Emotional surprise! Girl gifted specialized wheelchair

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - Olivia Curcuru couldn't believe it! Her dream was coming true. She was receiving a specialized wheelchair for basketball.

"It feels a little bit unreal to me, to be honest," Olivia told Elex Michaelson afterward.

Olivia loves playing basketball but didn't have a specialized chair of her own.

"I didn't have the free will to do sports because I didn't have a chair that would fit me properly. I would have to find a chair or borrow from someone," she said.

Olivia was injured in an accident when she was 3 years old. Ever since, Olivia's mom Caroline has tried to make her daughter's athletic dreams come true.

Over the years, Olivia has danced, skied, swam, done pilates, rock climbing, and more.

"She doesn't give up. She tries no matter what," said Caroline.

Caroline said this adaptive wheelchair is "game-changing…literally!" The chair is part of The Hartford's $2 million-donation of adaptive sports equipment.

"We've seen over the years the power that sports can be in helping people improve their health, their inclusion and their lifestyle," said Mike Concannon from The Hartford.

Paralympian Megan Blunk presented Megan with the chair on behalf of a disability insurance company called The Hartford.

Megan sees a lot of herself in Olivia. Blunk was 18 years old when she was injured in an accident. She found purpose in sport.

"When I found out about wheelchair basketball, it was my second chance at life."

Megan was on the Team USA that won the gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the 2018 Paralympic games in Rio. Maybe Olivia will win her own gold one day?