January 01, 2005
An Amazing Comeback
From the St. Petersburg Times: While most children shopped for their Halloween costumes in mid October, Joey Chiavaroli was
undergoing a 5 1/2-hour operation to correct a spinal abnormality caused by his congenital spina bifida.
Two weeks later, the 9-year-old wheelchair racing champion found himself at qualifiers for the 2005 Junior National Disabilities Games, which this year are in Tampa.
"I had registered him just in case, but we really didn't expect him to be able to participate," said his dad, Randy Chiavaroli. "He just wanted to go to watch his friends try out, but when he got there, he decided he wanted to give it a try."
Explained Joey, "My dad gets me motivated, but I push myself to win. It's kind of hard work, but I enjoy it."
Joey’s website is http://www.joeywheelchairracing.com/