DIANA LOPES
(Nominated by Sally Trant)
Ocoee Community Center
February 19, 2011
Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes was one week away from achieving her childhood dream of becoming a police patrol officer when she was called to Iraq. In less than a month, she was struck by enemy shrapnel. Following her injuries it was unclear if she would be able to walk, but she still wanted to be a police officer. Despite being wheelchair-bound at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she didn’t even consider a Plan B. Slowly, she progressed from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane, until she could finally walk unassisted a year later. After a nearly three-year delay, she reported for work at the Tampa Police Department on a light-duty job until she feels ready to be a patrol officer. Diane says “I’ve learned not to put time limits on myself. Someone told me, you’ve got to let yourself heal. Give yourself a break.”