Amaryah Lee
Amaryah is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor and former athlete. For a time after her TBI, she didn’t consider herself an athlete, but today, thanks to Angel City Sports, she shares, “I can say that I am a current athlete again.”
Amaryah heard about Angel City Sports (ACS) in May 2023 through her Stroke/TBI support group, Rehab Without Walls. Prior to this support group Zoom meeting, she felt hopeless and depressed. When she heard about ACS, she felt that something was telling her to, “see what this is all about. It was like I was destined to be a part of this organization. I’m thankful because I really needed encouragement and positivity at this specific time in my life. I also needed activity. I was staying in my apartment with no desire to leave, which was not serving my emotional and physical health. ACS has been a very positive and uplifting experience that I am very grateful for.”
Amaryah continues “I think sports are important for those with a disability, not only for the serotonin and dopamine boosts that improve mental and emotional health and reduce anxiety and depression, but for those that were athletes, before becoming disabled, sports bring positive emotions, better mental health outcomes, and improved confidence. Angel City Sports ensures that sports are not eliminated from our lives just because of our disabilities. Angel City Sports gives us back this piece of our lives. It is very encouraging to still be able to participate in sports; and, as I learned later, even compete. What elevates this organization even more is to be amongst so many others, just like me. Those I can relate to and vice versa. It’s also a great opportunity to learn and be amongst others that bring their specific ability to the sport and observe how they master their sport. ACS has helped make life worth living for me.”
After learning about ACS, she began perusing the calendar of events on the website and found clinics that matched her interests. She selected adaptive golf and air rifle and made the trek from Orange County to the respective LA clinic destinations. She was super excited and curious as her last golfing experience was miniature golfing at Mulligan’s and this was before the car accident that changed her life. After adaptive golf, she learned about the Angel City Games, which was a transformation experience.
“The entire Angel City Sports Games weekend, 4 days of sport, was a true highlight for me. I only planned to visit for maybe 2 days, for the activities and sports that I planned to participate in, but I was compelled to return for the entire event. I learned about a couple of sports that I was unaware of like fencing. The event was very educational as well as encouraging. It just felt so good to be around kind people, celebrating our ability to do any sport.”
Amaryah use to be a swimming instructor and found her way to the swim clinic at the Angel CIty Games. She had not swum in a while and due to difficulties with her memory, it was a challenge to remember how to breathe and swim like she used to. Her instructor could see what her challenges were and helped her modify three things in her attempts to re-learn and he had her swimming just like she remembered.
“I was so elated to be able to swim, like I used to, again. I have swum all my life. Swimming has been a significant part of my life as well. It is part of my identity and it is one of my favorite things. ACS has encouraged and uplifted me by giving swimming back to me. It is only because of ACS that I haven’t lost my favorite exercising activity/sport. The coaches, volunteers, and workers were all absolutely exceptional as well. When asked what Angel City Sports means to her, she says, “It means a place where I can connect with others with disabilities. It means a place where I can learn to play and compete in sports. It means an organization that is holistically kind, uplifting and a place that I want to be. ACS makes me want to be included and stay involved. ACS means being set free from depression and hopelessness. It means, a reason to live. It means, the opportunity and privilege to be amongst kind and genuine people that care; give of themselves; reciprocate love; recognize sincerity and kindred hearts and minds. Learning and mastering sports is the cherry on the top. As you can tell, Angel City Sports means a lot to me.”
