#CelebratingOthers with Veronica Perfecto Herrara!

It's the last day of Women's Herstory Month—a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of women in history, culture, and society. Frankly, we "should" be celebrating the women in our lives every day of the year, young and not-so-young alike. I find big nuggets of strength when I am around, read about, or have fun with strong, impactful women like Veronica! I want to add another superpower of Veronica - from polio to pickleball!

When I started writing The Focused Fight memoir, my goal was to reach One Person/One Family at a time with our story of resilience, connection, and community. Thankfully, I have! Sharing the story has been one of our family's greatest blessings.

If you have read my past blog posts, you may know that the whole family is obsessed with playing Pickleball!

One Person I reached lately with the book is Veronica Herrara, a fantastic pickleball player with a slight limp. Several months ago, Ryan, Bill, and I met her and her husband, Mike, at The Putaway in Millersville, Maryland. We've come to know Veronica, a force of nature who overcame her battle with polio and is playing pickleball!

She is a miracle! She is a musician (and songwriter)! She grew up in the mines and mountains of The Philippines! She's got a story!

I am grateful this pink-loving gal sat down with me for a spell so I could listen, write, and share Veronica's victories with you.

One of Veronica's favorite songs is "Try" by Pink. Veronica not only tries a lot of things, she does a lot of things! Her positive attitude and joy in life began 65 years ago when she was born in Manila, Philippines, to Angelita Molina and Juventino Perfecto, the youngest of seven children. Veronica revealed she had a magical childhood living in the poor, mountainous area of Baguio with approximately 30 families. She and her siblings played hide and seek in the mountains with the other kids as the dads worked in the gold mines (her dad was an engineer), and the moms kept the house, nurtured the children, and helped them with music "lessons" and school.

In fact, Veronica mentioned when she was about 10 years old, there was one hill—a sacred space— that she would often go to with her guitar to sing and play her heart out. It was her first foray into something she could do since her diagnosis of polio as a toddler (2-3 years old). She claimed no vaccines reached the mines and mountains where she grew up and was initially treated at a Manila Hospital while living with her grandparents. There, she underwent hours of Physical Therapy and then admitted wearing a "Forrest Gump Brace" until the 4th grade to help her walk and maintain stability. Since she couldn't play sports, her family's musicality and folk singing talents intrigued Veronica to pursue the same. She says she can't read music but performs by ear to a resounding success.

Veronica thanks her older brother for helping her find music, which she's excellent at. At 10, she also met his best friend and bandmate, who eventually became her husband, Michael (Mike). Their romance blossomed well into their teens when she performed at a city concert. Mike was already a folksinger, playing in the pubs in Baguio as his family was living in the Philippines—Mike's dad was in the USAF and stationed at the former Clark Airbase. Not long after hearing her performance, they became a duo.

Mike and Veronica married in the Philippines in 1979. They have two daughters, Michelle and Nikki, and two grandchildren (Nikki's). In 1983, Mike (born in PA) joined the USAF. As military families do, they moved a lot but spent 10 years at Hickman AFB in Oahu, Hawaii. According to Veronica, it was comfortable and serene all the time. During all their moves and Air Force responsibilities, they always found time to perform as a duo or sometimes as a band. By 1994, they moved to Maryland and have been here since. Within five years, they formed another band named Oracle. They are rocking the house no matter the venue!

Hubby Bill, Ryan, and I saw them perform a few weeks ago! Their five-piece band and a soundman are amazing, and boy, do they have a following! From the first song, people crowd the dance floor and sing along to the music (they know over 500 favorite songs) from the rocking' stage - Veronica on vocals and electric guitar, Mike on lead vocals, lead guitar, and music arranger, their daughter Nikki Johnson on electric violin, fiddle, lead and backup vocals, Chris Johnson (Nikki's husband) on drums and backup or lead vocals, and Steve Kimbell, sound engineer and trumpet player. If local, PLEASE see them for a night out!

Lately, Veronica says they love to play music and, now, pickleball. She expressed intrigue in Ryan's cancer journey, devouring the book and getting to know us at a new level! But I want people to know that Veronica oozes kindness and generosity and has a good soul. That's her Superpower - a powerful soul. She also loves to put little joys in people's lives, and she sure did to ours. In addition to her family and grandchildren, who inspire her daily, she said her mom most influenced her life because she was so practical and street-smart. She had to have that unique wisdom while raising a family near the gold mines and rugged mountains, along with a daughter with polio. Not an easy feat for anyone.

When I asked Veronica when she needed courage the most, she blurted out, without a moment's hesitation, "Accepting the fact I had polio—and not hiding it from the world." In playing pickleball, she has found indomitable strength and a tribe of people who love her more than she knows. And Joy for Veronica is watching her grandchildren sleep! Lastly, she is deeply grateful for being able to live this far with her experience battling polio.

In wrapping up, this dark chocolate-Disney-loving gal, who spent time in and out of wheelchairs, finally had enough once her body started presenting additional polio symptoms in 2010. She went to specialists and a world-famous hospital that claimed she needed to be wheelchair-bound and would never be able to walk again. Sadly, she did follow these dire directions for two years. But, she quickly became restless and bored, and while still feisty, she said she had to find a better answer.

In 2011, she met Dr. Tom Hyland Robertson, a chiropractor in Odenton, Maryland, who helped change (save!) her life. She no longer needed a wheelchair! She became healthy with stretching, yoga, and a good diet! Veronica is humbled by her remarkable strides in living her life fully, including her mean serve in pickleball!

Veronica Herrera, it was my honor to interview you—an extraordinary woman in my midst. You have an exceptional and tender soul, the biggest smile, and give the best hugs. You are a beacon of hope and light to all who know you!

P.S.

Veronica is working on a song about Ryan after reading the book. Stay tuned. I hope to include it in a future post.

bSoleille!

Terri