Garnett – Arthrogryposis Thriver

«« Please drag the arrows to see before & after underwater transformation »»

My name is Garnett Silver-Hall. I’m 24 years old and I grew up between Bolinas, CA and
Oakland, CA.

I was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis, which causes limited mobility and range of motion in all of my major joints. Because I’ve had this condition since birth, I’ve had a lot of time to adapt to life’s daily challenges. As both a musician and an adaptive athlete, I live a very active lifestyle that involves a lot of travel and staying physically engaged.

How did you discover adaptive basketball?

When I was about 10 years old, my dad and I were at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, CA when another family with a child with a disability approached us and introduced us to an organization called the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (B.O.R.P.). Just a couple of weeks later, I tried sled hockey for the first time. I was hooked from the jump and kept coming back week after week.

At the time, I didn’t realize that Coach Trooper Johnson was about to become one of the greatest blessings and mentors in my life. Eventually, Coach Johnson encouraged me to try another sport B.O.R.P. offered—wheelchair basketball. Trooper coached me in both sports through middle school and high school, teaching us life skills and independence along the way.

After seven years playing in the Bay Area for the Junior Road Warriors, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to play Division I college wheelchair basketball at the University of Arizona—a dream come true for a kid like me. Now in my 13th year of playing wheelchair basketball, I’ve traveled the world playing the sport I love, and in my final year at Arizona we even won the National Championship.

What inspired you to be involved in the Underwater Transformation Project?

My father and Erena are friends, and we had followed each other on Instagram for a while. When she first reached out, I was very excited. Then I got a little scared when I realized what I would be doing—but shortly after that, I became excited again once I understood how special of an experience this was going to be.

What were your goals for the photo shoot?

I’ve always loved being in the water, but because of my disability, swimming isn’t easy for me, and I’ve always been afraid of fully going underwater. My main goal was to face that fear in a controlled environment while accomplishing something meaningful. I’m also a sucker for cool photos, so that was definitely a big motivator.
I honestly expected it to be much harder than it was, but after some coaching from Erena and her partner, I became more comfortable with every dunk. By the end of the shoot, even though I was exhausted, I was having a lot of fun. I definitely feel like I achieved my goal.

How was the experience of an underwater portrait session?

The experience was great. The warm pool helped a lot, and Erena made the environment very comfortable—especially with her partner there to assist me in getting my head above water when needed. I love being in the water because it takes less effort to move my body, which is very therapeutic for me. Once I learned how to fully push the air out before going under, things became much easier. The hardest part of the shoot was honestly just staying underwater.

How was your mood afterward?

I was super happy and super tired, but most of all I felt accomplished. I set a goal, achieved it, and had a great time doing it.

What does water mean to you?

Water is life—it’s Earth’s most precious resource. I grew up in the Bay Area right next to the water, so it has always been a big part of my life. Now that I live in Arizona, it’s probably the thing I miss the most.

Do you think this experience could help people with disabilities?

I think this is an amazing experience for people with disabilities. As I mentioned earlier, it takes less effort to move your body in the water. Everyone is different, but I can actually walk in the water completely on my own without holding onto anything—something I could never imagine doing without that buoyancy. It’s a great way for people with disabilities to exercise and stay active.

Would you do another underwater photo shoot?

I absolutely would. Now that I know what to expect and how my body reacts underwater, I’d love to explore more and go deeper in the pool.

How did you sleep the night of the photo shoot compared to usual days?

Like a baby haha. I was completely tuckered out.

How was working with Erena?

Erena was amazing. She helped me feel comfortable, worked with me to find the best ways to do everything, and coached me through the entire experience.

What’s your dream?

My dream is to be someone others can look up to. In sports, I had so many mentors who showed me that greatness was possible and helped me see that in real life. I want to be that person for the next generation—helping kids believe in themselves and follow their dreams.

I’ve found that the most effective way for me to do that is through my music. I look up to so many artists who have changed the world simply by putting pen to pad. If I can give people something to relate to when they can’t fully express how they’re feeling—while also inspiring the next generation to live life to its fullest then I’ve truly won.

Please follow along on my journey on Instagram @garnett_silverhall or at garnettsilverhall.com.