Zahneis — who turns 15 on Christmas Day — is one of 50 people in the world living with Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, Type II (HSAN II). That means Zahneis can’t feel pain, temperature and touch to the same degree as everyone else, and she has cochlear implants to help her hear.
Zahneis was the winner of the 2011 Grand Prize Breaking Barriers award earned earlier this year in a writing competition.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” Zahneis said. “I never would have guessed it’d amount to something like this. I’m blessed and honored.”
Cincinnati Reds Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips presented Zahneis with her media credentials, and praised Zahneis for her courage.
“She’s really inspired me and touched my heart,” Phillips said. “One of the best things in her essay was she said, ‘Worry about what you can do, not the things you can’t do.’ There’s something about her presence that makes you smile.”
Zahneis attended the All-Star Game in Phoenix as well as Game 3 of the World Series in Texas, and she’s also met MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Besides covering Reds games, she’ll also cover the 2012 All-Star Game and World Series.
“I’m so grateful to him and everyone else at MLB for giving me this opportunity,” Zahneis said. “I’ve always wanted to do this as a career, and I never would have guessed this soon. Not many kids my age can say that. I’ll have full access, and I’m going to have some fun with that.
“I’m a born and bred Cincinnati fan,” she added, “and now that I get to report on them, I think bias may be a little bit of an issue, so I’ll work on that.”
The featured speaker was Jackie Robinson’s daughter Sharon, who was instrumental in starting Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life, a national character education program in its 16th year that was also developed by MLB and Scholastic Inc.
Using baseball-themed activities, the curriculum is designed to give students from all backgrounds strategies to overcome obstacles and barriers in their lives.
The strategy is values demonstrated by barrier-breaker Jackie Robinson: determination, commitment, persistence, integrity, justice, courage, teamwork, citizenship and excellence. The program culminates in a Breaking Barriers essay contest.
“She doesn’t focus on what she can’t do, but she focuses on what she can do, and that’s write,” said Robinson, who met Zahneis in the spring when she awarded her the grand prize. “She has extreme confidence as a young woman. Nothing stops her. She’s fearless, and we love that about her.”
Phil Castellini, chief operating officer for the Reds, told the West freshman class that the Reds will host an outing for the school in April.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or steven.matthews@coxinc.com.
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