This summer I had the pleasure of attending the Cody Unser First Step Foundation Golf Fiesta. My wonderful brother, Buddy Peltier, attended the tournament with me. The tournament invited athletes from all sports. They included Darrell Lamonica, Jim Kelly, Al Unser Jr., Luc Longley, Pedro Guererro, just to name a few. Fortunately, my brother got to play in the tournament along side Pedro Guererro. Cody's mother, Shelley, and I decided it would be fun to surprise Cody and not tell her I was coming. It was hard to keep it a surprise, because I had to lie in every e-mail we exchanged leading up to the event. She was pleasantly surprised.

The tournament was at a resort in the beautiful setting of Albuquerque, NM. The weekend included an auction where they had all sorts of sports memorabilia up for bid, a two-day golf tournament, and a banquet/concert as a finale. As a special fundraiser, they set up the 18th hole where the teams had to hit their approach shot onto the green from a wheelchair. Marilyn Hamilton, the founder of Quickie wheelchairs, played the role of the bill collector. Teams then had the option of playing the "wheelchair" shot, or buying a second, standing approach shot for $40. It was comical, challenging, and gave each team a glimpse of just how difficult life can be from a wheelchair.

Overall, my brother and I had a wonderful time. Throughout the tournament I was continually reminded of how much Cody Unser was meant to be an advocate for all persons with Transverse Myelitis. She was out there each day raising money while telling her story to the attendees and press. I can honestly say that I am truly lucky to have Cody Unser as a friend.

The following is the speech I gave at the banquet.

Hello everyone. First let me say how happy I am to be here, both as a fellow person with TM and as a friend to Cody and her family. It was two years ago at the first International TM symposium when I met Shelley and heard about Cody. Seeing and meeting other TMers for the first time brought back many feelings. It was 22 years ago to be exact. I was a happy go lucky, healthy 12-year-old girl. In a few short hours, I went from running around doing cartwheels to a c6-7 paraplegic bound to a wheelchair. It took a month before my parents, family, and I heard the words Transverse Myelitis. That month was an agonizing time of seeing my family through a glass window for the docs were afraid I was contagious. I went through many tests, and no one would answer my question, "am I going to die?" Hearing a diagnosis of TM didn't seem to clear the uncertainty of what my future held, instead it only gave me that feeling of being on a desert island. My experience is not unique, many other fellow TMers are at first thought of as, "it is all in their head" and do not get diagnosed right away.

When I met Cody face to face, which was only a month ago, I couldn't help but notice so much of myself in her. Her sheer determination to "make a difference" shows through. I, too, decided at a young age that I wasn't going to let this defeat me. I went on to graduate from high school and college, got married, had a baby, and have worked as a tax accountant for the past 12 years. Seven years ago the TMA was founded by a couple whose daughter got TM at 18 months. Our membership now reaches over 3300 people worldwide. As the treasurer of the TMA, I am proud to be a part of an organization that has educated many doctors, caregivers, and TM victims on the basics of TM and given moral support to all. We had our first TM symposium two years ago, and, as I mentioned earlier, last month the 2nd TM symposium was held. Next summer we are planning a Children's Workshop for children with TM and their families. Our mission is to educate, give moral support, direct fellow Tmers to physicians, and ultimately find a cure. Watching Cody and her Foundation these past few years has only aided our cause! Their Foundation has been remarkable at making changes at a national level.

Let me end by thanking all of you for being here and helping us "make a difference." Cody, I know someday soon we will both be walking. Until then, I'm right here with you, in the same fight, with the same hope!