Woman bowls for the first time in 40 years after battling cancer, losing eyesight

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

Over 40 years ago, when a California woman was stationed in Puerto Rico with her husband, she became an avid bowler. However, due to health reasons, she hasn't picked up a ball since — until Tuesday.

Xelpho Womack of Lodi, Calif. has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three times, according to Good Day Sacramento, and was also diagnosed with cellulitis, a common but potentially serious bacterial skin infection. Four years ago, she lost her eyesight.

A year ago, when doctors told Womack she would never walk again, the 75-year-old set out to prove them wrong. On Tuesday, she took her first steps to approach her lane at a bowling alley.

“I was told that I would never walk again and that was the wrong thing to tell me because I was bound and determined,” she told Fox 40. “You know what? I’m going to walk.”

Womack was able to bowl four 300 games when she was younger. While she may not have rolled a perfect game on her first time back at the alley, she did feel the same thrill she did all those years ago.

“I’m just so excited. It was so much fun just to release that ball,” she said as she bowled with a group of fellow blind bowlers. “And all of a sudden it’s like you’re back 50 years ago. You know, what I used to do.”

Womack credits her ability to walk again to her "bee positive" attitude. On the back of her bowling shirt is a bee that matches her two bee tattoos, a significant symbol for Womack.

“It’s just been a positive thing, you know? Bees are busy and they’re positive and they’re always working,” Womack told Fox 40. “Be happy. Get busy, you know? Do what you can do and enjoy life because you might not have that much longer. But who cares? Go do what you can do.”

Xelpho Womack did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.

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