Monae Armijo-Hampton

Wenatchee, Washington

At the age of 11, Monae Armijo-Hampton was already a skilled basketball player who had earned a spot on the 2004 People to People Sports Ambassador Program. She was looking forward to traveling abroad as a representative of U.S. athletics when she was severely injured in an apartment fire. She was taken to Central Washington Hospital and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center within an hour. The burns to her arms and hands were so severe that, at one point, physicians feared they may have to amputate her hands. Fortunately, Monae’s hands were saved, and she has made a remarkable recovery after five skin-graft surgeries and a month-long stay at Harborview. While she still deals with some discomfort and faces additional surgery, a very upbeat and positive Monae has resumed her life and returned to the basketball court. Now 12, she has once again been invited to participate in the Sports Ambassador Program. She will travel in July 2005 to Switzerland and France, where she will train and compete with the U.S. team.

Central Washington Hospital (Wenatchee, WA) to Harborview Medical Center

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