Impact Story November 2018
Born and Bred Massillonian: A Determined Dancer
Three years ago, Mandy Taylor endured a major foot surgery in which a tendon five times the normal size had to be removed and rerouted. Then, the bones that had been fusing together as a result of the tendon’s size were replaced with a cadaver’s bone. The surgery left Mandy non-weight bearing for three months and she had to reteach her left foot to walk and function properly. After such an extensive surgery, it is astounding that today she stands the first place winner of Dancing with the Massillon Stars.
Mandy hadn’t intended on trying her hand at ballroom dancing, but when she was first asked to participate, she decided she’d give it some thought. “My husband’s words when I told him were, ‘Absolutely not. You’ll hurt yourself.’ So I called Susan back in less than ten minutes after we got off the phone and told her I would love to participate! There are few things I enjoy doing more than things my husband thinks I cannot, or should not, do. I’m a ‘challenge accepted’ kind of gal,” Mandy remarks.
Her favorite sayings of, “suck it up,” “walk it off,” and “you can sleep when you’re dead,” are perfect reflections of the attitude she kept up through the entire experience. For the fundraiser event held in September, Mandy and her instructor, Rob McNamera, danced a foxtrot to the song, “Turn it Up!” by Sully Erna. She says, “I think music choice has a lot to do with your mood in everyday life, so I really wanted to pick a song I could feel.”
Aside from the fact that raising money for the Lincoln Theatre was a great reason to participate in the event, she also made many friends and acquired several skills in the art of ballroom dance. Having the opportunity to get to know the other participants, as well as other dance professionals, had been a fantastic opportunity for her. “Rob was a great instructor, very patient. It took me a good month to stop trying to lead, but once I was able to do that, it was all gravy.”
However, when asked what her favorite dance move was, she had to admit it was not one of her newly learned ballroom steps. Rather it is the Kid’N Play kick step, a move she attributes to her childhood in the late eighties to early nineties.
Outside of the ballroom, Mandy is the General Manager of Kozmo’s Grille in downtown Massillon and her husband the chef. She is also the mother to two children whom she enjoys spending time with dearly. She has been a member of the Massillon Family YMCA for just over two years, mainly participating in water classes as good therapy for her feet. She describes that, although it may not be easy to make time to care for yourself, it is a “must do” that she is ever so grateful for. She recalls all of the characters and friends she has met in pool class and concludes,
“Basically, what I’m saying is the YMCA is like a small world in and of itself. We are a tribe of folks that encourage and motivate one another on a regular basis and I love it. Now, if I could just find more days to go, it would be awesome!”
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4
Written by Emma Stefanick
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