Brandi Fields said she remembers thinking she’d never walk again.
At 27 years old, Fields was shot by her stepfather in a Kansas City, Mo., suburb, striking her spine and rendering her paralyzed.
“I didn’t have any motion or sensory function. That was pretty devastating,” she told The Dallas Morning News on Sunday.
The physical and emotional challenges weighed on her, but she credits a North Texas business with helping her discover her strength. A month and six days after she was shot, Fields took her first assisted steps after the shooting.
“Being part of [Adaptive Training Foundation] has been something meaningful... because I need that,” she said Sunday. “And it came into my life when I was feeling down, depressed, I was making progress, but not enough progress to really feel that I was believing in myself [that I can walk again].”
Now, Fields is walking again, and on Sunday, she was in Arlington for an MLB All-Star week event spreading awareness about Carrollton-based Adaptive Training Foundation and adaptive sports.
Dozens attended All-Star Legacy most inclusive workout supporting the foundation, which provides “access and inclusion to individuals living with physical or traumatic impairments by empowering them with exercise and community,” according to it’s website. The workout was part of the 2024 All-Star legacy project that strives to make a “lasting impact” MLB All-Star host cities.
“In the past, for the last 10 years [ATF had] a facility, but this will help them to be on the road and to support the community everywhere,” said April Brown, MLB senior vice president of social responsibility.
The league’s support is part of a $7 million initiative designed to benefit children, veterans and first responders and low-income families in Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth.
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“Bringing this part of the program to other parts of Texas is really important for us,” said Karin Morris, senior vice president, community impact at Texas Rangers Baseball Club and executive director of Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
The foundation was started after David Vobora, a former NFL player, met Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee. After customizing a workout for Mills and learning more about the veteran community, Vobora started ATF as a nonprofit in 2014 to “bridge the gap from basic functional rehabilitation to adapted sport,” according to its website.
It’s supported by donations and does not charge its members, its website said.
Fields said the physical improvements the foundation gave her are important but she was surprised by the sense of community she gained at ATF.
Working through the mindfulness that ATF provides has helped her to not just empower herself, but to become a better athlete.
“There is nothing that I can’t do now, I just have to learn how to do it differently than most people, but I never take a no for an answer,” Fields said. “... I’ve already seen the brink of death, so why not take this second chance at life to live?”
Adaptive Training Foundation has open workouts every Friday. They can be found on their website along with more community activities they organize.
“This initiative gives the message that every step counts, it comes in your mind, it comes in your body, and never give yourself up, you are a champion just for getting up each and every morning, and you can reach your goals. If you have physical activity goals, you can reach them,” Brown said.
