It doesn't matter the question, Ruth Freeman ends each of her answers the same way, with a huge smile. It's not forced, in fact it's the very definition of genuine. It's the type of smile that makes you want to smile. It's a smile that seems to widen as time goes on, the type of smile that seems unique to those who have a real appreciation for the positive things in life.
As our interview stretched past the 30 minute mark, the smile perseveres. Even when discussing her recovery from the rare metastatic cancer that led to surgery which resulted in paralysis of her right trap muscle, there's that smile.
Freeman insists that their are a number of reasons for her eternally positive outlook on a life that hasn't always been easy.
For one, she takes everything day by day, staying present and continuously moving forward. She has a 14 month old that has never had trouble sleeping and a 10th wedding anniversary approaching, that is certainly cause for a dental showcase.
That's not the only support system for Ruth Freeman. The life long volleyball player thought the damage to her trap was the end of her athletic career. turns out, it was just the beginning. Through the Wounded Warrior program and Invictus Games, Freeman is competing in more sports than before her surgery. She's also found teammates and competitors that can relate uniquely to what she has been through.