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I See No Limits My name is Emma Cooper-Williams and I am an 18 year old from New Zealand living with cerebral palsy. I am a singer songwriter and I have performed in countless gigs and events, and I even went on a 5 week scholarship to Japan in 2014 after winning a competition. Music has shown me that there are no boundaries, sometimes we just need to look at things differently and adapt the ways in which we set out to achieve our goals. This year I am releasing an EP which features five of my original songs. I also am the assistant teacher of a vocal workshop for young people with disabilities, because I want to show other young people that what they can bring through their passion of singing and performing adds a unique sparkle and lights up the lives of others. You can read more about me here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/87867760/north-shore-teenager-featuring-in-several-auckland-beach-festivals-this-summer

Life as a wheelchair model I’ve always loved to perform. When I was between the ages of 16 -18, I belonged to a drama school. At the time, I was very overweight, and as a result of this, I was incredibly shy. I started life modelling (posing nude for artists while they draw you) to try and overcome my insecurities and build my confidence levels. To begin with I modelled fully clothed, and although I wasn’t yet ‘baring all’, I found it really helped me to accept my body. When I became disabled at 26 years of age, I lost myself completely and became trapped – not only in the chair, but also inside my own head. I began to hate my body, and all that it represented. I would change in the dark and never in front of people, I would close my eyes when my carers washed or showered me. I couldn’t bare to acknowledge my physical state. In 2015, after loosing a significant amount of weight, I had a bad fall which kept me in hospital over Christmas. During this period I thought long and hard about my life, and the role I had to play in this world. I felt like a drain on society, I felt like it wasn’t fair for people to have to look after me, just because of this one incident that had changed my life forever! But then it dawned on me; I had to get out of the negative headspace I was in, and start to view and use my body positively. A friend of mine told me I looked beautiful and that I should go back to life modelling. I laughed at her when she said it, but after thinking about it long and hard, I decided she was right. When I got out of hospital I started to exercise my legs in bed, naked. I watched all my muscles working, and felt really proud that I had not given up. I started to appreciate my naked body; I began to like my curves and ‘wobbly’ bits. I’m not perfect but damn, I’ve been through hell and survived! My body is definitely stronger because of it. Six months on, I am slowly reentering the world of life-modelling. It isn’t easy, but I’m giving it a good go – I won’t let it defeat me! The first time I took my clothes off in front of all of those strangers I wasn’t nervous at all! I felt euphoric and liberated. I was beaming inside. The fact that a wheelchair user was naked, and being drawn by so many people felt empowering. I felt free for the first time in my life. However, I have lost out on many modelling jobs because of my disability. Once employers find out the chair is a permanent thing and not a prop, it changes their perception of me. It is like I am not ‘allowed’ to be naked, because I do not fit the normative mold. I blame the media for perpetuating and promoting this one-dimensional representation of the body. In reality, we are all different and that is what makes us beautiful. This year I am going to start filming. I have been casted as the lead in a film call The House Rules. I never thought this could happen, but I am so pleased that my hard work is paying off. I just hope to can inspire other wheelchair users to take life by the horns and do what ever they want. This is the year for me. Written by Fuchsia Carter

When the first snowflake falls, this signals my body to start “shutting down” Not having someone here all the time really causes me to have to plan my day down to the second. Hours can feel like months, while having to put my life on pause. Due to different staffing situations, I feel like an animal, putting on an extra layer of fat before their hibernation. There are only certain times when I have help. When I have the opportunity to, I must eat great amount because it will be a long time till help comes back. A diet like this really affects my diet and energy levels, to the point where I get tired and put weight on easily. With any hibernation, muscle fatigue begins to set in. I am in the same position all the time, because I have to prioritize what I need done. Getting to lie down and stretch or stand is not in the cards. With an animal being able to move around during hibernation, strength and endurance come back rather easily once awoken. Another aspect of me being like an animal is, growing my winter fur. Sitting in my coat really puts me in a real lather during winter days. Yes this is my own choice, but either I sit with my winter apparel on and have the ability to attend my many other obligations such as volunteering, or simply watch my life fall apart before my eyes and loose my mind by being trapped in the house. With most of my meetings being during the supper hour, many times I miss supper. Going hungry or eating supper late in the evening is something I’ve grown accustomed too. My hygiene and health suffers because I need my staff to help me get ready to go volunteering instead of helping me with my personal needs. I have to pee, to bad for me I cherish the moments when I can use the bathroom. Putting the mind to sleep is a must as my bladder fills. Having this outstanding control is a good thing, because I don’t end up having an accident (most of the time.) I have no social life because of lack of staffing hours. When going out or to meetings, I should not have to depend on people at the event to take my coat off or take me to the bathroom. At least animals can go where they want, when they want. Finding practical ways to stay active is of great importance. This is done through my writing a community involvement. Add to that, I cannot do sit-up’s but can do crunches, while in my chair. I cannot climb a mountain, but can pull myself into a standing position. Until I’m able to have staff with me 24/7, my life will always be in “hibernation”. Finding things to open my eyes, will always keep the soul propelling forward. My body will never be able to be fully active, but the brain is constantly “scavenging” for nutrients & knowledge. Only being able to truly live for 10.5 hours a day, (having help with me) makes me feel like an animal at the zoo. I get attention for certain parts of the day and then for the rest of the day, I’m held captive by the provincial government.

Blue Hospital Ice Cream It's amazing how people can be so overwhelmed by what's in front of their eyes, that they ignore the bigger picture. In my case, it was a blessing. Since waking up from the coma, the misery of the insatiable hunger, thirst and fever were so real and powerful, that I found myself spending most of my days looking forward to the next blue ice cream and working on the smallest yet important improvements. Walking? Too far from my life in ICU. Breathing? Now that's real! With breathing, comes a whole array of lifestyle changes, for a poor girl on life support, that means heaven and hell. Without life support, I’d be able to eat again, to drink water, to speak. I'd also no longer require suctions from the bottom of my lungs that reminded me of the moment before violent death you see in movies. With the tube in my throat, I was nothing but a vegetable laying awake in bed. Breathing is hard when you don't have control of the muscles that are used for breathing. My only hope was my half functioning diaphragm. Every day I get a chance to breathe for a very short time on my own, starting from few seconds then move up to a few minutes. I learnt to hyperventilate while the nurse wasn't looking so my oxygen saturation level will look better than it really was. Days went by, it was not good enough. I spent my spare time at night imagining Goulburn Valley peach slices, Magnum ice cream, chocolate thick shakes, talking to people and telling them that I wasn't the driver in the car and someone had lied… So the next day, I would try a little harder and do a little better. It was a slow process, like everything in the spinal world, but after many days of good breathing they took the big tube out. That same day, I was fed blue jelly and blue ice cream. All the foods were coloured blue so when they suction your lungs afterwards they can see if you swallowed correctly. Nothing has tasted better than that hospital vanilla ice cream coloured in a revolting blue. Today, I still remember. It may not seem much to most people, but by the time I moved out of ICU onto the ward, I still had a big hole in my throat, but I could say 1 or 2 words at a time before running out of breath and I was allowed ice cream and water everyday. Even today, my lung capacity is still only 800cc. I speak short sentences out of necessity, and I have trouble making my voice heard in clubs and parties. People just assume I have a soft Asian girly voice and have a brief and efficient communication style. On the long, long journey of recovery, the ventilator was my first battle. And I won! I now live a normal life like everyone out there, but it is a different kind of normal. And There, Was A Bright Spark Seek, and you shall find, that bright spark, even in the darkest of the nights. Sometimes those sparks are so vulnerable you wonder if they were really there. Then, they disappear, leaving you to question if hope ever existed, or it's just you wishing for hope to be there. Back on the women's spinal ward at The Austin in Melbourne, there were 4 of us young girls in the room. 3 car accidents and 1 skiing disaster. It's amazing how tragedy brings people together; it still warms my heart thinking about the love and care we shared for each other. We lied to each other everyday, telling each other we would walk again, and everything was going to be just fine. Sometimes we even planned shopping trips together... "As soon as we get out of there, we'll hit Chapel St together, go clubbing, and I've invited the girls to come and stay with me in Sydney where we could go surfing at the beautiful Bondi beach…" The truth was, even after spending 6 weeks together in the same room, I still didn't even know what the girls looked like. 2 of us were on neck traction the whole time in a big metal cage, bed bound. I guess it didn't matter, we didn't have the strength to face each other anyway. The fantasy land we created for ourselves in the head was the only thing that got us through the nights and days. To the girls that were with me through the long dark nights in Melbourne. "How are you now? Did you get to go back to Chapel St? Did you get that green dress you wanted for your graduation ball? Did you kiss the waves at Bondi? Has life been kind to you?" Minutes turn to hours, hours turn to days… Then one day, one of us walked! The other girl with a broken neck walked. It almost happened over night, she woke up one morning and started wiggling her thumbs, over the next few days, she was kicking her legs and standing on her feet. While the rest of us laying still in bed, she was walking to the lounge and having her meals in front of the TV. Without a single trace of jealousy, we were ecstatic for her, for her family and for what destiny may hold for each one of us. I still remember the moment her mother walked over to my bed, she held my hand and told me that her girl was just like me a few weeks earlier, and if i kept my hopes up, it would happen to me too. Sadly, she lied. Natural recovery never happened. However that was my little spark in the eternal darkness. No matter how little and remote, every spark can light up a fire. Hope, that's all I had. That's all I needed. Celebrate Our Loved Ones Crisis brings people together. A life changing event like a serious injury, is sure to revive all the potential, loving relationships you’ve ever had in your life. It is times like this where people would put aside their differences, come to your aid, wish you well and show you they care. Recovery is a long journey, so be sure to surround yourself with all the people that want to be part of it. They can give you the support you require, and you can make them feel loved in return. The future is too hard to imagine, so remember to celebrate today! Celebrate the fact you have been given a second chance with life. Celebrate family and love. Celebrate relationships past and present. Celebrate that long lost friend who came back to your life after learning you almost died. Even celebrate the fact you now know who your real friends are. Waking up from the coma to see my estranged parents was certainly a surprise. I had not seen them for a good part of 10 years. As a little girl, I used to pray that my family would be together again one day, remember saying ‘I’ll do ANYTHING”. I didn’t think God would take my words quite so literally. Parents are human, humans are flawed, but if anyone wished that nothing bad would ever happen to you, it’s probably your parents. For all of you out there with loving parents and caring siblings - embrace their love, you’ll need it on your long road of recovery. Thank you Mum and Dad for putting your differences aside, for my sake back then, even for a while. My friends, they were fortunately a bunch of awesome, sincere people. For the 6 weeks I was in Melbourne, I had someone flying down from Sydney every second day to tell me what people were doing back home, what was happening at the university, telling me that my favourite sushi bar had an all you can eat promotion, and Darrel Lea put out these new white chocolate rocky road… and here’s a bag of it! ‘Just wait til you get back to Sydney, we can do it all!’ they said. No one talked about my injury, in a fantastically good way, no one cared. And why should they? Young love can be fragile, the ones that survive crisis this big are particularly beautiful. I was in a new relationship when this happened, it went on for another two years after. Those were two very crucial years of my mental recovery, with me constantly doubting myself, doubting everything I knew. I had Matt coming to the hospital every single day just to hang out like old times, telling me I was still the same, we were still the same. ‘The same’. That’s all I wanted, because deep down I knew, things were no longer ‘the same’. And with the help of my friends and family, my life was ‘the same’ for long enough that I could adapt to what’s not ‘the same’. When time gets tough, the family and friends that remain by your side are such an important source of strength and a powerful reason to get up in the morning. To all the amazing people that helped me through the years: ‘Thank you!’. To be Continued...

Bellyak Lesson and GCA Trip My name is William Blakely and I’m 18. I have cerebral palsy and have to use a wheelchair. I like to try new things and I especially like to try things that might get me hurt. My mom says I am “Badass”. First Paddling I first paddled a regular kayak in February of 2014 and it was hard for me because of the spasticity in my legs and the metal plates in my hips. Then, in March of 2014, I demoed a Bellyak at Team River Runner roll practice. My mom saw how much I liked the Bellyak and got me one for Christmas in 2014. It feels good to be able to get out of my wheelchair and onto my Bellyak and paddle on the river. I’m normally in my chair during the day, so it feels good to be on the river, because I get to be out of my chair for a few hours of fun on the river. I’ve taken the Bellyak down three rivers in the last year. The first river I paddled on the Bellyak was the Cartecay river on the 4th of July in 2015 with Greg Garrard and Dan Brady. The second river was a month after the Cartecay. I paddled the Metro Hooch with Mark Mullinax and Rick Thompson. I was excited about the lesson and I loved it. I learned how to steer and turn. It was fun to run the rapids, and I paddled most of the river by myself. I flipped the Bellyak over once, at the beginning of the run. It leaned a second time, but I recovered and continued to paddle down the river. I finished off the trip with a fruit punch and a Gatorade and I also got a free hat. Paddling with my family A few weeks ago, I paddled the Tuckasegee River again. This time, I paddled with mom, my brother John, Greg, his wife Kelly, and a few people from GCA. This was the first time my mom, my brother and I have paddled together, so it was a big deal to my mom. Paddling with my mom and brother was a good thing, cause we rarely do that. It’s normally either mom and I on the river, or mom and my brother on the river. I love to paddle my Bellyak and I enjoy it better when my mom and I get to paddle the river together. Going through the rapids and surfing the waves with Greg was fun. I wasn’t nervous, because I ran the Tuck with Adam and Jamie before the GCA trip. The high water day with Adam and Jamie was better than the low water day with Greg. The low water was harder than the higher water because there were a lot more rocks and I ended up flipping over a few times and hitting a rock with my knee and another one with my stomach. Neither one felt good. At the end of the trip, Mom took us to Manrique’s and I ate a lot of food. Going on a paddling trip has some challenges because there are a lot of things I need help with when we get to the river, like getting my gear on, and getting to the water. I get carried on the Bellyak like it’s a stretcher. And the people who work at Smoky Mountain River Adventures are really nice and they lift me on and off the shuttle bus, and help carry me to and from the river. My mom appreciates all of the help they give her so I can get on the river.

Helping Spinal Cord injury Victims With Financial Assistance On February 6, 2010 I dived into a shallow water wave, causing critical damage that left my neck broken and spinal cord bruised. Doctors concluded that I, like countless other Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) victims, had little to no chances of walking again. I was determined to beat the odds that had been set against myself, began rehabilitation in May 2010. This successful treatment has slowly helped me regain my strength and every day, I come closer to being able to walk again. I took notice and realized something HAD to be done in order to help others who were going through the same issues. That is when Walking With Anthony was born. Walking With Anthony is a non-profit organization raising awareness of the impact of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), it is on a mission to debunk the myth that victims of this injury have little to no chance of walking again. Something that can happen in a split second, the recovery from a spinal cord injury takes years and is extremely expensive for anyone to afford, leaving most who suffer from it untreated and without hope as insurance companies usually only cover about 20 days worth of rehabilitation. While the effects of a spinal cord injury are often perceived as lifelong and unchanging, through education, fundraising and sponsorship, the Walking with Anthony foundation is breaking down barriers and providing the means and hope for these individuals to do so! My continuous progress and recovery is a testament to what can be done to treat a spinal cord injury, and through the Walking With Anthony foundation we hope to give others that same opportunity. Every day I get tragic letters from families who are crying for help as they do not have the means to finance this very expensive recovery. The thought that treatment is available yet out of reach for most spinal cord injury victims is a heartbreaking injustice and it is the Walking With Anthony foundation’s hope that by bringing awareness to spinal cord inuries and its severity, we can raise the funds necessary to change as many lives as possible and get people walking again. See the lives we are changing and progress we are making by following us on our social acocunts. Twitter:walkingwithant Instagram: walkingwithanthony Facebook: Walking With Anthony

About me My name is Dàad. Im 22 years old from and I live in Jordan. This is my graduation semester and I studied international relations at the Hashemite University. I was born with my left, lucky special hand and I believe it's the best part of me! I have a amazing support from my family and friends. They consider me their hero and to be very strong. Each one of us should be one-of-a-kind, and im according to that, I am special!

"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It's what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it." Dr. Wayne Dyer There was no compelling reason to stay. Friends and family became fair weathered. A disappointment often felt after a major life altering event – divorce, death, diseases. Equally amazing are the unexpected angels that become saviors. It certainly wasn't the weather, Michigan is the third cloudiest state with winters that can last up to six months. And it's always gray. Snow and wheelchairs are a bad combination. I am always cold due to my broken thermostat which is located in the top vertebraes in the neck. My temperature registers 97.4° on a good day. There had always been talk of retiring in the Caribbean, both Bill and I were Advanced Open Water scuba divers and had explored the area one reef at a time. We had two vacations, a total of 13 days, on Grand Cayman which has the most developed infrastructure in the region. There were two hospitals with ancillary medical services and lots, and lots of banks which must be staffed with bankers who had families. And Miami is only 60 minutes away by airplane Grand Cayman Somehow I rationalized that I was an expert on living on Grand Cayman, regardless that the majority of our time had been spent either underwater or at the bar. And not the sandbar at Stingray City. I rationalized that other ex-patriots lived there, so it must be possible. What was I thinking? Moving to a foreign country, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, and not knowing a soul. Not to mention being a quadriplegic with extensive care requirements. With blind determination, I pushed forward with my relocation plan. On a reconnaissance trip, Bill and I were able to find a school for Kelly and Kurt, a condominium. Our exploration was cut short short by Hurricane Mitch but we learned what to do when faced with bad weather – you get on a plane and leave. Paradise The logistics were enormous to move from Michigan to a little dot in the sea. Everything for our new southern dwelling had to be purchased months in advance, railed to Miami to be loaded into a rented cargo container (8' x 20' metal box) and when filled scheduled to sail to Grand Cayman where it would be held in customs until we arrived. Then everything in Michigan had to be sold, including our house, cars, and it's contents of acquired stuff over the past 15 years. The timing had to be coordinated so that we were never homeless, but still accommodated the children's school schedules, and my further surgery of five procedures performed by two surgeons simultaneously which was slated to take place in late June at Craig Hospital in Colorado. Plus, there was Zoe, our family cat who required her own documentation to be a temporary resident. Everything included furniture, lamps, rugs, wall pictures, sheets, towels, pots and pans, dishes, glassware, flatware, all gadgets ranging from a potato peeler to a toilet plunger. And more, much much more. Had I known all of the logistic requirements for this move, I would never have proceeded. But I did not. I had a vision of living under palm trees and nothing was going to distract me from this goal. I took it one step at a time and kept moving forward. It is what I tell my son when he faces a seemingly insurmountable project, "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." We celebrated the new millennium on 7 mile Beach as temporary residents of Grand Cayman Island. Never could I have ever imagined 2 1/2 years earlier that I would be living in paradise nor could I have ever imagined that I would be a quadriplegic. Both were true. So what's next?

My One Legged Life My name is Michaelrobbert or #MyOneLeggedLife. I have faced cancer three times in my 35 years. 1995, 1998 and 2001. As a result of this I had to have a full amputation of my right leg. The treatment I received and my long journey with this disease has made me who I am today. After 20 years of battling I have finally been given the all clear. I am cancer free and can live and function independently. I have been trying to find sports that are suitable for me for a long time. I eventually found this in obstacle running and Crossfit. For those who are unaware of obstacle running; it involves persuading a bunch of idiots to crawl through mud and clammer over obstacles on their day off. Yep, I am one of those idiots, the one legged version. I was recently invited to audition for the first series of the Dutch version of ‘Ninja Warrior’. This is a huge compliment for me as my obstacle abilities have been recognised and got selected for the Ninja Warrior Show. It will make me more determined than ever to succeed. And Crossfit? That is the second best thing that ever happend to me. I love the power, challenge and competition as an adaptive crossfitter. Since my participation in obstacle course racing and Crossfit, I have committed myself to raising awareness for cancer research and independency after revalidation. I am a proud member of the Dutch adaptive group; ‘Team No- Limits‘ who pride themselves on demonstrating strength and perseverance while facing obstacles. On June 2016 I climbed the highest mountain in the UK the "Ben Nevis" to raise awareness for cancer research and independency after revalidation. With hard work there are ‘No limits’. Read more about my Ben Nevis challenge www. michaelrobbertbrans.com/conquering-ben-nevis/ Kind regards ! Michael Robbert Brans

Doing everything I want to be free to do everything in my life that I wanted to do. I love walking with my dog through the forrest. I love my workout and I love wearing heels - I am a woman ;-) Watch my video - and you can see what I mean. #simonesprostheticlife

My Queen This little queen is Aztlana. She was born with an encephalocele which is when part of the brain grows out of a hole in the skull. She had surgery to remove the brain tissue that was growing out of the hole when she was 11 months. The following month she began having seizures. She has a rare form of seizures called lennox gastaut syndrome. She was also diagnosed with cortical vision impairment, microcephaly and Cerebral Palsy. She also has asthma and is fed via G-tube. My little queen has been through so much but always has a smile on her face. She is so happy and brave. She motivates me everyday with her strength and courage. She has taught me so many things and I'm truly grateful for having her in my life.

Trekking with 2 prosthetics Hi, I am a 38 year old woman from Germany with 2 prosthetics. I have had no legs since I was born due to dysmelia. I have one upper leg prosthetics on my left side and one lower leg at my right side. Since 1998 I have also had Multiple Sclerosis too. In 2015 I traveled to Austria to do some trekking tours in the mountains. My highest altitude was 3000m above sea level. It was physically demanding but it was awesome. One year ago I got my new prosthetics from Freedom Innovations and they are great. It is the first time in my life I can wear heels and I am so happy about that. But there are also no limits for me in all my activities. I want to show what is possible with two prosthetics. I try so much and I can do so much, so just keep trying ;-) I love my life! Follow me on Instagram for more!