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Show Wednesday. September 2, 1981, THE HERALD, Prove, Utah-P- 17 age Timely issues, news, features, including family, food, fashion Today Positive Attitude Makes a Winner By APRYL COX declares. "I take it as a challenge. A lot of things are different and I try to make them as normal as possible. I like to see what 1 can do. Many people think my mom feeds me, dresses me, puts me in the car, but I'm more independent. "The people at the hospital did everything for me and I didn't like that. I wanted to be independent as quickly as I could." His parents, Larry and Pat Schlappi, were a great support to Mike. They were probably more disturbed about his paralysis than he was, Mike says. "I honestly think it's sometimes harder for my parents and friends than for me. I think they felt almost worse than I did. My father took it the hardest. We had spent so much time in Herald Staff Writer Last of Four Parts Mike's friend shook the bullets out of his father's gun, pointed the weapon at Mike and fired. He learned too late that the gun had not been completely emptied. The bullet entered Mike's right chest, passed through his lung and hit his spine. Mike's life was about to change, and he knew it the moment he was shot. Death seemed a real possibility for a short time. After three days in intensive care and three more days in the hospital, he moved to Holy Cross Hospital for rehabilitation, totaling his stay to more than a month. Three years later, Mike Schlappi of Orem is 18, handsome, athletic, past studentbody president of Mountain View High School, listed in Who" Who in American High School Students, the recipient of the first award of excellence from his high school, a member of the National Honor Society who graduated with a grade point average of 3.85, and was a member of prom royalties for the last three years. He will attend BYU this year on a leadership scholarship. Mike is paralyzed from the waist down and spends much of his time in an armless wheelchair. (The arms just get in his way.) But he doesn't let his handicap stop him from achieving. "I'm still the same person in the head. I figure we all have handicaps, it's just that mine is seen. It doesn't bother me being called handicapped because I know I'm still normal," Mike aMrtioc nnH httnina "It was my handicap. I knew I had because of his accident. found a to do everything that I did "I've always had a good attitude, before. way I from day one. I don't tell myself can't do something until I've tried it. My only "Since I've been hurt. I tried limitation is going upstairs. There's a water you could think of everything way to compensate for everything else skiing, basketball, tennis. I found that I other than that." can do about everything with a little bit Mike participates in many sports of adjustment. It's a little different and tennis, basketball, swimming, ping a little harder. I like the challenge of it pong, weight lifting and track. The first all." time he competed in a track meet he was named rookie of the year. He Mike is frank about his paralysis and doesn't want to "push himself" on anyone. He says he understands if people sometimes act embarrassed around him because they may not know how much he can do. V- - "I've had people ask me stupid questions like if I still have blood in my legs. I guess they are just naive." The president addresses the A frequent question asked of Mike concerns his relationship with the friend who accidentally shot him. "The Ust Junior "I've learned a lot of things. When people ask if I would rather be in a wheelchair or not, I'd have to say probably not. I've missed football and snow skiing, but that's alright. I've learned a hundred things I probably KNIT-WIT- Register Now Twice a week classes include: Ballet, Jazz, Kicks, Splits, Marching, Rhythm & Showmanship 3 Ages 3-- 4; is considering going into law or physical therapy and plans to serve a mission for the LDS Church in January. fe. b&k ew- 225-752- 5 of this complex subject is: the process of eating and using food. Fortunately for us, we don't need a thorough knowledge of food and ters are especially invited. The group will share ideas, exchange patterns and discuss a new marketing program for Christmas. LOYAL STAR Of Railroad Carmen of America will meet Fri- body chemistry in order to apply the principles day at 1 p.m. at Provo Exchange Park on 900 N. and 800 W. Pot luck dinner is planned. of Green Provo-Villag- e will i ; HELP KAREN LISONBEE Provn-Cenle- !- patterns r Street good eating that will provide pleasurable and healthful meals. our Unfortunately, often are habits eating '.all - liOOl fulfill those develop 1 some mayonnaise under my eyes. I also p'.ace an herbal tea bag over my it gets rid of eyes tiredness like magic. 1 nutrition. requirements and Beauty Digest maeazine asked singer Melanie how she revved up her looks after a long said: day, here's what she "I lie down on a slant board, but first I pat When fl good Rather, we simply need to learn what foods to eat for energy and nourishment, and learn how to select foods that COLLEEN FERGUSON loosen Up Just what is it? A simple definition New All Shipment Sizes M4 GIRLS DRESSES SLIPS too careles- s- along styles. $H25 4-- N $199 $-2- health. there Sug. Retail 11.00 75 SOCKS! TURTLE SOCKS! NECKS SOCKS! J Infant Toddler MARY LEE ASAY American Fork TODDLER HOODED CARRIER SEAT PANTS 2-- 4 COVERS $3" Sug. Retail UP 6.00 $99 Every Day Is A Sug. Retail 6.00 $99 Sale Day At BETTY JO CHRISTENSEN Springville or 374-258- 7 Iff- - K Remember, is a wide world of food combinations to choose from. ifl JODY CRITCHFIELD Orem 224-364- L iI Irregular V Loading up on carefully prepared and attractively presented, helps create lifelong good eating hahjts that will help ensure good 6x up Sizes variety of foods, 375-STA- R DRESSES c $99 life handfuls of vitamins, or eating large quantities of certain "magic" foods will not set you and your family on a magical road to good health and vitality. Instead, a Of 5 Fall Shipment Infant to size 14 Sug. Retail 1S.00 few decades, eating patterns have changed dramatically, our 225-072- r past with Call m Lots of Ditto DIET CENTER Nutrition. 11-1- 0; Place: 484 W. Center, Provo wre& These nutritional tips beginning with where what brought to you by we get our foods, Central Orem 5-- 6; j u Diet facts & fallacies JOYCE FRANCOM XV TRAINING CLASSES BEGIN IN SEPT. Mike managed a store at the Utah State Training School this summer. He ing. types we get, how they are cooked and how we eat our meals. In the M Tew In fcnericT Professional Dance Training wouldn't have before.'t PANTS S Will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Iris Ashby, 289 E. 340 S., Orem. All machine knit- 1 47 CIL members are urged to be present. graduates. Mike confronts challenges with a positive attitude and has not allowed his handicap to restrain him from taking advantage of opportunities. PRE-TEE- All 1981 "1 forgave him and I was as good to him as I think I could have been. It was kind of hard on him. We were still friends though it was a little uncomfortable to be around him. He moved to Salt Lake about six months later." ARTISTS SECTION OF THE WOMEN'S COUN- Breinholt. j know exactly how to act. to Club Notes E. J "People that know me well don't His smile indicates that he doesn't 'I take it as a challenge.' miss yardwork one bit. Mike's attitude is positive. He never entered several marathons and tennis had the violent screaming the doctors tournaments this summer and went to warned his parents about and doesn't the finals in a Salt Lake City tournaget depressed more than anyone else, ment. he says. He has never been depressed But sports aren't as important to the athlete as they used to be. "Since I've been hurt, I still continue with athletics, but they are not my number one priority. I've developed more poetry, music and writing skills. I was blinded to them before, athletics was the only thing. "I also speak at about one fireside a week. It gets boring, my jokes are getting old," he laughs. Life in a wheelchair hasn't hindered Mike's dating. Most girls seem comfortable around him and dancing isn't a major problem, he says. "For fast dances I get out and boogie in my wheelchair." He prefers slow dancing because his date sits on his lap while he wheels around the floor. Mike wears out a $1000 wheelchair every two years. He claims he is hard on them. He enjoys seeing how big a curb he can bounce over and has fallen backward several times in his attempts. Sand, snow and wet surfaces make traveling difficult as Mike's hands slip on the wheels. Most new buildings and walkways are designed to accomodate wheelchairs, he says, and BYU campus is great. But many private homes and businesses are a "pain." "For me, it comes down to stairs. Others may not have the strength to open doors and such. It depends on what you can do " Mike lifts weights to strengthen his ar ms and once a week puts on braces to help the circulation and prevent his legs from getting weak. "I still have a lot going for me that other people don't. You can always find someone worse off. I don't like to hear people complain. "I've learned not to take everything for granted, to be a lot more thankful for what I have, and that you can overcome about any handicap and compensate for it. When I broke my arm, I ski Will have their opening meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Women's Cultural Center in Provo. Guest artist will be Floyd J i treat me any different. But others who have just met me sometimes don't accept it and do what I could with it. They didn't know how I felt so I think it was kind of hard on them. "My parents make me feel totally normal, they don't baby me. They treat me the same as the other kids. If there are jobs around the house I have to do them too. I still have to do the dishes and so on. I can't mow the lawn or weed the garden, but that's OK with me." Schlappi loves tennis, basketball and water r 273 WEST CENTER, PROVO |