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הסיפור הקצר שלי עם עקמת היי! שמי דייגו ואני מעצב ספרדי. אני בכיסא גלגלים בתשע השנים האחרונות, בשל סדרה של כשלים רפואיים בשני ניתוחים. הייתה לי אסטרוציטומה (סרטן) בחוט השדרה שצריך היה להסיר. לאחר הניתוח לא הצלחתי להזיז את הרגליים כראוי ופיתחתי עקמת. My brief story with Scoliosis Hi! My name is Diego and I´m a Spanish designer. I've been in a wheelchair for the past nine years, due to a series of medical failures in two operations. I had an Astrocytoma inside my spinal cord and it had to be removed. After the operation I could not move my legs properly and I developed Scoliosis. מחסומים חדשים עם עקמת בתחילה הרגשתי המום. פתאום היו לי מחסומים רבים. התוודעתי לחוסר המודעות הכללי והרגשתי בודד. אז הבנתי שאני לא יכול לחכות שהעולם ישתנה בשבילי: הייתי צריך להסתגל לעולם. מאותו רגע הכל השתנה. כשאינך דואג לשיפוטים מוקדמים ולמגבלות, אתה מתחיל להיות חופשי וכל המחסומים שראית לפני כן מתחילים להיעלם. New Barriers with Scoliosis At first I felt overwhelmed. Suddenly, a lot of barriers appeared in my environment. I noticed the general lack of awareness and felt alone. Then I realized that I could not wait for the world to change for me: I had to adapt to the world. From that point, everything changed. When you don´t care about prejudgements and limits, you start to be free, and all the barriers you saw before begin to disappear. כיסאות גלגלים הם רק כלי, לא פגם התחלתי לאתגר את עצמי. אם אהבתי את הים, למה שלא אעשה טיול צלילות? אם אהבתי את החירות ואת השמיים, למה אני לא יכול לטוס בשמיים במטוס קטן? בהתחלה זה היה קשה, אבל הייתה לי עזרה ויכולתי לעמוד באתגרים. להיות בכיסא גלגלים לא מונע ממני לעשות מה שאני אוהב. זכרו כי כיסא גלגלים הוא רק כלי, לא פגם. אתם יכולים לעקוב אחר החלומות שלכם וליהנות מהחיים, מהאהבה ומכל דבר אחר כמו כולם. wheelchairs are just a tool, not a defect I started to challenge myself. If I loved the sea, why could I not take a diving trip? If I loved freedom and the sky, why could I not sail the skies in a small plane? At first it was difficult, but I had help and could meet the challenges. Now being a wheelchair driver does not prevent me from doing what I love. Remember that a wheelchair is just a tool, not a defect. You can follow your dreams and enjoy life, love and anything else, like everyone.

Trinity's Journey to Fulfilling Her Dreams Funny, friendly, caring, quirky and dedicated... These are just a few of the words to describe Trinity Cook. At 18 years of age Trin is one of the funniest and most inspiring people you could ever meet. Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Williams Syndrome as a baby, Trin (as she prefers to be called) has had her share of challenges. Williams Syndrome is a random mutation which affects an estimated 1 in 10,000 people worldwide, resulting in the deletion of several genes including the elastin gene on chromosome 7. This shortage of elastin causes certain features common to people with WS including a heart defect, intellectual deficits, distinctive facial features and some unique and interesting personality traits. People with WS have a very friendly, endearing and highly social personality, and tend to love music with a passion which tugs on their heart strings. They are caring and don’t feel intimidated by anyone, leading to some very funny situations. Trin had many operations as a small child including open heart surgery at 2 years of age, a turned eye, bowel prolapse and hernia operations. She is currently in year 12 at a mainstream school, and has managed by being on a modified life skills program. Fitness & William Syndrome Trinity is very aware of her syndrome, and in her teens she made the decision to look after her health, and began personal training. Young people with William Syndrome often have low muscle tone and joint laxity. As they get older, joint stiffness can develop. Physical Therapy is extremely helpful in improving muscle tone and strength and range of motion in joints. Trin had developed rounded shoulders and poor posture and urgently needed to strengthen her back and chest. Also feeling a bit different to her peers, her confidence needed a boost. At 16 she started personal training with Angie Moore of Move.Live.Be. Health and Fitness twice a week and took it very seriously. With a varied program of targeted weight training and light cardio, her body rapidly gained strength, toned up and very importantly, her posture improved dramatically. Trin took to gym life like a duck to water, and can be regularly seen boogying to music in between weight sets, and having a cheeky laugh with the staff and other gym members. Angie has had many laughs watching Trin’s cheeky antics. They quickly developed a close bond. Competing with williams syndrome Before long, Trin started to feel amazing physically and mentally. Her confidence soared, she felt stronger and as she reached adulthood in early 2018, she decided with Angie’s very experienced guidance, to compete as a Sports Model with ICN in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in their Rookies competition. May 6th was her very first competition and organiser Jason Woodforth created a ‘Physically Challenged‘ division especially for Trin. After spending the morning getting glamorous and stage ready with tanning, hair and makeup and making lifelong friendships with all the competitors, Trin walked onstage like she owned it! She proudly won a trophy which was a dream come true, and in that moment touched everyone in that auditorium with her happy tears, beautiful smile and inspirational story. Trin hopes to inspire people young and old with all types of challenges to take up a lifestyle of becoming fit, healthy and strong. She now trains at least three times a week and loves every minute of it. Her Instagram for all things Trin is @fitmodeltrin…… She’d love to meet you there!

Our brother's fight & disability Our brother's name is Dan. He's 24 and this story is being written on behalf of his sisters, Mollie and Isabelle. When Dan was 3 days old, he suffered from neonatal meningitis, which caused Hydrocephalus and Cerebral Palsy. He had to have a VNS pacemaker inserted and a shunt to manage his Hydrocephalus. He also has severe epilepsy. smiling with Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Palsy & Spinal Cord Injury When Dan was 6 years old, he was left unattended in a wheelchair and suffered a severe cervical spinal cord injury and a broken neck. He was in a halo for 9 months but that entire time he still smiled. We have taken care of him since he was very young. Although he has episodic severe agitation, he is a very happy man. He spends lots of time outside in his wheelchair, swims and loves sensory items such as disco lights. He's been admitted many times since his first hospital trip (over 4 months) but takes each day as it comes and still shocks doctors with his energy and abilities to this day. We are currently trying to raise awareness for Dan as he cannot speak for himself but we want people to know how special and amazing he is.

מאבק להתחזקות עם מחלות כרוניות מאבק יומיומי במחלות כרוניות נראה בלתי אפשרי לפעמים. את נופלת ומרגישה שאת לא יכולה לקום. כשהייתי בבית החולים הזכירו לי שהמאבק איתו התמודדתי באותו היום - יחזק אותי מחר. המאבק נתן לי כוח רצון ונחישות. גם אם אני לא מרגישה חזקה יותר - זה בסדר. לפעמים זה לוקח יותר מיום כדי להתחזק, אבל תאמינו לי - היום שלכן יבוא. Struggle to Strength with Chronic Illness Struggling day in and day out with a chronic illness seems impossible sometimes. You're knocked down and don't feel like you can get up. When I was in the hospital, these socks reminded me that the battle I'm facing today will make me stronger tomorrow. The struggle has given me a stronger will and determination. Even if I do not feel stronger, that's okay too. Sometimes it takes more than a day to regain your strength, but trust me – your day will come.

אני חי לפי ארבע מילים: אהבה - אני רוצה להיות הטוב ביותר עבור אלה שאני אוהב. תשוקה - אני נלהב לעזור לאחרים ולהעניק להם ערך מוסף היכן שאני יכול. אומץ - אני יוצא אל מחוץ לאזור הנוחות שלי. אני חי עם עוויתות במשך 26 שנים, הייתי נבוך וניסיתי להסתיר את זה. הודות לקייטלין ול-YOOCAN, עכשיו אני יודע שאין מה לחשוש, לכולנו יש מטען, אף אחד לא לבד. תודה - אני תמיד אסיר תודה על המשפחה שלי, החברים ועל הקהילה החדשה שמצאתי. תאמינו בעצמכם, אתם חזקים מכפי שאתם חושבים. Living With Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy I'm Pete (@petefletch81), a 36 year old who until recently tried his very best to hide who he really was; a regular guy with a disability. I was diagnosed with mild Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy when I was 16. The doctor said I would be lucky to be walking at 21. As you can imagine this was hard to hear and face at such a young age, but it lit a fire that still burns everyday as I continue to strive for improvement. I stretch and do strength exercises everyday to live a more normal life, which gives me the mobility I need to be the husband and father I've always wanted to be. Though as anyone in this community knows, there will be good days, bad days and some super ugly days. At times I feel incredibly lucky I can walk, though I get fatigued and can't sit for too long without getting stiff. So I try to move the best I can, when I can. This could be walking the dog, playing with my daughter or riding to work. My only goals are to develop and help others the best I can when I can. איך YOOCAN והמדיה החברתית עוזרות לחיות עם שיתוק מוחין רק לאחרונה הבנתי כמה אני מנסה להסתיר את המוגבלות שלי (אם כי זה לא יכול להיעשות). נתתי גם תירוצים מטופשים רבים כמו "מתחתי שריר" כשאנשים שאלו על הרגליים שלי. אני מאמין שהייתי נבוך אבל לא יודע למה. ראיתי בחורה ברשת בשם קייטלין (KreationsbyKittles@), היא היתה מדהימה ותיעדה את מאמציה היומיומיים. יצרתי עמה קשר ושאלתי אותה כיצד התמודדה, בפרט עם ביטחון ולחצים חברתיים. היא פשוט ענתה "לא הכל מושלם, אבל זה לא חייב להיות". זה היה כל כך עמוק בשבילי כי תמיד חתרתי ללכת מושלם, כדי שאוכל להיות כמו מישהו אחר. זה בבירור בלתי מושג, אבל ככה זה צריך להיות. קייטלין הובילה אותי לכאן, ל-YOOCAN וכשקראתי סיפורים שונים מאנשים וטיפים על החיים, הרגשתי סוף סוף תחושת שייכות. אני עכשיו מאמץ את המדיה חברתית כמקום לנסות ולעורר השראה באחרים, וכן לקרוא על אנשים אחרים והמאבקים שלהם. אני מרגיש שזה מעורר השראה באופן מדהים ואין פוסט שעובר אצלי ולא מביא לי חיוך על הפנים כתוצאה מהאומץ והכוח שאחרים מגלים. How Yoocan & Social Media Helps Living with Cerebral Palsy Its is only recently that I realized how much I try to hide my disability (though this can't be done). I've also given many stupid excuses like "I've pulled my hamstring" when people ask about my legs. I believe I was embarrassed, but I don't know why. I saw a girl online called Kaitlin (@KreationsbyKittles), she was incredible and documented her day-to-day struggles. I reached out and ask her how she dealt with things, especially confidence as well as social pressures. She simply replied "not everything is perfect, but it doesn't have to be." This was so profound for me as I always strived for the perfect walk, so I could be like someone else. That is clearly unattainable, but that's how it should be. Kaitlin led me here, to Yoocan and as I read different peoples stories and tips about living, I finally felt a sense of belonging. I now embrace social media as a place to try and inspire others as well as reading and seeking out other people who have their own struggles. I feel this is incredibly inspiring and not a post goes by without bringing a smile to my face from the courage and strength others continue to show. לחיות עם שיתוק מוחין ספסטי אני פיט (petefletch81@), בן 36. עד לאחרונה ניסיתי כמיטב יכולתי להסתיר את מי שאני באמת; בחור רגיל עם מוגבלות. אובחנתי עם שיתוק מוחין ספסטי כשהייתי בן 16. הרופא אמר שיהיה לי מזל אם אצליח ללכת בגיל 21. כפי שאתם יכולים לדמיין היה קשה לשמוע ולהתמודד עם זה בגיל צעיר כל כך, אבל נדלקה בי אש שעדיין בוערת בכל יום כשאני ממשיך לנסות ולהשתפר. אני מתמתח ועושה תרגילי כוח כל יום כדי לחיות חיים נורמליים יותר וזה נותן לי את הניידות הנדרשת כדי להיות הבעל והאבא שתמיד רציתי להיות. למרות שכל מי שבקהילה הזאת יודע - יש ימים טובים, ימים רעים וגם ימים סופר נוראיים. לפעמים אני מרגיש לחלוטין בר מזל שאני יכול ללכת, אבל אני נעשה עייף ולא יכול לשבת זמן רב. אז אני מנסה לזוז כמה שאני יכול. זה יכול להיות לצאת עם הכלב, לשחק עם הבת שלי או לנסוע לעבודה. המטרה היחידה שלי היא להתפתח ולעזור לאחרים כמה שרק אפשר. I live by four words: Love - I want to be the best for the ones I love Passion - I am passionate about helping others, adding value where I can Courage - Step outside your comfort zone, I have lived with Spasticity for 26 years and been embarrassed and tried to hide it. Thanks to Kaitlin and Yoocan, I now know there's nothing to fear, we all have baggage, no one is alone. Gratitude - I am eternally thankful for my family, friends and for this new found community. Believe in yourself, you are stronger than you think.

Barrier Value My daughter, Nami, and I both work at Mirairo, Inc. She suggested that I should join the company. Nami is one of the founding members of Mirairo. She joined Toshiya Kakiuchi, a wheelchair user and then a university student, in starting up the company. He leads the company as president with a corporate philosophy “Barrier Value”. We believe that those who have experienced barriers in their lives have unique values they can bring to society. Their expertise can be a great resource for removing those barriers and making society more inclusive. Universal Manners Mirairo specializes in providing consultancy on universal designs to both the private and public sectors so that they can improve the accessibility of their services, products or facilities. One of the pillars of our work is to promote “Universal Manners”. We are advocating for basic manners to respect diversity in society and to communicate with one another with mutual understanding and empathy. I often give talks on “Universal Manners”. My very first talk Before joining Mirairo, I had never talked in public and wasn’t sure if I could do it. Nami, however, insisted that I should give it a try. “There are certain things only you can talk about because of your experience as a wheelchair user. I want you to share your experience with others.” Encouraged by her words, I started my career as a lecturer for training on Universal Manners. I gave my first talk to the staff of leisure facilities. It was only fifteen minutes long, but I put so much time and efforts into preparation. I had never been so nervous and anxious as I was. After my talk, however, I found myself surrounded by many participants. They wanted to share their feelings with me. Events which may be considered tragedies could lead us to appreciate happiness which we might not have recognized otherwise. They are all interrelated and inevitable. That’s why we can look past sadness and think of what the future brings. For me, this is part of the value I have experienced since I became a wheelchair user.

how i became an amputee My name is Inga. I was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania (EU). I enjoyed my dynamic lifestyle, until a tragic car accident drastically changed my life. At the age of 22, I woke up in the ICU on the verge of death without my legs and fully paralyzed left arm. My boyfriend and I had been driving 100 mph on an icy road down a hill in the downtown of Vilnius city, and we hit a light pole. My boyfriend was ejected out of the car and instantly killed due to a severe skull injury. He was 26 years old. After cutting the wrecked car into pieces, the emergency crew extracted me half-dead, without my legs. Upon the moment of impact, some part of the car had severed both of them above the knees. Due to a substantial loss of blood and extensive trauma, I was immediately placed into the ICU and hooked up to a life support machine. I was given a 30% chance of survival. New Life as an amputee: Facing my destiny Praise the Lord, I was brought back to life even though my heart stopped two times. When I woke up, I found myself in a world that I never knew: severe injuries throughout my body made me unable to speak, move and do anything independently. I had lost both of my legs above the knee. My left hand was fully paralyzed and did not show any signs of life except delivering constant, sharp, burning pain. I was confined to the bed, unable to do anything independently, except open and close my eyes. I was not able to sit up nor could I turn to either side. In one moment my life turned upside down. I lost everything that made my life beautiful, and there was no way to return back. My city was not accessible for people in wheelchairs, and I became imprisoned by the walls of my own home. Faced with the crossroads of my destiny, I decided to fight for my life. I firmly believed that with God’s help I could reclaim my independence and was ready to work relentlessly to achieve my vision. Going against circumstances and opinions of others, I aimed for goals that seemed beyond my grasp. Local prosthetic specialists tried to ensure me that I would never be able to walk because in my physical condition of bilateral above the knee amputation and full paralysis of one arm it was impossible to walk wearing prostheses. But I told them that I WOULD walk and would even dance, and they would see it. I fulfilled my vow. They saw me walking and dancing, just as I said I would. What I Have Gained Since The Accident Finally, four years since the accident, I traveled independently from Europe to the U.S. to implement my dream of establishing an independent and fulfilling life which was taken from me. The endeavor seemed impossible due to the challenges involved; I had no place to live, not a lot of money and no work. In addition, I had no legs and only one functional arm. This was an enormous challenge. But, I decided to trust the Lord and returned to California to see how I could establish the life I was longing to live. I set different goals for myself, made continuous efforts to achieve them, and within a few years, I implemented my beautiful vision of establishing a dynamic and fulfilling life. Since 2005 I have been living independently in California. My life has been completely transformed. Today I live a much more fulfilling life than before the car accident. What I have gained after the tragic event is so much more than what I have lost! How I Help Others Overcome Adversity I am self-sufficient, live on my own, work, travel, and joyfully build relationships, all the while helping others. Currently, I work as the Public Relations & Volunteer Coordinator at Disability Services & Legal Center (DSLC). On June 2, 2017, the Board of Directors of California Human Development (CHD) gave me a Champion Award for serving as a role model to people with disabilities and for vital support of CHD’s disABILITY Services programs through my work with the Disability Services & Legal Center. Tough, but amazing life journey developed my passion to help people. So I decided to devote my life and career to my calling. In addition to my job, I am a Certified Life Coach and inspirational speaker. I am very passionate about equipping people with the knowledge on how to break through the hard times, how to keep on going when it seems impossible, how to overcome depression, how to break through the obstacles and achieve goals, how deal with problems and trust the Lord. Over the years I have conducted a number of public speaking engagements and interviews in both Lithuania and in the United States for television programs, radio, and publications for inspirational purposes, and I look forward to continuing to share my message of hope. Becoming Unstoppable Just recently I accomplished my long-term big goal – published my book “UNSTOPPABLE. It’s a Choice”. It’s a memoir and life coaching/personal development book, based on my Christian faith. It’s a collection of real letters to my brother, which were written to help him overcome adversity in his own life. The book aims to inspire, coach, ignite faith, and equip the reader with knowledge on how to overcome hardships and create the life you desire in spite any obstacles, and trust God. Check out my website to read more about the book and how to find it: http://becomingunstoppable.org/about-the-book/ I am a Co-Founder of the Becoming Unstoppable. Our mission is to make a difference in people’s lives by bringing the message of hope, sharing a personal testimony of the living God’s power to restore the broken and turn the impossible into possible. Along with the message about faith, I share practical guidance and self-management strategies/tools to empower people to keep on going and break through any circumstances to create the lives they’re longing to have. Many thought that the car accident broke my destiny. And, it seemed like it, indeed. But what I have learned through experience is that it’s not what happens to us that determines our destiny. But it's how we look at it and what we do afterward will make our life worth living, or miserable. Our choice to have unshakable faith, to never give up and make a relentless effort can transform any adversity into a blessing and amazing life experience. Spreading the message of hope If I can make a difference in your life or for your group, please don't hesitate to connect with me. I will be happy to hear from you! Many thought that the car accident broke my destiny. And, it seemed like it, indeed. But what I have learned through experience is that it’s not what happens to us that determines our destiny. But it's how we look at it and what we do afterward will make our life worth living, or miserable. Our choice to have unshakable faith, to never give up and make a relentless effort can transform any adversity into a blessing and amazing life experience. https://www.instagram.com/ingalizdenyte/ http://www.becomingunstoppable.org/

סכיזופרניה יכולה להיות קשה להתמודדות סכיזופרניה היא מחלת נפש כרונית והיא יכולה להיות מתישה. הזיות ואשליות יכולות להפריע לחיי היום יום, אבל זו בדרך כלל העייפות הכרונית, החרדה המשתקת ומצב הרוח הלא יציב שמשאירים אנשים מסוימים עם סכיזופרניה מוגבלים. יש לי תואר ראשון בסיעוד אבל בתקופות מסוימות בחיי אני מוגבלת ולא מסוגלת לעבוד בגלל מצבי. הגיע הזמן שנתחיל להכיר באנשים עם סכיזופרניה ומחלות נפש אחרות בלתי נראות בקהילת בעלי המוגבלויות. רק משום שלא ניתן לראות פיזית את המוגבלות לא אומר שהיא לא קיימת. Schizophrenia can be difficult to live with Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness and it can be debilitating. Hallucinations and delusions can interfere with every day life but it's generally the chronic fatigue, the crippling anxiety, and an unstable mood that leave some people with schizophrenia disabled. I have a bachelors degree in nursing but at certain times in my life I am disabled and unable to work due to my condition. It's time we start recognizing people with schizophrenia and other invisible mental illnesses in the disabled community. Just because you can't physically see the disability doesn't mean that it's not there.

לאהוב את ההבדלים הייחודיים שלכן אני לורה, בת 28, גרה בבריטניה. יש לי מום מולד שמשפיע על היד הימנית שלי. נמצאת במערכת יחסים ארוכת טווח ויש לנו שני בנים. אני אחות מוסמכת, נוהגת במכונית ידנית, תופרת ועושה עבודה טובה יותר בהחלפת חיתולים מאשר החצי השני שלי. משימות מסוימות פשוט זקוקות לעריכה קלה; כמו קשירת שרוכי הנעליים שלי, אבל אני תמיד מוצאת דרך ואין שום דבר שאני לא יכולה לעשות. אני אוהבת את היד שלי ולא הייתי משנה אותה. כילדה, נאבקתי עם הביטחון העצמי שלי והייתי מבודדת את עצמי, כדי שלא אצטרך לענות על השאלות המביכות ולהתמודד עם המבטים המוזרים מילדים ומבוגרים אחרים. עם זאת - כשהתבגרתי למדתי לאהוב את עצמי ואת ההבדל שלי. לאחרונה, חתמתי בסוכנות Zebedee כדוגמנית ושחקנית. מהמקום הזה אני מקווה לעורר השראה באחרים לאמץ את ההבדלים הייחודיים שלהם ולקדם גיוון בתקשורת. Love your uniquely perfect differences I am Laura, I am 28 years old, and I live in the UK. I have Symbrachydactyly, which affects my right hand. I am in a long-term relationship and we have two boys. I am a qualified nurse, I drive a manual car, I sew, and I do a better job of changing nappies than my other half. Some tasks just need a little editing; like tying my shoe laces, but I always find a way and there is nothing that I cannot do. I love my hand, and I would not change it. As a child, I struggled with my confidence and I used to isolate myself, so I did not have to answer the awkward questions and face the funny looks from other children and adults. However, growing up, I have learnt to love myself and I could not love my difference anymore than I do now. Recently, I have been signed to Zebedee Management as a model and an actress. From this, I hope to inspire others to embrace their uniquely perfect differences and to promote diversity in the media.

Tessa: Beating Cancer One Day At A Time This is Tessa. She is twenty one months old and has Down Syndrome. In February she was diagnosed with leukemia. Though she has already had many challenges fighting this diagnosis, she has shown immense strength and courage. We have been amazed by her ability to smile and find joy even through the intense pain she has experienced. She is a true light and blessing in our home.

טיפוס מותאם וטיולי סולו כקטועת רגל אני קריסטה ואובחנתי עם סרטן בעצמות כשהייתי בת 9. בהתחלה ניסינו להציל את הרגל שלי - הרופאים ניסו ניתוח הצלה בגפיים והחליפו את הגידול עם תרומת עצם. הייתי אז מבועתת ממה שקורה לי. למרות שקטיעה הייתה אופציה, לא הייתי מוכנה ובחרתי בניתוח הצלת הגפיים. ניתוח זה נכשל בסופו של דבר ואיבדתי את התנועה ואת התחושה מהברך ומטה, מה שהוביל לדחיית תרומת העצם ולכמה זיהומים. כעבור שנה של כימותרפיה, הייתי מוכנה לחיות את חיי שוב. הרגל שלי החזיקה אותי מאחור וידעתי שאני רוצה חיים פעילים. בגיל 10 בחרתי לקטוע את רגלי השמאלית בברך. קיבלתי את הרגל התותבת הראשונה שלי כמה חודשים לאחר מכן ומעולם לא הסתכלתי לאחור. קיבלתי את החיים שלי בחזרה. כמובן שזה היה שונה, אבל גרמתי לזה לעבוד. אין דבר שלא היה בהישג יד. האפשרויות היו אינסופיות. היום, אני גולשת סקי, מטפסת הרים ומטיילת סולו בעולם. אני גם מתכוננת לרוץ בפעם הראשונה מזה 20 שנים - להתחרות במרתונים ולהעלות את המודעות למחקר סרטן בילדים ואיבוד גפיים. אני מאמינה מאוד בכוחו של הפרט. לכולנו יש את הכוח הזה בתוכנו שמחכה להתגבר על כל מצוקה שעשויה לבוא עלינו. זה לא תמיד קל ודורש קצת סבלנות. אנו מתמודדים עם מכשולים לאורך הדרך אבל אנחנו יכולים לעשות את זה! כולנו יכולים לטפס לפסגת ההרים האישיים שלנו. אין דבר מחוץ להישג יד. Adaptive climbing and solo travel as An Amputee I (@kristaselnau) was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma when I was 9 years old. At first, we tried to save my leg and my doctors attempted limb salvage surgery, replacing the tumor with a donor bone. At that time I was terrified by what was happening to me. Although amputation was an option, I wasn’t ready. Instead, I opted for the limb salvage surgery. That surgery was ultimately unsuccessful and I lost movement and sensation from the knee down, which led to rejection of the donor bone and several infections. One year of chemotherapy later, I was ready to live my life again. My leg was holding me back and I knew I wanted an active life. At 10 years old I chose to have my left leg amputated at the knee. I received my first prosthetic leg a few short months after and never looked back. I had my life back. Of course it was different, but I could make it work. Nothing was out of reach. The possibilities were endless. Today, I ski, rock climb and solo travel the world. I’m also getting ready to run for the first time in 20 years to compete in marathons and raise awareness for childhood cancer research and limb loss. I am a true believer in the power of the individual. We all have that strength within us waiting to be tapped into to overcome any adversity that may come our way. It may not always be easy. It may take some patience. We may face setbacks along the way. But we can do this! We can all climb to the top of our own personal mountains. Nothing is out of reach.

לעולם לא לוותר: לקבל את עצמי היי, שמי מרסלה. אני ממקסיקו אבל חיה בספרד כבר 12 שנים. בילדותי להורים שלי היתה קצביה ולצערי כשהייתי כמעט בת שנתיים הייתה לי תאונה עם מכונה שגרמה לי לאבד את זרועי. יש לי זכרונות טובים מילדותי, אבל גיל ההתבגרות היה ללא ספק שלב קשה. הייתי חסרת ביטחון, נהגתי להסתיר את זרועי בתמונות או להרגיש רע כשאנשים המשיכו להסתכל. עם זאת, כל זה השתנה באוניברסיטה, כשהספורט הפך לדחף וקיבלתי החלטה לקבל את עצמי ולאהוב את הגוף שלי. החיים הם תמיד אתגר, לפעמים הם בוחנים אותנו ואנו מרגישות עייפות. עלינו לחדש את תודעתנו, להניח לכל המחשבות והדעות השליליות ולהתמקד בחזון שלנו. אני חיה רק פעם אחת בגוף הזה והחלטתי לשמור על האמונה שלי ולאהוב את עצמי. הכל אפשרי אם רק נמשיך לנסות יום אחר יום. Never Give Up: Accepting Myself Hi, my name is Marcela. I'm from Mexico but I've been living in Spain for 12 years. When I was a child my parents had a butcher shop and unfortunately I had an accident with a machine when I was almost 2 years old. This caused me to lose my arm. I have good memories from my childhood but adolescence was undoubtedly a difficult stage. I was insecure, I used to hide my arm in pictures or felt bad when people kept looking. However, that all changed at University when sports became an impulse and I made the decision to accept myself and to love my body. Life is constantly a challenge, sometimes it tests you and maybe you feel tired. We have to renew our mind and let go of all negative thoughts, opinions & focus on our vision. I have only one life in this body and I've decided to keep my faith and love myself. Everything is possible if we just keep trying one day at a time .