Rare disease doesn't stop woman from skydiving
BY JENNY SHEARER, Californian staff writer
jshearer@bakersfield.com | Monday, Jul 21 2008 6:36 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Jul 21 2008 6:15 PM

A chronic disease has slowed Quita McInnis down a bit, but her verve can't be stopped. She skydived in Taft for the first time Saturday.


Quita McInnis and tandem instructor Scotty Stonbreaker skydive back to earth on Saturday. McInnis has Lou Gehrig's disease, but the chronic illness doesn't stop her from living life fully. She jumped with Skydive Taft. (Photo courtesy of Skydive Taft.)

"It was better than sex!" she said afterward from her Bakersfield home.

She has a rare form of Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The type she has is genetic; her mother, grandmother and perhaps great-grandmother died from it.

Why skydive?

"I have a chronic disease and I have nothing to lose," she said. "I'm going to do it just to say I can do it."

Her case manager, Kristan Warren, a social worker, isn't surprised McInnis did a little thrill-seeking over the weekend.

"That's what so inspiring about Quita. She takes her disease and uses it to inspire other people. To let them know that doesn't have to be a barrier to them."

McInnis, 50, has been beating doctor's expectations for years. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 15.

Skydive Taft uses a special harness for clients like McInnis. People who have multiple sclerosis, ALS and paraplegics have all jumped with the company.

Owner Dave Chrouch said he gets a few customers with special health circumstances every year. Customers with respiratory and circulatory issues can't skydive, he said.

McInnis' tandem partner - who was really cute, by the way - carried her into the plane. They touched ground bottoms up, and the landing didn't hurt at all.

Her thirst for adventure isn't a surprise - she likes action movies and devours Clive Cussler's fiction. She reads about hero Dirk Pitt's exploits in her garden.

She likes action films, and says Will Smith flicks are a favorite. She plans to see "The Dark Knight" soon.

McInnis works as a registrar at the Arthritis Association's Adaptive Aquatic Center.

Although it takes her a little longer to get around, McInnis goes shopping for herself and generally does what she needs to do.

"I shouldn't be in a hurry anyway, because we all fall down," she said.

"Get over it" is one of her common expressions, and she recently howled with laughter when friend Misty Wankier's 3-year-old son told her to take her own advice.

The boy was playing with a hand-carved chess set, and McInnis urged him to be careful, to which he replied: "‘I suggest Quita you just get over it,'" she said with delight.

Wankier brings her young kids to McInnis' home on Friday and helps with little chores. McInnis is like a big sister to her.

"Nothing stops that lady," Wankier said.

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