DVIDS – News – Wheelchair rugby is a family affair for one Soldier’s Family

ORLANDO, FL. (August 25, 2022) — Spectators watching wheelchair rugby observe on the 2022 Division of Protection Warrior Video games count on to listen to the chairs crashing collectively, see the collision of athletes and turn into mesmerized by the velocity of the wheels.

What they didn’t count on to see throughout a Staff Military observe was a mom and child out on the courtroom altering a tire after a collision. “There was a tire that wanted to be modified and ‘mama’ was the particular person for the job,” stated Liannie Rodriguez, with fun and one yr outdated child Leila in tow on her hip!

Liannie is married to retired U.S. Military Employees Sgt. Joel Rodriguez, a member of Staff Military who took up wheelchair rugby after an accident left him a paraplegic. “After I bought damage, I began doing wheelchair rugby immediately and on the time I wanted a caregiver with me all over the place I went. Liannie jumped in full power and discovered quick and requested how she may help the crew,” Rodriguez stated with an enormous prideful grin. His bride discovered the best way to change tires and repair rugby chairs and wheelchairs.

“She’s unimaginable!” he added. “If I’ve stated it as soon as I’ll say it once more, she is likely one of the greatest if not the very best wheelchair mechanic on the market.”

Liannie stated for years she’s been concerned with Joel’s wheelchair rugby profession and if it means caring for wheelchairs or crew members, she’s up for the duty. “It’s what we do…rugby is a household affair for us and adaptive sports activities usually are as nicely, so it’s what we do as a crew,” added Liannie. Staff Rodriguez additionally contains their seven-year-old son Elijah, whose complete life entails being a cheerleader for dad on his journey.

A part of Rodriguez’s journey to recuperate and overcome from a automotive accident eight years in the past is thru adaptive sports activities. The Warrior Video games is an outlet providing wheelchair rugby, amongst many adaptive sports activities, and a contest between navy companies. The rugby rock star’s place on Staff Military over the previous six years has taken him all over the world competing in Invictus Video games in Australia and the Netherlands on Staff U.S.A. It’s an accomplishment Liannie says at occasions leaves her speechless.

“There are not any phrases,” she defined “To see him in his aspect is joyful. It’s all his worlds colliding. It’s Military earlier than his harm, its military after harm, its adaptive sports activities, it’s competitors and now its management for him.”

Rodriguez is in the course of transitioning from competitor to educate within the wheelchair rugby enviornment. He performs for USA Rugby professionally and is now the coach as an alternative of a participant on Staff Military within the wheelchair rugby competitors on the 2022 Division of Protection Warrior Video games on the ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities Advanced.

“It’s a proud second as a spouse, as a caregiver, as a good friend, as a household,” stated the very best wheelchair mechanic on the market!