'I wouldn't change anything': Childhood cancer survivor named adapted athletics tournament MVP
The Alabama Women's Wheelchair Basketball team won its fifth consecutive national title this month, and for the fifth year in a row, Bailey Moody was on the court.
Moody said she's played basketball her entire life.
"It's kind of always been my first love, I was a huge tomboy, I loved sports, I basically tried everything and just always kept coming back to basketball," she said.
When she was 10 years old, Moody was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Her leg had to be amputated, and it threatened her ability to play the sport she loves.
"It was kind of devastating because my whole question was will I ever get to play basketball again?" Moody said.
However, all that changed when she put her wheels on the court.
"Basically, since I jumped in a chair, I fell in love with it, and I fell in love with the sport all over again," Moody said. "I haven't looked back since. Everything has kind of just taken off from there."
She's right. She's now a five-time national champion and the MVP of the most recent tournament. During that time, she also competed on the Team USA Paralympic team, earning silver and bronze medals. All things Moody said wouldn't have been possible if she hadn't lost her leg.
"I wouldn't change anything because it's put me where I am today, and I'm so blessed to be where I am today that I couldn't imagine not going through that and where I might be without it," she said.
She also said she's not done yet. Moody will play for the Crimson Tide for one more year before graduating with her master's degree in counseling.