Carol Stream wheelchair player brings home the gold

Jonathon Ruiz had his moments of doubt and frustration.

Five years ago, at the age of 10, back surgery to help him deal with a spinal birth defect put him in a wheelchair.

At first, he did not know how to react.

"I went into denial," he said of his initial reaction to knowing he would never walk the same again. "I didn't understand why it was happening to me."

The multisport athlete also had to figure out how - or if - he was going to continue in the sports he loved, particularly baseball and basketball.

Not long thereafter, a friend noticed Jonathon dribbling a basketball and introduced the family to wheelchair basketball.

But even this brought its own complications, as Jonathon could not deal with the fact that he was no longer playing "regular sports."

"It wasn't easy for me to play," he said. "I felt like an outsider because I was so used to playing regular sports. I felt like this wasn't me."

In October, that trepidation resulted in triumph as the 15-year-old Glenbard North High School sophomore was part of the U.S. junior national team that earned a gold medal in the inaugural Australia Paralympics Youth Games in Melbourne. The team swept through a five-game qualification round then won its two playoff games.

According to the Spina Bifida Association, Jonathon's condition is the most common, permanently debilitating birth defect in the U.S. About 3,000 babies are born each year with spina bifida or similar defects.

The birth defect, which usually develops during a mother's first trimester of pregnancy, results from a baby's spinal column not closing completely in the womb.

Jonathon was diagnosed as a newborn and has undergone treatment and surgery meant to stave off its effects since the age of 3.

Although always aware of the condition, neither he nor his mother, Marissa Ruiz, knew exactly how his body would respond.

"We didn't know what to expect," she said. "But we never thought he was going to be in a wheelchair."

At 10, Jonathon noticed more frequent pain and loss of balance. The summer before sixth grade and enrollment in a new school, he underwent back surgery to release stress in his spine caused by a growth spurt.

Despite the surgeries, therapy and pain he feels to this day, Jonathon continued to play sports. Marissa said she was most proud of his tenacity.

"It never slowed him down," she said. "When kids were giving 100 percent, he was giving 110."

When Jonathon saw that the U.S. junior national team sought players to travel and compete in the Australia tournament, he knew he wanted in.

The only problem, however, was paying for the trip. An impromptu, word-of-mouth fundraiser undertaken by Marissa raised roughly $3,100 in about three weeks for the trip.

"It was pretty special," he said. "It's what I've been dreaming of since I started wheelchair sports."

The sophomore has begun seeking college scholarships. So far, Jonathon, who plays regularly with the Windy City Warriors and trains in Addison nearly every day, has shown interest in two schools: University of Illinois and University of Texas at Arlington.

He said he plans on majoring in mechanical engineering while also playing on the school's wheelchair basketball team. He eventually hopes to play on the U.S. Paralympic Team.

He said since his initial doubts and frustrations at having to use a wheelchair, he has matured and learned several life lessons.

"Life goes on," he said. "Life doesn't wait for you. Life just has to keep going."