A young Venezuelan woman who was paralysed by a rare illness refused to accept her fate. And through true grit and determination she fought her way back to full health and become a fitness instructor.
Katrina Parra was paralysed from the neck down when she was struck down by a rare disease called porphyria, which affects the joints, when she was 21.
READ MORE | Halle Berry credits yoga with helping manage her health issues
The fitness instructor, who lives in the Spanish city of Barcelona, said that she was unable to eat and move as footage showing her with wasted muscles and in a wheelchair show, but through determination to change her fate she slowly improved day by day. She was also helped by undergoing therapy and being attend to by dedicated specialists.
All images by @katriparra/Newsflash
In the images above, the paralysed woman is seen learning to walk and carry out basic movements again before eventually becoming the toned fitness instructor in a room full of eager students that she is today.
She said: “Through hard work and a lot of effort, I was able to achieve one of my ultimate goals – to become a Fit Combat instructor.”
READ MORE | Capetonian Tarryn Tomlinson shares her plans to summit Mount Kilimanjaro on her wheelchair
READ MORE | These 10 local fitness stars will inspire you to be even more badass
To become a Fit Combat instructor, a sport that combines gymnastics and martial arts, Parra never gave up on her therapy and persevered until she regained full use of her body.
She said: “Life has shown me that enjoying the little things and not taking anything for granted are key in appreciating life to its fullest." The stunning Venezuelan woman added: “Never give up!”
Credit: @katriparra/Newsflash/magazinefeatures.co.za
Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Sign up to W24's newsletters so you don't miss out on any of our stories and giveaways.
