Growing up, I was a water baby. We lived near a lake, had a pool in our backyard, and as soon as I was old enough, I joined a swim team. By 10, I was winning local events.

I thought my sports career was over once I got into a wheelchair. That was the hardest reality I had to face.

I made it to the top five on 'Dancing with the Stars.' To me, that was just a tremendous accomplishment.

We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them, and conquer them.

A family living at the poverty level is unlikely to be able to afford a computer at home. Even with a computer, access to the Internet is another significant expense. A child might borrow a book from a public library; but it is not possible to take a computer home.

Our family was poor, but my parents gave us money for education.

How can we say we're for family values when so many women in the United States have to jeopardize their livelihood to take a few weeks off from work after giving birth? Should a man have to sacrifice his economic security to take care of his sick mother or his wife returning wounded from active duty?

Time is the father of truth, its mother is our mind.