SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — News 8 and our viewers have watched 11-year-old Knolly grow up in the foster care system, but now she's growing out of her wheelchair.
In this Adopt 8, our Marcella Lee catches up with Knolly, who has two wishes: a forever home, and a new set of wheels.
“I do all the things that other kids do,” said Knolly.
The 11-year old lives life turning her disabilities into possibilities.
"I usually just believe in myself that I can do it, that I can't let myself down just because I'm in a wheelchair,” she said.
News 8 first met Knolly in 2013 and have watched her grow through the years; even as a six-year-old, she was incredibly independent swiftly climbing back up into her wheelchair all by herself.
Born with a genetic disorder that affects her muscles and joints, Knolly has had surgery to make her more mobile. And she has never let her physical challenges limit her from doing anything and is quite adventurous.
Knolly loves playing basketball, riding horses and being in the water.
"I like moving a lot in the water,” she said. “I like the cold feeling it gives me. I like going in the water and being at the beach.”
Knolly’s favorite part of summer is attending camp put on by the Adaptive Sports and Recreation Association.
“The adaptive camp... that is very fun,” said Knolly. “Each year I go to it, it's like this water camp for kids that have disabilities like me. We go there, and we do tubing, and I think it's called water skiing.”
But the one thing that's missing in Knolly's life is a forever family to share her experiences.
"Yes, I do want to be adopted,” she said. “What I would want in an adoptive home is a nice family, a family that goes out a lot and does a bunch of stuff, a very active family.”
This active girl needs a family to keep up with her desire to explore the world and she does have one other wish: she showed Marcella the type of box wheelchair she dreams of having to fit her active lifestyle.
"But that's $6,000, so I can't get that,” Knolly said.
Her current wheelchair is almost too heavy for her foster mom to lift in and out of their vehicle coming in at about 73 lbs.
In the meantime, Knolly is grateful for her foster mom and large support network.
"I have a lot of friends who support me, help me and encourage me,” she said. “And all the people that work in the foster care system.”
If you are interested in adopting or becoming a foster family, please call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U.
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