Physical Therapist, Dr. Cheryl Erwin, Calls KTLO from Paralympics
From Cardboard Beds to Records
Dr. Cheryl Erwin has been on quite an adventure in Tokyo. The Manhattan, Kansas physical therapist is with the US Paralympics Track and Field Team and says the experience has been amazing.
She says the athletes are inspiring.
"They're here from all over the US and other countries and they work so hard to get here and do their best so it's just really inspiring."
Dr. Erwin says some people have asked if athletes are sleeping on cardboard beds and she confirms that they are. She says, "It's like cardboard on a metal frame. It actually doesn't feel too bad."
"My patients know that I am a big advocate for getting out of bed because it takes so much less energy to sit in bed and watch TV or read a book or something so I do that all the time and it's a little harder to do that here because I have to get down on the floor to do that. You also don't want to mess up your bed because once you mess it up you can't make it, it's not like a regular hotel bed where you can pull up the covers, so you need to actually fix the sheets every time."
Dr. Erwin says a lot of the athletes are using their suitcases as nightstands because there's not a whole lot of drawer space but she says things are going well and they're all doing their best to focus on the games.
Heading to Paris
Dr. Erwin says she's having such a great time that she's already booked her flights for the 2024 Paralympics games in Paris.
"One of the things I love to do when I travel is just to go out and explore the city and run and I'm looking forward to running along the Seine River."
Dr. Erwin is grateful for the opportunity to be in Tokyo and says she'll never forget the experience.
Comments