From treatment to triumph: Berenice’s inspirational journey toward her Paralympic dream makes a powerful stop in Greenville

Berenice’s journey has been anything but straight to the finish line — it has been a journey of recovery, resilience and determination — and her stay at the House is just one step on her road to making her dreams become a reality.

Ana and Berenice Escobar arrived at the House in December, traveling all the way from Bolivia to receive treatment at Shriners in Greenville. For Berenice, this visit to the House is not the first. She first stayed here four years ago for her amputation and has now returned for new prosthetics, surrounded by the RMHC community once again. 

After her amputation, Berenice turned to wheelchair sports, using athletics as a way to rebuild her strength and confidence. What began as a coping mechanism, spread into a passion for parasports and quickly turned Berenice into a dual sport athlete, who boasts many titles for her swimming achievements.

In 2023, Berenice competed as a swimmer at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. She and her team earned third place, bringing home a bronze medal and qualifying for the Parapan American Games — a key step toward the Paralympic Games.

Although economic challenges in Bolivia prevented her team from attending the Parapan American Games, Berenice’s determination has never wavered. This year, she was once again called to compete in a South American qualifier in Valledupar, Colombia, for next year’s Parapan American Games.

And her love for competition doesn’t stop there. Berenice continues to stay active through basketball, in addition to swimming. In wheelchair basketball, she holds a 4.5 classification — the highest functional category. 

Beyond competing, Berenice is passionate about inspiring others. Through social media, she shares highlights of her athletic journey, encouraging people in Bolivia with disabilities to feel included, embrace sports and move forward with confidence. Berenice emphasized the importance of this community connection, hoping that her journey will inspire more kids who face barriers to continue pursuing their dreams

Now, Berenice’s journey brings her to Greenville where she will receive care that will help to make her dreams a reality. Her stay at RMHC allows for her to receive the best care possible for her condition at Shriners and allows her the opportunity to obtain life changing prosthetics, helping Berenice to stay active and pursue her passions. 

She carries her same active spirit into her stay at the House. To continue training in Greenville, Berenice frequents local partners, like the YMCA, to continue swimming. Her favorite feature of her stay is access to the outdoor basketball hoop — a simple but meaningful way to stay connected to the sports she loves.

The spacious, welcoming atmosphere of the House has made a lasting impression. The strong sense of community helps Berenice feel comfortable and supported, even while being far from home. Her mother echoes that gratitude, sharing how impactful the House has been on the two’s journey. Staying at RMHC offers the pair an opportunity to be so close to the care Berenice needs, care she can’t receive back home. With few resources like this available in Bolivia, being here truly means the world to their family and helps Berenice get one step closer to achieving her dreams.

The 18-year-old is currently studying systems engineering at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba and will remain until March as she continues her physical therapy.  Berenice has found that beyond her studies, she has a love for — and great talent in — various parasports, a pastime that keeps her moving towards a bright future, a future that RMHC is helping to build. 

Written by Kylie Tutterow