US doctor playing a patient game in curling

On the eve of traveling to Beijing to compete in her first Winter Paralympics, Dr Pam Wilson's heart melted when a 3-year-old patient came into her clinic wearing a "Go Team USA" T-shirt.

At 66, Wilson is the oldest competitor at the Beijing Winter Paralympics, and hopes to bring home gold in wheelchair curling to inspire her young patients living with disabilities.

"I had a family come into the clinic the other day and the whole family had Team USA gear on," she told AFP.

Her cheer squad at the Children's Hospital Colorado in Denver have inundated her with messages of support.

"Go Dr Pam," reads one. "We're so excited to see you back in clinic when you bring back the gold medal."

A rehabilitation physician specializing in treating children with disabilities, Wilson went to medical school following a car accident in her 20s which resulted in a spinal cord injury.

She believes it has helped her be a better doctor.

"I think I have insight into what people are going through... It gives me the ability to see from their eyes what's going on," she said.

"I've been in their shoes. I've lived what they are doing. I can empathize. I think it makes a huge difference to our families and kids."

Wilson says she is conscious of being a role model to many of her patients.

"If they can see that I've made it through this disability, and I went to medical school after the disability, I have a kid and now I'm a Paralympian. That opens the door for all kinds of people," she said.

"You can do whatever you set your sights on. Kids will come in and say, 'I want to be just like Dr Pam.'"

Before her injury, Wilson competed in track and field and swam at Pan American Games level.

She took up wheelchair curling more than 10 years ago and said the best thing about the sport is the sense of community.

"Anywhere you go you're welcome... people will be warm with you. It's the sense of camaraderie," she said.

Wilson and the US team had a rough start to their Beijing campaign on Saturday, with losses to Slovakia and Great Britain on day one of the round-robin competition.

But on Sunday they found their form, beating Estonia 9-6.

They still have a tough ride ahead, with games coming up against reigning Paralympic champion China as well as Canada.

AFP