In elementary school, she started going to a summer camp through Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The camp was designed for children with spina bifida, like Christina, and she fell in love with the thrill of adaptive sports. She began playing on youth teams through BlazeSports, and basketball quickly became her favorite. Eventually, she met teammates who told her about another playing opportunity — one made possible through Shepherd Center’s Alias Family Sports Teams. 

Shepherd Center’s sports teams, open to former Shepherd Center patients and to community members, provide opportunities to compete and travel while serving as a support system for athletes with disabilities. 

For Christina, Shepherd’s sports teams represented something else — a chance to grow and learn more about her potential, on and off the court. In high school, she started playing softball, swimming, and road bicycle racing, with the Shepherd Sluggers, Shepherd Sharks, and Shepherd Spinners, respectively. But she found her home on the basketball court with the Shepherd Stealers.

“Blaze Juniors was somewhat competitive, and being an athlete, going to that next level with Shepherd’s teams is what helped me get better at my sport,” Christina says. “It also got me out of my comfort zone, playing with people from different ages and backgrounds. I became less shy and made so many important friendships.

“Honestly, Shepherd made me who I am today. Not just playing but just life lessons. How to be fully independent. I traveled on the team without my family, so I learned how to navigate the road and be responsible for myself. That was invaluable for me.”

Christina had hoped playing with Shepherd Center would help her grow. What she hadn’t expected was that it would also chart a path forward for her, both academically and competitively. A path that would take her to the University of Illinois, home to one of the oldest and most illustrious adaptive basketball programs. 

“Going to college and playing college ball would not have happened without playing at Shepherd,” Christina says. “For one thing, I was seen by college coaches at our tournaments. And I definitely wouldn’t have been prepared for the level of competition in college if I hadn’t played with Shepherd Center.”

Fast forward more than a decade and Christina is back in the metro Atlanta area. Now 32, she’d gone a while without playing after graduating from Illinois — work and adulting will do that. But two years ago, she reconnected with Shepherd Center sports, sparking her love for the game once again. Today, she’s a veteran sparkplug on the Shepherd Stealers. She’s also mentoring her younger teammates and coaching junior teams in the local BlazeSports leagues.

“I absolutely love coaching,” Christina says. “Being able to give back with the younger generation brings such joy to me. Seeing their smiles and loving the sport as much as I do. That’s probably my favorite thing. ”

Just don’t assume that it’s only Coach Christina now. Christina the player is as competitive as ever. And she’s dreamed up a new dream to pursue: Get an invitation to try out for the Team USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team in advance of the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. 

“I’m kicking it into gear for that now with training, diet, workouts, all of it,” Christina says. “Why not give it a try, right? That’s what I’ve learned from this journey. Put yourself out there and try!"

Written by Phillip Jordan

Shepherd Center's team, the Shepherd Stealers, took first place in the event, which drew four teams -- the Charlottesville Cardinals, Lakeshore Storm, Orlando Magic and Shepherd Stealers -- from around the nation. The Orlando Magic took second place, and Paul Schulte of that team was named Most Valuable Player. This was the 20th year for the annual wheelchair basketball tournament, which is held in early November.

"Shepherd Center continues to be a leader in the disabled sports community by serving as a training center for all adaptive sports and by providing education and expertise in athletic conditioning to enhance performance and wellness," says sports teams coordinator Matt Edens.

Shepherd Center sponsors 11 sports teams, which provide individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in athletic competition on a local, national and international level. Sports team members support the hospital’s mission by providing community awareness, peer support and demonstrating lifelong wellness.

Edens and Shepherd Center recreation therapy staff members introduce sports opportunities to inpatients and day program participants. Early access to sports equipment during inpatient rehabilitation allows the patient time to assess what equipment is the most appropriate before purchasing personal equipment, Edens explained. Also, it allows the patient to gain the knowledge necessary to become an advocate in their own community using the resources and experience gained at Shepherd Center.

“Participation in sports and recreation can have a profound impact on individuals with spinal cord and brain injuries,” Edens said.

In addition to helping participants achieve independence, adaptive sports can have the following benefits:

• Physical improvements in strength, coordination, balance, endurance, pulmonary function and weight control.
• Reduced likelihood of medical complications, such as skin breakdown, pneumonia and muscle atrophy.
• Reduced risk of many chronic diseases.
• Increased life expectancy.
• Greater levels of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy.
• Greater life satisfaction.
• Reduced anxiety, depression and enhanced mood.
• Greater likelihood of employment, with less absenteeism and enhanced productivity.
• Greater level of reintegration into the community and an active and productive life.

For people interested in joining a Shepherd Center sports team, more information is available at shepherd.org/sports. Membership on a Shepherd Center sports team is open to athletes with any type of a physical disability, as long as the disability falls within the guidelines of the sport.

Shepherd sports include basketball, quad rugby, fencing, power soccer, racing, handcycling, swimming, bass fishing, water skiing, softball and indoor shooting.