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Our Story🤍 Hello! Connor and Lindsay here 👋🏼. We are high school sweethearts and got married in November 2021. (Woo newlyweds!) We have been together for 7 1/2 years in total. He is the kindest, sweet person you will ever meet, and that is definitely why I fell in love with him! And he keeps me laughing 24/7 lol. Connor and I are both from Texas and went to school at the University of Arkansas. Woo pig! In June 2020, Connor had a diving accident in a friend’s pool. This resulted in a C5/C6 injury which left him as a quadriplegic. He is paralyzed from the chest down. Although this was definitely a life-changing event, we both made the best of the situation and live life to the fullest! We just created a page on Instagram and YouTube called @journeywiththefosters to share our journey if you would like to follow along!❤️

Riley’s Story Riley’s story starts on April 23, 2019. We had opted to get the 3-month scan and NIPT test with our 3rd pregnancy just for the extra ultrasound. The tech brought in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor and he pointed out that there was an increased nuchal translucency measurement and that it was common with different trisomies, he suggested we have the materNit21 test to see which specific trisomy we were at high risk for. We opted for it. I got the call a few days later that the baby was at high risk for trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down Syndrome. I'm not going to lie, it took my breath away. I cried for what I thought I was losing and I cried because of the way the news was delivered from the genetic counselor. She delivered the news as if it was a terribly awful condition. Then of course I had to go back to Maternal Fetal Medicine where the specialist suggested I get an amnio or a CVS in case I would like to know 100% if I had plans to terminate. That was obviously not an option for us. We said we will have this baby no matter what, it hurt me that they would even suggest something. I just couldn’t fathom their reasoning.. why? I have a teenage nephew with Down syndrome. What if my sister-in-law aborted him? HOW was he not worthy of life? How is my baby not worthy of life? The rest of my pregnancy was very stressful, to say the least. I had terrible morning sickness, high blood pressure, and a high-risk pregnancy. I had 2 fetal echocardiograms which were inconclusive. Fast forward to October 10, 2019 (my 35th Birthday) I had an Ultrasound that day. The OB told me I had an umbilical vein varix and that I had to be induced ASAP because I was at risk for stillbirth. October 11, 2019, at 12:15 am, Miss Riley came into this world!! She was just perfect. She cried right away but then her color started to become gray, so they took her and gave her oxygen. We had a week's stay in the NICU and also a diagnosis of an AVSD heart defect that would need surgery. They told me also that Riley had a few traits of Trisomy 21, I told them I was aware there was a high chance of that early in my pregnancy and that it didn’t matter, she was the most perfect baby in the world. In February 2020, Riley’s heart got the repair it needed, it had been a bumpy road but since then we are starting to really see the real Riley. She is a force to be reckoned with. I truly believe the world will know her name. Down Syndrome, heart disease, and being born a month early have NOT held Riley back, she is meeting her milestones and wants to be a big kid like her Big Brother and Big Sister! It is truly amazing to see how strong Riley is, despite her low muscle tone she is rocking PT, doing baby signs, and getting into everything like any toddler should! I do know we will have some challenges ahead, but I also do know that Riley is a rockstar and she will overcome them all! Down Syndrome isn’t something to be feared, it is something to be celebrated! Riley has opened up a whole new world for our family! Riley’s smile can warm even the coldest heart, her determination is nothing short of extraordinary. Her extra chromosome makes her who she is! She IS Riley. She HAS Down Syndrome.

Living with CP Hi, my name is Brandon and I’m 11 years old. I had a stroke in utero and was diagnosed with left hemiplegia cerebral palsy. Most recently I began having seizures. I have been going to physical and occupational therapy since I can remember (my mom says I started at 10 months). I also do aquatic therapy every now and then. I love to play video games and play soccer. I have been playing soccer since I was 5 years old with able-bodied kids. To play for DC United or for the US Men's National team has been a dream that I thought I would never be able to do. However, my mom stumbled upon CP Soccer which was brand new in Virginia. My parents did not hesitate and signed me up even though it was about an hour and fifteen minutes away without traffic. We have been going to CP soccer for almost two years now and it’s been the best that has ever happened to me. One of my coaches is a retired US Paralympic National Team soccer player! We learned there was a team for people like me and I’m eager to continue to work hard and play for USPMNT. With this program, I have been able to meet more USPMNT players, and best of all, I made some really cool friends who share the same disability. You must think I don’t play with able-bodied kids anymore right?! Wrong! My parents keep me playing with them so I can continue to challenge myself to become a better runner and player. Living with CP has its challenges, but with all the inspiration that surrounds me, I keep pushing myself to get better. People like me just adapt and thrive. CP can’t and won’t stop me!

My Short Story What’s up my name is JJ Mullaly I am 32 years old and was injured when I was 29 years old. I grew up in Poughkeepsie New York, where I wrestled and played soccer my whole life. I grew up with a very supportive single mom. Majority my life my father was incarcerated due to his alcoholism, something I also suffer from. I got involved with substances after high school. It turned into a lifestyle for me. I want nothing more than to be sober, but I cannot achieve it for long periods of time. My injury happened due to my substance-abuse. Anybody can message me for more information about how it happened. I came home for the weekend, and my life was changed from one bad night. I’m a C4 incomplete with a C2 to C7 fusion. I woke up on a trach ventilator, my kidneys failed, I was on dialysis and I could not move anything but my right shoulder and left my right arm just a little bit at first. I spent four months in a hospital. I got out, still very weak but I made it out in three months. I was told I would never be able to breathe on my own again. All of us on this page are warriors. It’s been 2 1/2 years post injury and things are turning around for the better, very slowly, but I try to stay as positive as possible. I’m getting a lot of core strength back. I have both arms moving and I was blessed to have my fingers come back. They are very weak, but I work on them daily. I’m huge into fitness and I’m blessed to have a lot of great people around me. The mind is a powerful thing I try to tell myself that every morning, I try to tell myself I’m here for a reason and if that gets me through the day then that’s a win for me and everybody around me. It’s rough the first two years and past that. The mental health aspects of before and after my spinal cord injury have a huge impact, I have to work on that every day. I hate saying this because of course I wish I was walking still, but I have to make the best out of each day and just grind harder and pray. God is good, so is a solid support system. God bless all of you. Much love ❤️💯🙏🏽

Slow road to becoming disabled. Hi! My name is Kae (a.k.a. @lettereleven and I was diagnosed with #LimbGirdleMuscularDystrophy at the age of 17. I first started to experience symptoms at age 14: climbing stairs, walking, running, squatting, tippy-toeing and jumping all slowly became difficult but I was still somehow mobile and able to move around independently—it was a very confusing time, especially not knowing anyone like me. Finally, at the age of 17, I was officially diagnosed with #LGMD2B but I still didn’t know what to do with that information and neither did anyone else, including doctors. I was told there was no cure and no treatment and was sent on my way. With little education and guidance on disability/chronically-ill culture, I didn’t disclose my diagnosis to anyone because I didn’t want to be judged or treated differently. In hindsight, I can now identify a part of this coping strategy as internalized ableismand my silence as being part of the problem All of my teenage years and young adulthood were filled with anxiety depression and shame, trying to survive while figuring my place in this world as someone “different”. I encountered and continue to face many unique challenges and barriers today but I am a stronger and better person because of it—I’m now aware the problem isn't me, it's society's perception and lack of accessibility/inclusivity. It wasn't easy but I didn’t let this progressive muscle-wasting disease hold me back from living the life I wanted and I still don’t. I felt very alone on my health journey, and I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did. Today, I am very passionate about dedicating my time and energy to helping others know they’re not alone and that they’re worth every bit of life!

My life's journey I'm just a little boy living his life and loving every minute along the way. While I have some challenges there's nothing I can't overcome with the love and support of my family. I was born with microcephaly, a disorder that simply means my brain is smaller than most kids my age. Because of this, it is taking me a little longer to be able to walk, talk, and do most activities of daily living on my own. I have been in either physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy my whole life. And I have definitely made significant progress. But I'm not at the end of my journey just yet. As a matter of fact, my journey will never end. It will forever be an ongoing road of smooth and bumpy rides. I take it all and stride! I travel, I eat well, I laugh, I have friends, I love music... I have cousins, I'm a big brother and most importantly, I'm loved. My life is just as it was meant to be.

A little about me Hello everyone❗️☺️👋🏽 —————— I’m a young disabled 23-year-old gal looking to travel the world and make my mark everywhere I go!✈️ My page is all about 🎗spreading awareness🎗 to normalize disabilities. Disabilities come in all different forms whether they are physical💪🏽 or mental🧠. My disability is called Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). It’s a muscle disorder that makes me weaker, and unfortunately, it progresses over time. I want people to know that even with a physical limitation you can still live your life. Having limitations doesn’t have to stop you, it only changes the way you have to do things. I want to ✨spread positivity✨ and humble those who are ignorant of our community♿️. I want to answer questions people may have and show the world they don’t have to be afraid to associate with us. Many people I’ve met throughout my life so far have told me they were too shy to approach me because they didn’t know how to start a conversation… It's easy! Just say hello and start talking!

I am happy despite chronic pain My name is Franziska (@franzi_quadri). I have been paralyzed from the neck down since a paragliding accident in 2009. I was in the middle of life at the time, had a great job and a relationship. My whole life was shattered in a split second. Today I am a quadriplegic and 100% dependent on help. It's not always easy. My problem is that I have neuropathic pain and severe spasticity. It makes my life hell. Luckily I have found something that helps and learned to deal with the disability and the wheelchair. I have found the joy of life again. That's what I want to show the world on social media. There is still a lot possible. My life is fun. I am happy again. Thanks to the great help of my family and friends I have no limits. It is now society that is handicapping me and I want to change that with my pictures and stories. #nevergiveup

GNE Myopathy Hello friends! My name is Aliciah and I’m from Oklahoma City. I was born with a genetic mutation called GNE myopathy- which is a form of muscular dystrophy (MD). To inherit this condition, both of my parents had to be carriers. Even though I was born with it, myopathy didn’t start affecting me until I was about 21-22 years old. I started falling out of nowhere, I couldn’t go upstairs and I noticed that my walking was becoming difficult and painful. I also experienced extreme muscle loss. After three long tiring years of seeing multiple specialists, I was finally diagnosed with MD last year. Now at the age of 26, I have to use a walker to get around my apartment and a wheelchair to enjoy activities. I’m still able to do things most people can, I just need a little assistance, but I am not complaining! :) So to my friends that have a disability- love and cherish yourself more than ever before, and more than anyone else. There’s a positive ASPECT IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Sending love, healing, prosperity and light to each and everyone. WE ARE STRONG! 💚

Life is beautiful and the power of people is unstoppable! Hello! My name is Andreea Lichi and I’m 21 years old. I come from Bacău, a city in Romania. I’m studying psychology at the University of Iași. I’m a simple person, a person passionate about knowledge, who likes to help other people. I was in a car accident seven years ago and my spine and spinal cord broke. Since then, my wheelchair has become my extension and my parents have become my arms and legs. My life was a terrible nightmare for many years, but I realized that life goes on and is beautiful. Is important how we see life: with a happy eye or a sad eye. I chose to enjoy my life. Today I'm a student and an author of a book - Soul of Porcelain. I hope to write many books. I'm a photo model in a unique concept from Romania: Atipic Beauty. I have many projects about vulnerable people. I want through those projects to bring a ray of sunshine to all the souls who don’t have hope. Also, after I graduate, I want to work in a hospital with children. I want to work with children who cope with trauma. I want to teach them that everything is possible when we wish and believe. In life, I hope to travel and visit many countries. Life is beautiful and the power of people is unstoppable!

About Me💜 Hi, my name is Chelsea and I was born and raised in SM California. In May of 2019, I graduated from Cal State Channel Islands with my BA in psychology with a plan to further my education in counseling. About a month later I was the passenger in a horrific automobile accident where I broke/shattered my cervical vertebrae from C3-C6. This caused severe damage to my spinal cord which caused me to become a C4 complete quadriplegic. All four of my limbs are compromised with no leg function and very limited arm function. I also have no hand function which makes daily tasks extremely challenging. I’m 100% dependent on those around me and I need help with daily tasks such as brushing my hair, bathing, and getting dressed. Over the past 2 1/2 years I’ve undergone intensive physical and occupational therapy to gain back new function and to strengthen the muscles I do have firing. I became a peer ambassador for the Triumph Foundation which is a non-profit foundation located in Santa Clarita California. This foundation strives to help individuals with spinal cord injuries, spinal cord diseases, and other individuals with physical limitations. Recently, I got a part-time job working at my local community college as a career program assistant in the career center where I aim to help as many students as possible with their future endeavors. I hope to continue to be a resource and beacon of hope for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.

Anything is Possible, It's Up to You to Prove It Growing up I was the average small-town kid from the midwest who got tangled in the soccer net, struck out in tee ball, and had no real interest in traditional sports. Instead, my entire childhood revolved around racing my dirt bike with hopes of someday being a world-famous professional motocross racer, making millions of dollars, signing autographs at the local McDonald's, and racing in front of a stadium full of cheering fans. On August 27, 2006, at the age of 18, I attended a local race only a few short months after my high school graduation. During the race I collided with another rider mid-air over a jump and came crashing to the ground collapsing both lungs, shattering my T5 and T6 vertebrae, and paralyzing me from the chest down. On August 27, 2016 (10 years to the day of my injury) I celebrated the journey I had been put on and the most amazing person I had met because of it, by marrying the girl of my dreams. On August 27, 2021 (15 years to the day of my injury) my wife and I celebrated our 5-year wedding anniversary in the mountains of Colorado. My wife has never seen me stand or walk, let alone ride a dirt bike. With the help of the High Fives Foundation and Motodemption Camp, that all changed, and against the odds, I was put back on a dirt bike specially built to fit my needs to ride once again and do what I love most. As a kid I chased a motocross dream to be a professional racer, win races, and enjoy the fame and riches that came with it. Today, I am chasing a motocross dream to inspire others, and bring a smile and hope where it is needed. I aim to inspire people by showing them that if someone who was paralyzed riding a dirt bike and can't move or feel over 75% of their body can strap BACK onto a dirt bike to continue doing what they love in life...ANYTHING is possible, it's up to you to prove it.