At 11 years old, Sakina Shamsi has a zest for life. Nothing can hold her back! The New Jersey native has many hobbies and passions, spurred on by her incredibly supportive friends and family.
Although living with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 has its challenges, her disability doesn’t stop Sakina from doing what she loves. Whether its crafting or baking, enjoying nature or horseback riding, Sakina lives a full and active life.
“My friends and family push me to do new things every day,” Sakina said.
To help maintain her independence, Sakina uses an Quantum® Edge® 3 Power Wheelchair with iLevel® technology. Sakina loves the iLevel feature on her power wheelchair. With 12 inches of elevation at 4.5 mph, Sakina can experience her world on a whole new level.
“My wheelchair has helped me see the world from a completely different perspective. It gives me the independence to do things I couldn’t do before,” Sakina said.
With the hope of encouraging and motivating others, Sakina uses her Instagram account to share with people what it’s like to live with a disability. She is extremely active in the disability community, participating in fundraisers and special need events. Plus, Sakina’s school does an annual Walk-N-Roll for her and another student who lives with SMA, in efforts to raise awareness.
Having the ability to attend school with her friends and classmates is a huge accomplishment for Sakina, as she has been home schooled her entire life.
“This is the first year I’ve been able to attend middle school and stay healthy,” Sakina said. “It’s something I never believed possible, but here I am!”