Women of NWA: Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor

In this Women Of Northwest Arkansas Report - We introduce you to a University of Arkansas coach making a difference everyday in her players and in the lives of those around her. As KNWA's Neile Jones explains, she's a woman who works everyday in pain, but never lets it stop her.Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor spends her days on the golf course working to ensure her players at the university of arkansas are the best they can be. She says, "My favorite part of my job is impacting kids lives giving them the resources and tools to be successful in life, in golf and in acedemics. I think that's one of the reasons i got into the sport of coaching and the profession of it.' But coach Estes-Taylor does much more than just guide her players.. she leads by example, everyday playing through the pain of living with a disease she's never publicly spoken about - until now. I'm kinda a tough competitor and it's not something i go out and i share with a lot of people."says coach Estes-Taylor. Eight years ago, at the age of 26, she learned she has rheumatoid arthritis. She made a decision then and there not to let her disease keep her down. In fact her husband Adam Taylor says it's a conscious choice he sees her make daily, "You know Iwake up every morning with her and she's in pain and she works throughout the day in pain. She goes to bed in pain and you would never know it because she is so tough and she just has the complete attitude of it's not going to hurt me."And that will to keep going and stay postive isn't wasted on players like Emily Tubert who says, "She doesn't let it phase her or stop her. She is so determine and has such a strong will, literally we forget, you know, She's got a little bit of a limp and she's going in for for surgery and she's had hip replacement, but she doesn' t let anything stop her." For Estes-Taylor sharing her story is about more than what she faces, "What people don't understand is arthritis is the number one cause of disability in our country. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis that impact people of all ages.And that's part of why coach Estes-Taylor wants to raise awarness by sharing her story and making a difference in the lives of those around her . For Estes-Taylor, "Atitude is a choice and I think every morning when I wake up i want to be able to bring light to peoples lives, And I think that's one of the reasons I got into coaching, And it's one of the reasons I have such great relationships with my players."You can support coach Estes-Taylor and others living with arthritis by signing up for The Jingle Bell Walk December 2nd or by making a donation to the coaches team. Click here to join today.