(upbeat music) - Yeah, because he ball just came back because we had a side out, okay?

- [Jason] From the moment you meet her, you could feel her energy.

- And you're gonna get your paddle up, and you're gonna spread your feet.

That's right.

Hold your paddle up and get ready.

- [Jason] An unwavering positive outlook.

From 1:00 to 3:00 on Wednesdays, we get to come out, laugh and just have a good time.

- She is a dynamic woman.

That, you know, sees an opportunity, sees something that she wants to do and goes and gets it.

- [Jason] And a can-do spirit.

- There was nothing in me that told me to give up.

- [Jason] Nevermind the fact that she's confined to a wheelchair.

(paddle slaps) - Come on, hit it.

- Woo-hoo-hoo.

And I began to realize that my life was full because of the accident.

- [Jason] Admittedly, Twila Adams was not an athlete growing up.

- Music, church, played in marching band, student council, Beta Club, whatever was available, but not sports.

- [Jason] She joined the military in 1980, serving her country in the army for 11 years.

- I was at Fort Campbell a couple of times, Korea a couple of times, lived in Turkey.

My job was transportation management, so I was in charge of moving assets, including people.

(dramatic music) - [Jason] But three years after coming home to Charlotte in 1994, Twila's life forever changed.

- Was making a right turn.

I looked to my left.

I saw a lady continuing through the light, and I swerved to miss her and bumped the front end of a car at the light.

And at that moment, when I opened my eyes, I knew that there was something wrong.

I'd been told that I broke my neck, C4, C5, which controls extremities, which from the neck down, I was paralyzed.

- [Jason] The news, devastating.

Even after surgery, Twila's prognosis wasn't good.

- That I would always be in a wheelchair.

I would not be able to live by myself, and they weren't sure if I would be able to go back home.

- [Jason] But for Twila, that's where the unwavering positive outlook and can-do spirit kicked in.

- I said, "Don't tell me what I can't do.

Let's talk about the possibilities."

He said, "Well, you're gonna need a wheelchair."

And I said, "Okay, then we'll get a wheelchair."

And he said, "I talked to my parents."

He said, "I don't think she understands."

And my dad looked at him and me and he said, "If she said she's gonna get up, she's gonna get up."

That's where the tenacity comes from, from my parents.

Because there's no reason for me to stay in a place of pity and shame.

My goal is I'm still here.

I'm still alive.

So if I'm still alive, there has to be some reason for all of this.

Let it go, let it go.

let it go.

Out.

- [Jason] Over the last nearly three decades, Twila has regained use of her arms and some use of her legs.

She's able to stand and walk short distances and load up her car with her gear.

And she turned that same can-do attitude of life towards sports.

- Come on and hit it.

It opened up a whole brand new world.

I look at sports from a different level.

To be an actual competitive athlete on the level that I am now is absolutely amazing.

- [Jason] She does everything from tennis to kayaking, shooting, fencing and her new fave, pickle ball.

- One.

Hit it hard like you did before.

- [Jason] A participant in the Met County Senior Games and National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Twila also teaches others how to play the games she enjoys.

- You got another point.

Look at you.

You gonna be hot shot in a minute.

Get over there.

- She's got the heart of gold that just wants to get everybody doing what they love to do.

- Twila has always been the hardest working lady I've ever known.

Her story resonates with everybody.

- [Jason] Twila is also an active participant in Atrium Health's Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program, or known simply as ASAP.

- The Adaptive Sports and Adventures Program has been around since the mid 1990s.

It started with some basketball and some water skiing.

And through the years, it's continued to grow and add sports.

- It's amazing.

It touches a lot of lives.

It really, really keeps, it kind of brings you out of the shell if you're in kind of a self-esteem issue or kind of whatever you're dealing with.

- [Jason] The program features roughly a dozen sports and activities, helping hundreds of adults and children around the area get out and have some fun.

- I'm proud.

I'm proud to be a part of it.

I'm proud to see it, the growth.

The athletes definitely provide an opportunity for me of introspection and opportunities for me to grow as a person, as a therapist, and as their leader as well.

- You can really find yourself in the game, playing out here, having fun but being active.

It's a workout in disguise, you know.

You're in the elements, yeah.

But you're working your butt off too by pushing your chair.

You gotta get there with your arms.

So it's a big, big workout.

- I'm living out my purpose.

If I do nothing else, I'm just so satisfied with the fact that I get to share and help other people feel accomplished in something that they really wanna do.

It just makes my day.