Senior Success Story at Fit For Life

Swim Away The Pain

Ona, Ruth and Ann (left to right) wearing their medals.

The gun fires and the race is on. Watching the swimmers go back and forth in the pool looks like any swim meet would. There is one difference though, these are 80+ year olds pushing their bodies as hard as they can. Ona Whitehead, age 81, is not about to let her severe arthritis prevent her from having fun and winning this race. Ona is a regular participant in the local and national Senior Games, since 1987. Her first year in the games, Ona was a natural. She not only won the horseshoes and swimming events locally, but also won in horseshoes nationally. Amazingly, Ona had never swam in a meet before, but she did play basketball and softball during her school years. Her arthritis has worsened over the years and she must now rely on a walker to get around. That doesn't stop her from competing though, but does limit her to the swimming events only. She has qualified for nationals in the swimming events every year, including this past October. Ona went to the National Senior Games in Orlando Florida. She swam in four races: 50 m Freestyle, 100 m Freestyle, 200 m Freestyle, and 50 m Backstroke.

Besides her severe arthritis which has degenerated her spine, Ona had double by-pass surgery on her heart in 1991. She reports taking one baby aspirin and herbs every day but no medications. Whitehead had a few hard years as the primary caretaker for her husband, who had Parkinson's Disease and passed away in 1997.

Ona has had physical therapy for her arthritis and keeps up with her exercises everyday. She begins her day with one hour of exercising that includes a warm-up, stretches, and a cool-down. She swims 2-3 times per week in the community pool. A pool she actively helped get through the city government. Besides her exercising, Ona is very active and on the go. She has recruited her friends to join her in the Senior Games and they all have a great time. She is a member in her church, the AARP and the librarian association. Ona was a librarian for 15 years. She receives "meals-on-wheels" and a senior-companion to assist with daily chores since her hands and spine limit her functionally.

Ona's advice to others: "Get involved with people and in any activity that you enjoy. You will gain knowledge and new friends while you keep healthy and fight depression". Ann, a dear friend, reports that every where Ona goes she makes many friends due to her personality and positive attitude.

by Carol Glasscock, MS,PT