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Something Was Different. I don’t remember a time in my life where I didn’t have to consider my health in everything I do. I caught glandular fever when I was 15 and since then, my life has changed. I noticed that I couldn’t keep up with other people my age; as someone who was so hardworking, determined, passionate… I couldn’t understand why my body wasn’t able to just do what I wanted it to. I was struggling, but not enough for anyone to notice - certainly not doctors, even though I pleaded with them to run more tests. On paper, I was fit and healthy, so I was dismissed time and again. I started to convince myself that it must be in my own head; something too many chronically ill sufferers tend to do when our conditions are so under-researched. So I kept going - until I couldn’t anymore. I Was Different. It was my first year of university when I noticed what couldn’t be ignored anymore. When other people said they were tired, I assumed they felt what I felt; the Earth-shattering fatigue that meant you couldn’t move, couldn’t eat, couldn’t breathe. But their tired still allowed them to go to lectures, then go to work, then go on nights out - what was wrong with me, if I couldn’t do that? Throughout the year, I was in a new city and studying performing arts. I also had four back-to-back infections, as if my body just couldn’t catch a break, couldn’t heal from what was going on. I finished the year in hospital, highly medicated, wondering what all this meant. That summer I got glandular fever again, and it couldn’t be ignored anymore. After years of searching, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. What the Heck is ME? I hadn’t even heard of the condition before, only its variation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My goodness, it’s so much more than that; it is fatigue on a cellular level, where your body cannot produce energy the same as your healthy counterparts. I had a fairly moderate case, which meant I couldn’t eat, wash, dress unaided a lot of the time. I felt like I had failed as if I could’ve somehow stopped this condition from dominating my life - you’ll find a lot of people struggle with this when they’re chronically ill, as we’re often medically gaslit. I tried to keep up still. I didn’t want to admit defeat or surrender to this state of living. I changed my course to a less active one that I didn’t enjoy as much, I still insisted on living with my friends at uni, which resulted in debt for housing costs as I couldn’t work and ended up needing physical help from my friends more often than I wanted to admit. I ended up spending 80% of the time in bed. I was miserable. I felt confused, abandoned. I didn’t know what to do. Okay, so how can I be me, with M.E? I eventually realized that this wasn’t a short-term sort of thing. Was I disabled? How does someone know when they’re disabled? I felt like I was lying as if I needed someone else to look at me and tell me ‘yes, you qualify for being disabled. Here’s your introduction pack and blue badge.’ I moved back home, going through the process of applying for financial aid for disability. Weirdly enough, when the pandemic hit, it gave me a chance to level the playing field; I could continue university because they had started adapting courses to do online, in my own room. I thought I’d finally got the hang of living like this, of coexisting with this condition and its limitations. It wouldn’t stop me from living though, right? Wrong. Things changed; again. At the start of 2021, I started sharing my story through my Instagram account @ellie_ology, documenting what my health journey had been and trying to show that it didn’t have to change who you were. And then I relapsed. I got the worst I have ever been. I still am. There was no warning sign, nothing I did wrong; my life was reduced to 90% in bed, full-time care from my family. I withdrew from the university. I felt like I fit into the “definition” of disabled because my life WAS significantly disabled and different from anything I’d ever existed in before. I kept wondering if I would get better. I’m still wondering if, one day, there’ll be better days. And that’s where we’re at, folks… I guess my perspective on myself and life, in general, has changed, given all that’s happened to me. I don’t see the world the same way many others my age do, because I have seen firsthand how quickly things can change. I’m no longer aiming for a full recovery; just a balance, to find some brighter days in the mix, too. M.E. affects everything. A lot of people told me that it didn’t have to, but they were kidding themselves in my opinion. It took a lot from me, but it also made me into a far more grateful, compassionate, and understanding individual. I’m not grateful that this is what’s happened to me, but this is the life that I have. Who knows, maybe it’s part of my whole grand life’s purpose. To get the word out there, so that one day, people won’t have to ask what the hell M.E. is, but already understand it as well as conditions such as MS or cancer. For the first time in my life, I have no plans for the foreseeable. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to look like - I’m just taking it all as it comes. Some days are bright enough that I can get dressed, maybe take some photos for my Instagram. Most are in bed, in a world of one room. It’s my journey. I would love it if you would come along for the ride…

Isabela's story Hi, my name is Isabela, I'm 5 years old. I was born at 29 weeks gestation, weighing 1,420kg. I was hospitalized in the ICU for 54 days. I overcame prematurity, however, I had a delay in motor development and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. I also gradually lost my hearing and had a Cochlear Implant surgery. Nowadays I started to listen again and my steps have the help of a walker, I do many therapies since I was little looking for my independence. I am a very happy child.

Goes to show. You can do anything! Hi, my name is Gabriel. I was diagnosed with Down Syndrome right after I was born. This condition is just one of the things that makes me a very special young man! I am interested in music, sports, modeling, and painting. And as it turns out very talented and successful. Now I am developing my own business.

Never Give Up On Your Passion My name is Jeff Metz, but most people know me as Grimstyles. I'm a musician and rapper from Bakersfield, California. I was born six weeks premature, and I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. Growing up, my childhood wasn't easy, but it wasn't for reasons you might think. I had a loving family and a few loving friends, but I was always craving more. That feeling I was craving: acceptance. When I got into my teens I started to notice that I was different. I started questioning things. No one I knew had crutches as I did. No celebrity I saw on television or in movies had crutches as I did. At night before I went to sleep, I always wondered to myself: "Why am I like this? Why do I have to be the one with a physical disability?" Ever since I was a teenager, I had an affinity for Rap music. I admired how rappers, like Kanye West and Eminem, could tell deep, vivid stories in their songs. Then it occurred to me that I could do this, too! With this new goal in mind, I saved up some money to record my very first song. Granted, the song didn't turn out too good, but I didn't care! I was in love! I felt I was on my way to stardom, and nothing was going to get in my way. My very first song was recorded over a decade ago, and I'm still going strong! My passion for music and creating burns as white-hot as ever! To this day, I have over 1,000 songs to my name and over 700,000 YouTube views. I was even featured in a local news broadcast in my hometown of Bakersfield, California on Thanksgiving Day in 2020. The moral of the story is to always follow your passion. No matter what it is, go for it! Whether you want to become a doctor, a lawyer, or an astronaut - whatever! Just go for it! I never let my physical disability deter me from chasing my dream, and you shouldn't, either! You never know where your passion will take you...

gabriel’s gains Gabriel is a 5-year-old boy who lives every day with a big smile and Cerebral Palsy! Gabriel was born at just 25 weeks and has Cerebral Palsy due to HIE and a stroke shortly after birth. He also has a trach and a feeding tube due to his extreme prematurity. Gabriel talks with a communication device or by smiling or shaking his head “no”. He has us all wrapped around his finger! He loves music, Mickey Mouse, Elmo, and his family (in that order!!!) Gabriel is also adopted! I first met Gabriel when I was working as his nurse in a pulmonary rehabilitation hospital, it was love at first sight. When I was told he needed a foster family, my husband and I signed right up. He came home from the hospital for the first time when he was 18 months old, in April of 2017. From that moment forward, we were a family. Gabriel was officially adopted by us in February of 2020. He continues to bring light to our lives every single day and we are so blessed to spend each day with such a sweet, sweet boy.

Ashton's story Having suffered the stillbirth of our daughter the year before, I found my pregnancy with Ashton terrifying. Everything was going well until at 20 weeks pregnant, I went into preterm labor. With the help of cervical cerclage, they managed to close my cervix and prevent my labor from progressing. Sadly this victory was short-lived when at 23 weeks (17 weeks early), I gave birth to a very fragile Ashton who only weighed 1lb 4oz. Ashton had a 13% chance of survival. His lungs were very underdeveloped and he relied on a ventilator for a long time. He also endured heart surgery, multiple blood transfusions and battled a very severe case of sepsis that nearly killed him. I wasn't able to cuddle my baby for 30 days after giving birth. For months, I watched this tiny little scrap fight for his life in a plastic box. 137 days later and with the support of home oxygen, we finally brought Ashton home. Ashton's Cerebral Palsy diagnosis Despite having such a premature baby at home - I found myself comparing his progress to other premature babies. Through Facebook, I became friends with a few mum's whose babies had been born early but none as early as Ashton. Over the coming months, I noticed these other mum's posting about their baby's milestones; sitting up unaided, holding a rattle or their bottle, etc. Ashton wasn't able to do any of those things. Just before his first birthday, we took him to a doctor who specializes in neurodevelopment. The doctor did a physical assessment of him and then sat us down to tell us that he was sure that Ashton had cerebral palsy. I knew deep down this diagnosis was coming but it still hit me like a truck! I asked him how sure he was and he said he was certain and that it was apparent that he was severely affected by it. Our baby is disabled. The special needs journey From the moment we got Ashton's diagnosis, it felt like we had arrived on an alien planet and we were feeling around in the dark! I had so many unanswered and unanswerable questions: "Will he walk?" "Will he talk?" "Will he go to mainstream school?". Suddenly our life revolved around routine medications, daily physiotherapy, various pieces of equipment, hospital appointments - all mixed in with typical parenting practices. Every day I was learning something new, it could be something about his condition that I didn't know before, or maybe a special needs hack passed on by another parent to make life easier, or a new support resource, etc. I was very aware of this huge learning curve and just how different our life was from that of our friends with neurotypical children. At times I felt quite isolated. Ashton, within himself, was happy and content - he didn't know any different but I longed for contact with parents like us with children like us. At age 2, Ashton started a special needs pre-school. At the induction, we chatted to parents with children starting who were just like Ashton! It was so refreshing and such a comfort to engage with parents who lead lives just like ours. 8 years down the line, those two sets of parents have become our closest friends, at times a lifeline and our kids have developed a very close friendship! Best friends forever! Life now Ashton is now 8 years old. He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He is nonverbal and also has a Global Development Delay. Yes, my son is profoundly disabled. This disability is something he has but it's not who he is. He is a happy, vibrant, noisy little boy who thrives. He loves to sing and play musical instruments. He enjoys hydrotherapy in his hot tub, as well as bike rides, school is his favorite place as he gets to hang out with his best friends. Ashton recently transitioned from a special needs pushchair to a proper wheelchair. A lot of parents struggle with this but I forced myself to look at the positives. Ashton's wheelchair allows him to travel, play, explore and have fun. It allows inclusion which is hugely important to us. There's nothing we can do to change Ashton's disability. I can't control that. However, I can control how I perceive this and my attitude towards this. Ashton fought bravely to be here. He's more than earned his spot here on earth. Along the way, he's taught me so much. We have a lot to be grateful for.

My Story! Hi everyone I'm Nithish. I'm a 20-year-old Fashion Designing student from India. I'm really glad to share my story with you all♥️ I have symbrachydactyly which affected my left hand. I was born with this hand. I have never felt like having a disability in my life because there is nothing that I cannot do. Growing up with this hand really made me stronger than everyone and made me feel proud of my own body. I wouldn't say that I've never faced any problem in my life, I have faced a lot of problems, a lot of rejections, I've doubted myself so many times but I have never given up. Each and every day is an adventure in my life and I'm enjoying being unique. I was offered the surgery to transfer my toes to my hand but I declined, which I'm grateful for. I love my hand and I would not change it. I considered my disability as my ability and I hope to inspire others to embrace their uniquely perfect differences :) " BEING YOURSELF" might be tough but that is what is making us UNIQUE and DIFFERENT from others. " I'm different.., I have a disability..., I'm unique and I'm proud of it" Thank you :)

Training “This is my new life 💪🇨🇷 Determined and ready for everything!” Thank you, Isac (IG: @isaacm506) for this motivational training

In the beginning I remember when I was first finally feeling self-aware in the ICU after my injury I was adamant that I would walk again. I'm not sure if it was delusion or dreaming, but I continue to have the same dream dipping my feet in the cold water of some river in an Asian country. The doctor told me I would never walk again and I would barely have any use of my arms. I had to be myself for a life of being bound to a wheelchair forever. Shortly after my relationship of 10 years ended. I had to contemplate shutting down or selling the business that I had been working on for 6 years. I had to process the unique and unusual grief of quadriplegia. My most recent psychologist called it bereavement. I'm mourning the death of myself and who I was because that person does not exist anymore. Everything that I am, was the freedom and dynamic joy of moving my entire body. Others who had come before me told me that I would eventually figure it out and find Life Again. Instead, I do not see any outcome other than moving like I was. So I came up with the 10-year plan; if I have not found happiness or I cannot be who I want to be, I would commit assisted suicide in Switzerland 10 years after my injury. In the present. I decided that I needed to try everything before I made the decision 10 years later. I would not be satisfied with myself and my choice if I just spent the next 10 years waiting to die. Since then I have experienced these things in my last two years. I lived in the hospital for 11 months. I left the hospital in a pandemic. I have been in isolation for 9 months. I have had 2 relationships. I sold my dream business. I have tried hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, physiology, acupuncture, EMS, robotics, tremor therapy, meditation, and acupuncture. I have tried adaptive gaming. I have been painting and writing. So far out of everything the only Joy I have found is from spending time in the sun, listening to music, and making connections. I have no desire for children or to get married. I don't want to have any pets. All I simply want is to regain more functional ability so that I can use that ability to further increase my capacities. So that hopefully one day I will be whole again. So every day I get up at 6 a.m. and I work, grind and hope. The only quality of life I see is being who I want to be. If I can't have that then I just feel like I am existing for others. I hope that I can look back at this story 10 years from now and cry in the relief that I made it. But all I have is doubt.

Just keep pushing Hi there! My name is Martí, I’m 29 and I’m from Barcelona, Spain. About 6 years ago I came to the US (Dalton, GA) to marry my girlfriend at the time and start our new life pursuing the American Dream. Fast forward to about a year ago, we pretty much had made it: we had good jobs, we had built our own house, we had an 8-month-old baby boy and we were going to start our own business on the side. All of that changed on Feb, 24th when I had a car wreck that left me, a quadriplegic. I’m C5-6 with mobility and function of a C7 incomplete. At first, I felt like our life was falling apart, but soon and with the help of my wife, family, and friends I realized that nothing fell apart. I was still the same optimistic and energetic guy with the same goals and the same hunger to eat the world one bite at a time and be happy with my family. I can still do everything I wanted and enjoy a happy life, I just need to push a little harder.

The bright future of my daughter. My daughter is 10 years old and she is cerebral palsy. She is in the fourth grade in a Japanese elementary school. She participates in the normal class while receiving support. She can't walk, can't sit down, can't move her hands, nor talk. But I believe in the power of her smile. She has many friends. She is also practicing walking and her dream of walking with her friends. I believe that a bright future will come. We'll live today as well, aiming for the symbiotic society. We should have a symbiotic society where everyone can live free.

My story My name is Kat. From a young age, I was diagnosed with one thing after another. Unfortunately, these diagnoses did not explain all my symptoms leaving most of my health issues undiagnosed. This caused me to be abused through the school and medical system for most of my life. As a result, I was left to suffer in silence without the accommodations or medical care I needed for years. I was constantly treated as if my medical conditions were behavioral issues. By the time I got to high school, I was sent to a separate day camp for kids with behavior issues for being in the bathroom most of the time because of a bladder condition. The place was a holding cell for kids with mental health issues and my education was severely affected. This place wasn’t equipped to teach multiple children. All of us were at different grade levels, learning 8 different subjects. I had to endure meetings where they made goals for me to be in the bathroom for a shorter amount of time and to make fewer trips, something I was incapable of doing. I was constantly told my pain wasn’t real and given a bathroom timer aimed at embarrassing me. I was verbally abused and punished by the staff. Furthermore, I was robbed of a proper education. After years of mistreatment and feeling hopeless, I ended up attempting suicide. Thankfully, after 3 weeks in the ICU, I survived. I was later medically homebound for my anxiety and depression from my mistreatment at school. After graduation, I took my health into my own hands and was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis at 19, a condition I had since I was 5. 2 years after that, I found out about my 2 rare genetic conditions, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and Dyskeratosis Congenita. They explained all my other symptoms and connected the dots to all my previous diagnoses. I was later diagnosed with autism, explaining my years of sensory and communication issues. Getting diagnosed with all my medical conditions felt like slowly gaining pieces to a puzzle I didn’t know I was trying to put together. I still feel guilty for the symptoms my interstitial cystitis and other conditions cause me, but my diagnosis allowed me to learn how to love myself and give myself grace finally. I’m excited to say I am now a proud disabled woman that documents my journey online and provides support for others that are undiagnosed. I might still be working through all the ableism I endured growing up, but I survived something I was afraid I wouldn't, and for that, I couldn’t be more proud of myself. If you get anything out of my story, remember that everyone has been undiagnosed at one point or another. Don’t judge others and never forget: you know your body better than anyone else, so please listen to it.