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If you can't stand up, stand out! My name is Izzy and I have Spina Bifida. Growing up it always bothered me how little options there was for me to personalise my wheelchair even though I spent so much of my life in it. People associate wheelchairs with old people or sick people but that's definitely not the case. Self expression is a human right so together with my sister we created a platform for people to customise their wheelchairs. Izzy wheels allow users to express their individuality and personality. Now my wheelchair isn't just a mechanical item, it's a piece of fashion!

Hi! I'm Jessa I was born with Caudal Regression Syndrome. I'm missing 3 bones in my spine, have bilateral clubbed feet and have shallow hips. My parents were told I'd be born dead from the waist down. Boy were they wrong! Every day I'm proving them wrong. I can crawl super fast and with a push walker, I can walk over 100ft! I want everyone to know anything is possible! I hope I can inspire other kids and give parents hope. Thank you for reading my little story :) Jessa's story I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter Jessa when we were told she had Caudal regression syndrome - we were told she'd basically be dead from the waist down. As parents, we were devastated but not giving up! Now Jessa is almost 2 years old... she can crawl and walk with a push walker! She's doing amazing. I make sure to share her story and progress as much as possible. Doctors don't know everything and you must have faith in your child. Also if you'd like to follow her story more closely and have more information please follow us on Instagram: sarahzkp

The change On 4 December 2007 I was rushed into hospital with meningitis. Complete organ failure, life support and deadened legs followed, plus 4 months in hospital wards. When I first had my legs amputated, the nurse pulled back the sheet and revealed the space where my legs once were. I didn't recognise my body anymore. I was 18, and a dancer. Confidence was a certain kind of femininity, a certain kind of sexiness...a high heels, short shorts kind of confidence. A constantly in pointe shoes in the dance studio confidence. To dance My mum said to me 'you can dance again' but I pushed it away, thinking I'd never feel that freedom again. Two years ago I started to dance again, and do yoga. I could feel my body stretch and move as it always had, could feel my strength return. It's hard, and there are days where I will be p*ssed off that I can't jump and leap, be jealous of the people that can, but that's ok and I'm honest about it. I'm still growing, and I'm just so happy that I decided to do it with dance. The gap on the bed is just part of my changing body, in a whole world of changing bodies.

My life completely changed at 21 My name is Samantha, I'm 21 years old and I have Cauda Equina Syndrome which is a spinal cord injury. I never thought a few weeks after I turned 21 my life would change from how I knew it. I went in for a normal procedure called a blood patch... two days later I lost feeling from the belly button down. The blood patch went terribly wrong and ended up having a chemical reaction with my spinal cord nerves. Now they are under extreme pressure and very inflamed. I have nerve damage in my bowels and bladder and my strength is at an all time low! I'm currently relearning how to walk! Even through all of this craziness, I haven't given up! I keep a huge smile on my face and I fight through the pain. This hasn't brought me down or changed my attitude. I know I will beat this and one day be able to run and walk again! I absolutely can not wait to get back in the gym every day. I am a champion!

I lost 150 pounds living with chronic pain In the summer of 2001, my neck muscles began to involuntarily contract, causing my head to pull to the right. I had no idea what was wrong. My doctors were also baffled. No one knew how to help so my symptoms kept getting worse. I searched the internet like crazy and finally discovered dystonia, a neurological movement disorder. A neurologist specializing in movement disorders made the official diagnosis. It was a relief to know what was wrong, but scary to think of what lied ahead. By the time I was diagnosed, I was in extreme pain and disfigurement, and pretty much unable to do anything on my own. My head and neck were locked towards my right shoulder and the muscle contractions significantly worsened with any type of movement. I had to drop out of graduate school, quit my job, and move in with my parents because I had become disabled to the point that I could not function without their help. I felt immense shame. I tried a variety of treatments, none of which were of much help. I fell into a pit of depression, became very isolated, experienced severe anxiety and panic attacks, drank alcohol to help reduce the pain and muscle contractions, and had an awful diet. Within 5 years of my diagnosis, I gained around 150 pounds due to my unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle. At well over 300 pounds, I didn’t recognize myself. Life was anything but fun! In December 2006, I caught a stomach virus and was sick for almost 2 weeks. During that time, my dystonia symptoms subsided a little and I lost about 15 pounds. While getting sick was not the type of motivation to change I would have chosen, it was exactly what I needed. It was a wide open window of opportunity and I jumped through it. I knew if I didn’t, I would eventually have more serious health problems. I changed my diet and began exercising (for weight loss and to help manage my dystonia symptoms). I changed what I ate and when I ate, I cut back on the amount of food I ate, and I walked everyday. I started out by walking to the end of my driveway, gradually increasing to 2-3 miles twice a day. By October 2007, I lost all the weight! In less than a year I was back to a healthy 185 pounds for my 6’ 2” frame. I also found some effective ways to better manage my dystonia. People often said to me that I must have a much better attitude after losing all the weight. My response was, "getting a better attitude is what motivated me to lose the weight." My attitude was certainly better and I absolutely felt better about myself, but had my attitude not changed prior, I never would have been so determined to take the necessary steps to lose the weight and better manage my dystonia symptoms. I still have problems with my neck and back from dystonia that prevent me from doing certain activities, but life is so much better! I have maintained my weight and my dystonia symptoms are night and day compared to the horror I once lived. I used to essentially live on the floor, writhing in pain, feeling completely worthless and depressed, unemployed, morbidly obese, and totally dependent on the help of others. I didn’t want to wake up in the morning because I didn’t want to face the constant physical and mental pain. Now I am at a healthy weight and in much better control of my dystonia to where I can live a more normal life with passion and excitement. My journey with dystonia and weight issues led me back to school in 2010 where I became a certified professional life coach so I could help others with their health challenges. Then in 2015, I published a book called, Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey. I wrote this book to give others hope and inspiration, as well as guidance for how to better cope with a life altering chronic condition. I have been faced with major challenges throughout my adult life. What helps me jump over hurdles is my belief that everything has a solution. There is nothing that can’t be altered to improve our quality of life. Obstacles provide us with opportunities to grow and become better people, and every day I am grateful for the chance to help myself and others achieve their personal best.

Do anything you want because tomorrow it can be too late. Hi, my name is Christin and I’m 19 years old. Two years ago in September 2014, my whole life changed forever as a car hit me on my motocycle. I had a subtotal amputation on my right leg which means my leg was almost completely cut off. The doctors tried to find a way to re-build my leg as much as possible. I heard about Wheelchair Basketball in March 2015, and immediately loved the sport and the friends I met on my team. I use crutches and need them most of the time, but maybe there is hope that I will be able to walk in sometime. No one knows, but it doesn't matter! We live now, not in the future so go out and love your life! Do your best! Do anything you want because tomorrow it can be too late. All the stories I read are a truly inspiration! Thanks to all of you <3

I believe that you really can do anything, it just takes some hard work to make things happen. Hi, I am Nia. It's kind of hard to put your life into words. I've never been the kind of person to know what to say or the right thing to say but first off I was born without the lower part of my right hand. I was born in the Anhui province of China and was adopted in 2004. I grew up trying to make the best of things but it was difficult. I was bullied throughout elementary and middle school. I wasn't usually physically bullied but more on the emotional side. I tried rolling the cruel comments off my back but it hurt when people said that my arm was ugly or that I couldn't do anything. I have some mild depression and lots of anxiety so I'm not sure how I feel about life. I try to do everything everyone else can do. When I made it into high school I made it on the Varsity cheer team which was astonishing. I had the best coach anyone could ask for. She made me believe in myself and helped me better myself into the person I am today. I started feeling more confident in myself and the way I looked. I went into cheerleading for the next two years which is now current. I used to wear a jacket everyday to cover my arm but now I try to keep the jacket off unless I'm really cold. I made my Instagram account based on inspiring others and getting to know other people like me or just talking to anyone who needs it. I am excited to see how many people I can help or inspire. I'm just here to have a good time. I believe that you really can do anything, it just takes some hard work to make things happen.

I believe that you really can do anything, it just takes some hard work to make things happen. Hi, I am Nia. It's kind of hard to put your life into words. I've never been the kind of person to know what to say or the right thing to say but first off I was born without the lower part of my right hand. I was born in the Anhui province of China and was adopted in 2004. I grew up trying to make the best of things but it was difficult. I was bullied throughout elementary and middle school. I wasn't usually physically bullied but more on the emotional side. I tried rolling the cruel comments off my back but it hurt when people said that my arm was ugly or that I couldn't do anything. I have some mild depression and lots of anxiety so I'm not sure how I feel about life. I try to do everything everyone else can do. When I made it into high school I made it on the Varsity cheer team which was astonishing. I had the best coach anyone could ask for. She made me believe in myself and helped me better myself into the person I am today. I started feeling more confident in myself and the way I looked. I went into cheerleading for the next two years which is now current. I used to wear a jacket everyday to cover my arm but now I try to keep the jacket off unless I'm really cold. I made my Instagram account based on inspiring others and getting to know other people like me or just talking to anyone who needs it. I am excited to see how many people I can help or inspire. I'm just here to have a good time. I believe that you really can do anything, it just takes some hard work to make things happen.

Educating & Raising Awareness for People with A Limb Difference I was 34 weeks pregnant with my son when I was told that he was missing his right forearm and hand. This did not shock me as much as the doctor offering me a termination of pregnancy. I absolutely refused and Malakye was born healthy, gorgeous and perfect, despite his limb difference. At first, I was worried about him so much. If he would achieve his milestones, if he would be happy. I shouldn't have bothered worrying. Malakye was a little slow with his physical development at first, but by 18 months he had officially caught up to his peers. He no longer needs to see his occupational therapist. He is also the happiest, cheekiest little boy you could possibly imagine. Sometimes when we are out and about, I see someone looking at Malakye a little longer then required. I usually try to start a conversation with them about his limb difference too educate and raise awareness. Malakye is an inspiring little boy to many, but he is jus Malakye to us. He is perfect in every single way. So what next for Malakye? Who knows. Anything. Everything maybe. All I know is that he is my tenth child and I have never loved or enjoyed being a mother as much as nine do right now to Malakye. Follow us on Instagram @malakyes_mummy

6 years with spina bifida My first child Esra was born with Spina Bifida myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus. As first time parents, we didn't know anything and never heard about it. We stood in a hospital in our capital city for 23 days. The hospital was very old and not clean. In one room with 4 beds there were 5 or 6 moms sleeping. Our babies were upstairs; 4 babies with different diseases. My husband slept in our car for 23 days. After 2 weeks of struggling to do her surgery, they finally did it. We thank God that it went well and she didn't need another surgery. Right now she is doing is way better than the doctors ever said she would. She can feel her legs and knees and some parts under knees. She still can't stand on her legs fully, but she can with her braces and some orthoses we found in another country by ourselves. We are doing the best for her without any help from our institutions or our state. We are going to visit a doctor in Turkey next month and we'll see what is our next steps on this journey. Esra is 6 years now and in first grade she is the best in her class- My smart girl, I'm so proud of her. She is also giving the best from herself! She crawls and does everything just like every child at her age. She is not different from anyone else, she is better than others, my strong little girl.

One Step At the age of 8, I was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma in my left femur. I made the decision to amputate my leg at a very young age after many complications and near death. I am now cancer free. I have been playing basketball since the age of 13. This is my love, my passion. I graduated from UTA with a full ride scholarship throughout, 3 time 1st team All-American and captain of the team. In 2014-15 season I won a national championship with the Dallas wheelchair Mavericks. I am a reserve top 16 for the USA Paralympic basketball team and I currently play professionally in Giulianova, Italy. Always striving for greatness!!

Overcoming the accident that left me paralyzed On Memorial Day 2010 I was 15 years old, a freshman in high school. I went to Newport Beach with some friends. I have grown up at the beach so I was comfortable there. When the day was coming to an end me and 3 friends decided to go into the water one last time. We all 4 stood up and ran into the ocean, I dove into an oncoming wave, but hit a sandbar and was instantly paralyzed. Floating face down I was unable to turn my head to get a breath. I prayed that someone would see me, my friends thought I was joking, but when my body started floating back out with the tide one friend ran to check on me. He saved me from drowning. He flipped my body over and pulled me to the shore and got the lifeguard to call 911. I spent 3 months in the hospital learning to be a quadriplegic. I was diagnosed as a C-4 incomplete quadriplegic. Since then I went back to high school and graduated with my class. I got accepted into college and lived on campus with a part time caregiver. I have done many speaking engagments talking about my story and spreading beach awareness. I got my own service dog and have done many more exciting things since my injury. Being a quadriplegic is frustrating and stressful. The smallest of things are the most difficult such as feeding myself and brushing my teeth. But I have stayed positive and only want to move forward. Persevere!