The pregnancy was considered high risk due to Otto’s spinal cord injury – a cervical check towards the end being part of the weekly routine.
“It was incredibly tough,” she admitted. “I was sick all day, every day, and had some other complications during the pregnancy.”
Otto, who was already a fighter, still had to fight to meet these new challenges.
Baby Rylee’s arrival has brought the couple new reasons to celebrate life. She has already become the centre of their world.
“We are absolutely in love with her and are over the moon that she is here. I’ve dreamt of being a mother my entire life and now that she is here our hearts are so full.”
But the journey has been long and gruelling.
That night five years ago changed Otto’s life completely. There have been times when you would normally give up, but not Otto. It was her grit and resilience that drove her to keep going and never give up – from the horrific incident to the peace found in archery and, today, motherhood.
“It’s been a very long process – been the hardest thing I have dealt with, recovering from that catastrophic injury,” said the resilient archer. “The last five years I’m still learning about my body, how it works – it’s exhausting, having to deal everything manually, making my shoulders work and there’s more beyond that.”
She admitted that she’s not that kind of person who just give up.
“I must just see it through like I can’t let something take it all away,” she said.
