WHITE Meimei

Classification
S9, SB8, SM9 (IPC, 18 Aug 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (plasticscolor.com, 08 Mar 2017)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (NBC News YouTube channel, 16 Sep 2011 )

Impairment Details
She was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency [PFFD], a bone growth disorder that resulted in the amputation of her right leg above the knee. (NBC News YouTube channel, 16 Sep 2011 )

General
MENTAL HEALTH
In 2019 she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and started medication. After her mental health suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, US Olympic & Paralympic Committee sports psychologists helped her to find a therapist. "I feel like trying to find a therapist who is good and understands you is like trying to find a best friend. Having a best friend is hard to find. I feel like a best friend to me is a person who would be there for me, I would be there for them, they would understand, they would listen, I could help them and they could help me. There aren't a lot of people out there who want to do that as their job. I think that mental health is so important to everybody, and it's something that people need to address." (teamusa.org, 15 Jan 2021)

CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES
Born in the People's Republic of China, she was adopted at 18 months old by Kelley White of Orlando, FL, United States of America. (plasticscolor.com, 08 Mar 2017; NBC News YouTube channel, 16 Sep 2011)

NAME
Her name, MeiMei, means 'beautiful', and was given to her by her nannies in the People's Republic of China. (teamusa.org, 01 Jul 2021)