I am the quarterback and captain for the Orlando Anarchy women’s tackle football team. I would like to tell you all a short story of my gridiron little sister, Paula Blanco (No. 22 in photo).

This past football season was like any other. We had tryouts and little conditioning events to see who was interested in playing for the Anarchy. In struts the tiniest little lady, Paula. But of course we never turn anyone away who wants to play, no matter her size.

What we didn’t know was that this little woman was going to shock the world and be a monster in the backfield at running back. Paula has the heart of a lion, and though small she is mighty in every sense of the word. Because of all of her hard work and fierce competitive spirit, she earned herself a spot as a second-team All-American in the Women’s Football Alliance. 

This past Saturday, some of the Anarchy players went out as a group to an AFL game and then afterward decided to go dancing at Pulse for Latin Night. Little did we all know the tragedy that would unfold.

There were five players at the club along with four significant others. Four members of the group trickled out 20 to 30 minutes before the incident. Another couple left about six minutes before the shooting incident to grab a late meal at McDonald’s.

Those two were in front of Pulse when gunfire erupted outside, and immediately they thought of the others who were still inside.

Left in Pulse were Paula, her boyfriend and another member of the Orlando Anarchy. When the gunman went inside, he fired off several rounds one, of which struck Paula in the forearm.

Paula’s teammate managed to grab her arm to apply pressure and pull her down to safety. They patiently and quietly waited to get out to safety.

Little did they know that Paula was not the only member of the group injured. Paula’s boyfriend, Cory Connell, was gravely wounded.

With the help of her teammate, Paula got up holding her wrist and ran outside, where she was met by an officer and the teammate who was outside trying to get to the other members of the Anarchy group.

The officer escorted her to an ambulance and told her teammate to get to Orlando Regional Medical Center, because that is where she would be taken. Paula was put into an ambulance and rushed to ORMC.

It would be more than 12 hours before any news of her condition would be known, but her Anarchy family never left the hospital. She finally came out of surgery several hours later. Her forearm was wounded very badly.

Her boyfriend, Cory, died.

Paula is the sweetest person you will ever meet. She has a beautiful soul with personality and smile to match. Waking up from surgery and still groggy, she asked her teammates who stayed with her if they had eaten. That kind of mindfulness of others is just one of the many wonderful qualities that make her such amazing person. Anything that anyone can do to help her in her recovery would be gratefully appreciated, not only from her and her beautiful family but from her football family the Orlando Anarchy.

I’m setting up a GoFundMe page for Paula, because she will need help with all the surgeries and therapy to regain some of the functions in her hand. It’s going to be a very painful long process, but with her lovely big sister Laura, various members of her immediate family and her Orlando Anarchy gridiron sisters she will get through this and be stronger than ever.

We love you, Paula. #AnarchRises #PrayForPaula