“I’m so proud of him; he represents himself, his school, his family and his country very well.”
Although Nina Greaves is allowed to gush over how her soon-to-be 16-year-old son Owen has turned out, she’s not that surprised.
Ever since Owen, who was born with one hand, spent months as a youngster throwing his shoes across the room while trying to learn to tie his laces, his mom could see his innate determination.
No challenge is too big for the talented athlete, who recently returned from the War Amps 2018 BC Child Amputee (CHAMP) Seminar in Victoria, where, as a junior counsellor, he shared his experiences with child amputees and their parents.
The seminar brought together child amputees from across the province while also marking the 100th anniversary of The War Amps.
“He’s been such a great addition and asset to us all,” said Nina.
“He didn’t know how to tie his shoes way back in the day. It was very hard, it took him 10 months, trying it every day. I couldn’t teach him how to do that.
“There were times when the shoes were tossed across the room. But he never gave up. He has learned to never give up, no matter how tough it gets.
“But we wouldn’t be where we are without the War Amps people though, they have been incredible all these years.”
Asked what kind of roadblocks Owen has faced growing up, Nina said a new one comes up frequently, especially as her son is entering into the young adult phase.
“Oh, there are hiccups all the time. He will be learning to drive soon, that’s a new one,” she said, referring to Owen turning 16 this week.
“He’s been reading a lot of books and we’re going to have to make sure there’s no discrimination when it comes to any testing down the line.
“He will maybe use some kind of adaptation with the steering wheel, something that resembles a doorknob that allows him to turn the wheel 360 degrees easily.”
Owen attends Vancouver College, an all-boys school, and played in the provincials with his school’s junior varsity basketball team.
And, according to Nina, her son’s first love is soccer and plays for Fusion FC in BC Soccer’s Premier League.
Owen led some of the workshop-style sessions in Victoria, talking about living as an amputee to kids age five and up and to the parents of some toddlers as well.
He also showed off his prosthetics with the other “Champs” and even took his bike in with him to show the kids how he rides it.
“Lots of kids there are in the new situation of being an amputee, so he coaches them how to deal with the elephant in the room, how to introduce themselves to people for the first time, for instance,” said Nina.
“He told them to not be scared to say to people, ‘ask me questions about (his hand) and ‘we are all different and unique, we should share our imperfect perfections.’”
As a nod to the amputee veterans returning from the First World War who started War Amps, Owen lays a wreath at the cenotaph in Richmond every year.
“We’re losing our old vets all the time, so it’s important for people such as Owen to step forward,” added Nina, who lives near No. 4 and Williams roads.
“He’s very thankful to those who started War Amps.”
