and utilize the power chair of
the wheelchair and the mobility, I asked you off there.
We tried a first recording and I asked this in
the first recording about if the city of New York
was the perfect place to adapt was successful, and you said, no,
tell me how New York City easier is not accessible
(11:01):
for you?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Yeah, it's definitely continue some works. It definitely has a
lot of obstacles, some point that I now learned to,
you know, research where I was going beforehand, find out
if it is the NBA compliant, if there's stairs, if
there's an elevator, if there's a ramp.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Many times, if I'll attend the venue, I'll reach out
to that before and just say, hey, this is not coming.
What's the protocol. How do I Renevor myself. It's it's unfortunately,
but it's it needs to be done in order for
me to have a fun experience. There are many times
I'll go to a venue, I'll go to a place
and I'll say, like, no disrespect, I here's the suggestion
(11:42):
of how you don't improve with you know, your accommodations.
And it'd be so helpful, not just for me, but
for others. And I feel that it's so important to
you know, raise your voice because a lot of times
it's not about the intention, you know, I just don't
realize it. And if some help educate and half others,
but why not. When I went back to school, I
(12:04):
actually wanted to be an independent as fastile and it
was on a larger campus where I had a place
to building a and then I had a pla to
building within a five minute you know stretch to get there.
And I actually went to the disability division and said,
this is a nice schedule and I would like to be
(12:25):
an independent as fossil. I would like not to have
someone common touch around or you know, just gets where
I need to be. So we actually rearranged my entire
schedule to have all my sizes in two buildings that
were adjacent to each other, and then ended up creating
this program helping others you know, have this option too,
(12:46):
and they were so friendful for it because they didn't
realize that it's it's a complication, and from my end,
I was so grateful that that still have been adjusted.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
It hunter. You say, or which college.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Jes that was in Brookham College of.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Brooklyn College, Okay, and that's such a spacious campus. You
would think it would be accessible. Yeah, so interesting it is.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
It's accessible, just that it's because my schedule was so drastic.
Were at my classitor they were very accommodating.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
While you are making stride for people like yourself and
others with disability, you also break out of the community,
meaning you socialize with by people.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
You sort of just interact with everybody.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
And I feel like that's an important message to tell
others that sort of still are in that.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Little bubble if you will, and say, hey, get out
of that bubble. Let's start all expanding and being in
the within the world. If you will.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Yeah, I mean there's no reason why I should say
in the bubble. And like from my advantage point, I
try to be as independent as possible, and and yeah,
I just walk around there. I do need assistance here
and there, and I've time to realize that people are
wanting to help. You know, if I'm going to an
(14:00):
office or a store and then there's a door that's there,
I don't mind it, and so on, Hey Jimon holding
the door, and then they're very grateful to do it
and then happy to do it. Sometimes people are just
unsure if it's appropriate to ask for of her health,
and it's it's okay to ask for it because they're
more than happy to do it.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
All right, Let's get to the big thing. That guy
on the map, which was this Disney marathon. E News
ESPN covered your story, which is pretty awesome. I mean,
if you go to Sharey's Instagram right now, you could
watch her walking to the finish line, walk running to
the finish line, no mobility aids or anything.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
She just did it on her own two feet. Talk
about that process, Shery, how you got to that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Okay, it's cred a story. So I am a very
big Disney fan. I still believe in happy endings and
fairy tales and then love all the princesses. And I'm
definitely still a child at heart. IAM across a Disney
marathon opportunity, and it was a half marathon, and it
(15:06):
was a consistent of a twenty thousand runners, and I
decided I wanted to participate in twenty sixteen, and I
applied to join, and I received an email back saying
that if I was unable to propel myself in a marathon,
that I was not able to participate. I was like,
(15:29):
you know, safety issued, and I reached that vaccent and said,
I physically cannot push myself at thirteen miles, but I
do have my brother in laws, an elite runner, and
I've offered to push me the entire a marathon, and
Disney gaded some pushbacks saying it's out of their protocol,
(15:49):
it's not safe for the other runners. So I kind
of read in my mission to you know, break that
barrier and tell them that I would not give up
until I said, yeah, so let's figure out a way
to make it happen. And Disney is the place where
dreams were true, and this was my dream to do it,
So let's figure out.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
That shock you when they first said no, I mean,
here's a place that seems so welcoming.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Yet here they are telling you, no, you cannot have
this kind of assistance.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
That's very interesting that they would deny that.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
This is actually very exomic baby that actually happens to
be very very accessible. I think it was more out
of like a safety hazard for the other runners, I understand.
So we worked together and we figured out a way
to make it happen. And in twenty sixteen, my brother
in law and I were the first considered powers you
(16:38):
Will to participate in the Disney Marathon, where he approached
me for the entire a marathon, and twenty seventeen came
along and every shot the Disney again, I said, hey,
I want to participate again. And when I registered on
the West site, there was now an option participating as
a power dull, so that was really cool to see.
(16:59):
So seventeen that was our you know, I was going
to explot me accomplish it, and by the finish line,
I pushed myself across the finish line. And then in
twenty eighteen I was growing stronger physically and I decided
to train and surprise everyone and talbot the finish line.
(17:22):
My brother in law said, my veilchair. I got up
and I pushed him across the finish line. And then
in twenty nineteen, I said, Okay, how are we going
to make this given more cool? I was at the
time still growing stronger as I continued here today and said, okay,
let's train for something really cool. And I got out
(17:44):
of my wheelchair about a half a mile before and
walked independently across the finish line, which was a massive
accomplishment and took a lot of training. And Disney called
Window that story and decided to publish it and advertise it.
And then a few days later, I guess the kind
(18:05):
of blew up and ABC was attracted to it in
the news, then CNN, and then before we know it, it
was all over the place.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Talk about whether you're ever going to do in New
York City marathon, can your body do something like that
for New York City style or is that in the
works at all?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
So actually, my brother inlad and I did participate in
a New York City full marathon. Wow, it was throughout
the five hourrows. That took a lot of time. And
I told him I hope they got that out of
his system because I was never doing that again.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
The mother's eye, I asked you this last time we
talked about your energy, because you know, at a lot
of hospitalization last.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Year in May twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Don't want to really go down memory later on that,
but I just noticed my body was telling me, Hey,
you've done enough for today. And you both seemed like
we're both very active people. So does your body also
tell you, Okay, we're dumbing it. Let's relax a little bit,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I think it's so important to listen to your bout
it and to know when it's not to take a
break and when it's not to follurday. It's also important
to be active and to do what you want to
do and to not let their disabilities stop field. But
it's also very important to know when it's not to rest.
And I've come to realize that if you don't listen,
(19:24):
be valuable to shove it to you in other ways,
and we're going to do force to rest, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
So talk about your independent lifestyle in your workplace then,
because obviously another goal is to get people to work
with the disability they can work. I think that's a
Massachuse to talk about your work style and how you
adapt to that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
On a daily basis.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, for sure, I wanted to wind some then that
was meaningful to me, and I realized that I have
been helping other people go through their challenges on my own,
and I I seem to realize that, hey, am I not?
You know, I use this as a tool to help outthers.
(20:06):
So I did get my master's and social work and
I decided to try it out and so going to
work and like I said, yeah, I made it my track.
It made its my walker, and it's okay. And there
are people there that are willing into help if it's needed.
And even so, there's always a way to adapt into
(20:26):
sonoday and to made it happen. And it's more about
like the will to want it. How bad do you
want to get you mad to find in some extra work,
But it's just a test of how bad do you
want it? And if you want to do it, it
can definitely happen.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
All right.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
I love that you say you were friends with John Stamos.
How did that connection build up? And did Full House
actually help get you through all that? Like what did
you lean on that while you were trying to get
into this rehabbing process.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
I grew up watching Full House. I always had a
crush on John Stamos, I decision is a very comond person.
I went to see one of his Broadway shows and
I got to meet him after the show, and ever
since that show, we've met it to each other and
they kept up with each other and we've befriended each
(21:19):
other throughout the years, and anytime he's in town, he'll
send me a chat with a message saying like, Oh,
I'm going to be here here if you don't want
to come and see me. And he just kept up
to wrap the years, and he's such a kind person.
And the first time that I actually met him, obviously
he didn't know my story. I did know what happened
to me, and I was actually in a much worse
state than I am today, and he left me this
(21:43):
message and I'll never forget and he's like, I don't
know what happened to you. I obviously don't know what
you're going through, but whatever, they you're longer than I'll
ever try to kill you. So the fact that they're
here is systemling and shows your strength and don't ever
let that strength go. And I always tell them that
I've never forgot to saying that because it has definitely
(22:05):
pushed me along the way, especially in moments where I
needed an autivation.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
I love it, and your family, obviously through all of this,
has been supporting you day by day. I'm sure since
it's star starting, were they in shock as much as
you were out? Did they react when at first all
did diagnose its happened, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
For sure. I'm very, very blessed to have an amazing
support this gime. I have an incredible family, immediate family,
extended family, friends that have become my family, and the
community that's amazing and supported and has been to me,
been with me the entire way. When I was first diagnosed,
(22:48):
I don't think that I or anyone else understood the
magnitude of it, and it just happened so quickly, and
once we realized and that was been much worse. They
never let my side. My friends never left my side,
even when I was in the eyes to you and
I physically asked when I want to come and see
(23:10):
me because I did not feel well physically, mentally, emotionally.
I just don't want to be there anyone. And my
friends did not let them stop them. They just they
just stuff and scrubs and came in and marching around
and dancing around, and they knew I needed it, even
if I didn't realize I needed it, And they had
(23:31):
never left my side, continued to never meet my side,
and I'm very blessed, and I know that I've blessed,
and I always tried to remind myself how luckily I am,
and truthfully do not think I would be where I
am today without their continue my so forth.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I love it, and I love your optimism and positivity,
and we need something like that as we ad ad
eight thirty five, because I do feel like some people
I don't want to say sit in.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
The disability, but they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
They don't expand beyond that, they sort of living it
and they let define them. And you're not letting defind it.
You are out there kicking ass every day. And I
know it took a long way to get to that point.
But for those that may be upset they're disabled or whatever,
But how do they find that road to not not
be upset but just drive them to go further?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Mhmm. I mean, yeah, listen, I don't disability to define me,
but it definitely has Shafe tigh On today. And yeah,
if you're feeling well and you're feeling sad and you're
stuck in that's okay. It's important to feel and you
should definitely not you know, I did it, and if
(24:41):
you don't address it, it's just gonna sit and then
build up and then and manifest in other ways. So
definitely feel it. I just you know, and don't sit
there too long because the longer just sit there, you're
missing out all the things that you can experience. So
that's pretty much also why I started, because I can page.
I've just you know, showing the world that, yeah, I
(25:02):
have disability and I may have some challenges. What everyone does.
Everyone has their own you know, own craft to deal
with and that's okay. And just to know that they're
all here, we're all ready to help, and we're all
you know, trying to live this in theful life. And
as long as you find a way to do it,
(25:24):
you can definitely achieve it.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
All right.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I gotta ask you this, As a social worker, do
you do you both able bodied and disabled clients?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Like, what's the clientele range?
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Yeah? I actually did. I actually specialize in trauma and
work with children. I think I subconsciously chose that because
I can relate to it very well. I was a
child that to travel, and I think that especially for children.
(25:55):
I mean, people are always saying, oh, children are so resilient,
and then you find out ten years there that this
person who's in therapy for trying to dress what happened
in their childhood. So I don't know how it done
as they really are, but they definitely had a special
spark in them. And if they're going through something or
I need some assistance, I'm so happy to be ill
(26:17):
the one to show them and remind them of the.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I love it, Sherry, this has been awesome. One last
couple of things here. Why did you start that? Because
I can campaign because that's sort of my pitch to
me was from Steve Cohen. Thanks for him for introducing us,
by the way, But why because I can't. Was that
something you woke up in today I'm going to start
using this? What was the motivation for using that specific constuct?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
So I love as that which I mentioned earlier. And
I had noticed that I was bumping into old classmates
from high school or really just said anyone, and and
I saw a little morse in their eyes, and they
felt so good to me, and and I was just
good to myself, Like, why do you feel like I'm
(27:04):
not just happy? I'm the happiest I've ever been. So
I kind of use that I feel too, sort of
start this because I can't page, which happened in by accident,
and I wanted to show the world that, yeah, I
may have challenges that I ris up to nick, and
I didn't mean that I can't live my life or
(27:25):
be happy. So I started this model. I may not
be able to do the things you do, but what
I can do will surprise you. And I just exploded
into this campaign that showed the bell that yeah, I
may have some challenges. We all do, but it's okay
and you're not alone. And whatever you do get from
(27:47):
this page, I just hope that you see it and
decide not to give up.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Sure as an athlete, like doing the running myself for
thirty years or so, I have to ask you this,
Were you playing sports before all of this onto mean disease?
Were you active like that in the sports world and
the running world, and then you know, refinding yourself after
the diagnosis must have felt like even a bigger accomplishment,
not just growing to the visuline, but getting back to
that state of athletic A.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Yeah, so I describe I was not as sports star
tom a tomboy. I was very much incidanced. It was
danced in my entire life. I was always in dance
classes and dance competitions, So that definitely hip the toll
on it. I actually don't really talk about it, I'm
much because it's such a It hits such a personal
(28:36):
stop and it's something as happy as I am today
and how much I am grateful for I am today
and how much I have, but she just continued to
grow stronger. That's something that I hope none of these
are not warning because as much as I can dance
today with adaptations, it's not how I was before. And
(29:00):
that's okay. It's just something that I will forever miss
and hopefully when they I'll go back to it now.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
I know you want to think you have a lot
of doctors that help you through this, but also you
were you were maybe listening to your body's warning signs,
and how many people do that?
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Right?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
I mean, what did were there warning signs before the
diagnosis happened, or how did you listen to your body
with all of that.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
When it first happened, Yeah, it's actually something I don't
talk that much also, but it's okay. I did. It
did not feel right one morning, and I did call
the doctor and he said, oh, maybe it's just you know,
it's coming down with that vigress or you getting the flow,
or you know, just just brushed it off. And I said, okay,
(29:42):
And it's right. And after if you did, it's kept
you know, deteriorating. And it's the point that I needed
to be hostialized. And I noticed that it's really, really
really important to listen to your value and to advocate
for yourself. And there's something that's gonna feel right, do
not go with it and seek out of help. It's
(30:03):
better to be hold you're fine, you're fine, you're fine,
and take all the tests and to be seen that
you're fine, versus just you know, listening to one doctor
and just waiting for some reverse to happen.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
All right, you will the experience where the ada is necessary. Right,
the accessibility is necessary. But we're thirty five years and
what can be done to make it more accessible? As
we said earlier, it's not all accessible but what do
you think can be done? Not just in a I
guess physical way with all the accessibility, but just in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
There's a lot more to go, right for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
I said that there's so many different communities out there
that let's say that the VP or things like that,
and I just think that there's so much more work
to be done with the ADA and we're just I
don't know if that's on the back runner, and I
(31:00):
wish they don't do it. And I feel that we are
as a community doing it, but as a nation or
as the world, and that it does again reflected sometimes,
which is why our community is so strong, because we
advocate for each other and try to accommodate with each other.
But it definitely can use I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
Do you feel like these kids, I'm the ones that
you're wide, you're helping on your work, But do you
feel like kids are.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Looking up to you? People are looking up to you?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Now? I mean, you're such a grounded person for a
big eelight on ESPN, and yet you're just you sound
so grounded, so it doesn't sound like it. Let it
get to your head a little bit, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Like you're very grounded.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
But do you notice people, hey, we look up to
your shares that type of thing you're seeing.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, I definitely gets stopped here and there and from
adults to children and stay with you know, I think
for a page, I really didn't spile me and I
don't want to get to my head because the reason
why I continue to, you know, share my story is
because I want others to see it and know that
(32:07):
they're not alone. And I know that there is like
under the tunnel, I know that you can look at
but use me, use my story to you know, to
as draw instariation to do what ever you want to do.
And if you have a feeling stuck, I hope that
you see it and say okay, and she can do it,
so can I. And that's that's really my only goal.
(32:28):
I'm not here and I did. I'm not here for
the fandom in the start, and I'm not I don't
care for the spotlight.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Sherry Shore s r o u R Sherry c h
e R I. You can find her on Instagram as well.
I love the story that you said that someone was
not really wanting to do the exercise, you know, go
to the gym in the morning.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
But they saw your videos that Okay, I'm going I
saw the video. It's a great story.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Yeah, it happens somewhere a few times. I'm grateful for that.
If someone's doing stuck, are unmotivated and we need the
extra push, so I'll say like, oh, I stay your page.
And you know if I if Sharry can do it,
then what's my excuse? I have no reason, you know,
I like working, my arms are working on healthy. I
have no reason or excuse not to do anything. And
(33:16):
there's having that momentum, you know, to fresh themselves and
that's really my many message.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Well, I love that I was able to feature you
on the countdown the eighty eight thirty five. Are you
celebrating the eighty eight tomorrow or are you going to
be involved or what's your plans for the weekend?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Just living whatever comes with it. I just I'm just
trying to enjoy the summer and then enjoy my life
whatever way that means, which trying to family, the beach,
I left, go the ocean, So.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yeah, which is I think the best way to honor
the day. Just keep living for sure, living the life,
you know.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Yeah, living my second life, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
All right, Cherry.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Love to having you and we're definitely going to have
you back on as you're story continues to be out
there and and developments that you want to talk about.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
You're welcome back on the One leg A Network.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Thank yous so much for having me
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Hang on one second,
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