Athletes Corner
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Frankie Dashnaw |
The Athletes Corner is a new feature for Healthy Athletes Update. This will be a regular section in the newsletter.
An Interview with Frankie Dashnaw by Renee Dease
When Quitting is Healthy at Special Olympics
Frankie Dashnaw, a former Special Olympics Virginia athlete and 10-year Special Olympics employee, recently noticed episodes of shortness of breath. He didn't think much of it though, until it happened often like walking home from the Metro, on his way to work and while taking walks during his lunch break. As of today, Frankie has been smoke-free for almost a year. Frankie shared information about his determination and courage through the process of quitting smoking. Many people, like Frankie, have tried to be tobacco-free. From my interview with Frankie and his answers below, I have no doubt that he will continue to be a Healthy Athletes success story in the years to come.
Why did you decide to quit smoking?
I started coughing and getting shortness of breath while walking. I also talked with a co-worker and friend who managed one of the Healthy Athletes programs in my office and I had the chance to learn about the bad things that happen when you smoke and the nice things about being smoke-free. From all of this, I decided to work on living a healthier life.
Have you ever tried to quit before? If so, what made this time special?
Yes, I have tried to quit four or five times. To quit this last time was hard, but it was different because I'm tired of wheezing and having trouble breathing. I know this comes from smoking and I want to be healthy. My co-worker also showed me a bottle of tar [the Tar Jar] and I realized then what smoking can do to you.
What is the best thing about being tobacco-free?
I feel better! Now, I think back on it, I did it [quit smoking] without a thought. I had to do it on my own time when I was ready. There is no question that I needed to quit smoking.
What would you say to friends or other athletes who would like to quit smoking?
Your health is very important. I feel much better these days since quitting. No more shortness of breath, no more wheezing and bad coughing. And I am able to save money!
Frankie enjoys softball, floor hockey and ice skating now more than ever since he has been tobacco-free. He works as a Helpdesk Assistant in the Special Olympics Information Technology Department. Frankie brings the same remarkable determination in being smoke-free to everything he does. We are all very proud of Frankie here at Special Olympics headquarters and we will do an update on his continued success in the near future.
Getting Back to the Roots
by Kester Edwards, former aquatics athlete from Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago, International Global Messenger (Class of 1998-2000) and Special Olympics employee
Kevern Campbell, a 19-year-old athlete from Tobago (the smaller island of Trinidad) and first-time World Games participant, was recently in Shanghai for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. He had been playing football (soccer) for only two years before being selected as a member of the Special Olympics Trinidad & Tobago team that competed in Shanghai. Kevern was also one of the thousands of athletes seen at Healthy Athletes during the Games.
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Kester Edwards (left back row in orange) visits with students at his former school, Happy Haven School, in Signal Hill, Tobago. |
His coach, Trevor Lindsay, was concerned because Kevern had stopped eating and appeared to be in pain in his mouth. Lindsay, a coach and volunteer for 25 years, approached me to see if one of the dentists at Special Smiles could examine Kevern. Dr. Steven Perlman, Global Clinical Advisor of Special Smiles, diagnosed an acute abscess in one of Kevern's teeth and recommended immediate treatment. Kevern was taken to a local Chinese hospital, but unfortunately Dr. Perlman was not notified as to Kevern's subsequent treatment after seeing him at the screening.
Kevern is attending Happy Haven School in Signal Hill, Tobago - the same school that I myself attended many years ago when I was a Special Olympics athlete. Since I was going home to Trinidad and Tobago to visit my family, I decided to see how Kevern was doing during that visit. I made a point to go back to my “roots” by visiting Happy Haven and had a chance to see Kevern and to find out about his experience - and to see if his dental problem had been resolved.
Kevern, who is very shy and soft-spoken, mentioned how proud his family was of him and his accomplishments at the World Games (he won a silver medal in football). He also told me he had been seen by a dentist in Tobago and that with treatment they were able to save his tooth from being pulled. Kevern is now able to perform well on the football field because he is no longer in pain.
For me, the trip home was a chance to give thanks to my school and to my teachers for providing me the opportunity that led me to my current position at Special Olympics International. In the eyes of the students I saw myself at that age, full of curiosity at what was ahead of me. I wanted the students to see all the potential that they have and to share my experiences with them. I was very moved by the welcome I received at the school and happy to have the chance to talk and realize how children with intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities are still not recognized by society and are still struggling to be accepted and embraced. As small as Trinidad and Tobago is, changes can be made; as small as the words may be, changes can be made. And from small roots, large changes can be made.
Return to Healthy Athletes Update, Spring 2008
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