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My arm is the least of my problems I'm Anoushé (pronounced like Bombay!) and I was born with my right arm missing below the elbow. I like to think of my arm as my little arm and she (yes, she's a she!) is fierce. She actually does most of the grocery carrying and heavy work. Honestly, I've never had any major issues with my little arm aside from a bit of bullying in school and some pretty serious discrimination issues during my time as a martial artist. Everything has been pretty calm on the arm front. I'm kitted out with a range of prosthetics from my bebionic (prosthetic arm). I practice doing all sorts of interesting activities with my bebionic, such as wrapping presents and cooking. Then there are my sports arms, which help me do everything from handstands to carrying items. I don't wear my arms during my day-to-day though, I much prefer the feeling of freedom. I see my arms as additions to my body or tools that serve a purpose. Sports, sports and more sports My parents were really supportive of me doing sports and encouraged me to join swimming as a kid and martial arts as a teenager. I was competitive in both and had issues with discrimination during my karate days. I loved the sport but I wasn't allowed to compete due to my arm (I was doing artistic forms, not combat). It was really tough handling that because I loved the sport but also felt like I was worth less and seen to be worth less than my classmates. It was only the love for the sport that kept me going. Sports have always been an escape from life for me. Eventually everything was sorted out and in my first competition I was thrashed by the Champion of Switzerland! I didn't mind, what mattered to me was competing, plus I'd only been told 4 weeks before that I was allowed to compete at all, so there wasn't enough prep time. My body started to do weird things and then failed During my time in martial arts, my right shoulder started subluxating. I didn't think it was serious, heck, I thought it was an awesome party trick. Unfortunately the doctors didn't agree and I started doing hours and hours of physio. On assessment, it became obvious that my shoulder wasn't the only wobbly joint. Suddenly, this kind of funny thing wasn't funny anymore. It was scary. No one understood why my joints were subluxating and why suddenly stable joints were becoming a problem. The week I won my first podium place in karate and was invited to join the national team, I was told by my doctors that I had to stop. They were convinced that karate was making things worse. It was awful, I had to drop karate just like that, something I was spending nearly 16 hours a week doing! It wasn't just a hobby, it had become a huge part of my life. I was devastated and really struggled with the change in activity levels. My joints worsened. I focussed on finishing school and going to university. At least my joints couldn't take that away from me. No matter what I tried, my joints kept degrading and I started getting lined up for surgeries. I started blaming my body for failing me, for creating this unknown enemy. Within 6 years of karate competitions, I went from that to struggling to walk any distance without being in pain and then I was diagnosed with cancer. A broken body, wrecked mind and distraught emotions I was broken, I literally didn't know how I got through treatment. I guess I clung onto the fact that I was finishing my studies and had that to focus on. The treatment left me pretty wrecked and gave my left arm a lot of issues. I was struggling to raise it above my head long enough to wash my hair with it. That was a problem as there is no actual right hand to take over. Turning my life around We didn't know why I got the cancer that I did and so after my treatment, the doctors told me that the ball was in my court. They had done all they could, now I had to fight for my health. Chemo was pretty awful so I used that as my motivator to get myself back on my feet and build my fitness. Back then I struggled walking up a flight of stairs without being out of breath or a few minutes of walking. So I fought, I fought for every extra minute I could gain and within 3 years, I was walking my first 25km walk for charity. My left hand was still causing me trouble though. It hadn't adapted like the rest of my body and my joints were still slipping out of alignment constantly. How I found a passion for Climbing A friend suggested I try climbing as a way to force my left arm to get stronger quicker. I thought she was insane: climbing? With one arm? With an arm that doesn't work right? Following cancer? with joints that don't stay in place? Insane. I tried it anyway, I won't say no to trying new things. Worst case, I won't like it. Best case, I have found a new sport and I had been desperately trying to find something to fill the heartache that karate had left. The first session was pretty awful, I couldn't get to the top of anything, my arm gave out within a few minutes, I was in a lot of pain and I was exhausted, but my joints stayed stable and above all, in those precious few minutes when I was trying to stay on the wall, I forgot about my issues and just felt a connection between myself and my body. A connection I had lost touch with. This motivated me to get fitter and I kept going to the gym. Every few months I would try climbing again to see if I could manage some more. I didn't mind that I wasn't topping the wall. I wanted to see progress, any progress. I took a break from climbing for 2 years while I moved to London and then I moved to where I'm living now. My flatmate at the time and I decided to start climbing together. We were both total amateurs but enjoyed learning together. My transformation I had heard about climbing competitions for para-climbers and thought it would be interesting to see whether I could get my body to train again. I got a coach and we made really slow progress, but there was progress. My muscles started getting stronger and it became really obvious that something serious was going on with my joints. We realised I had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Although I was devastated with the diagnosis, I was relieved to know I finally had a name and some tools to start really targeting the issues the right way. I have been competing for 2 years now, I am fitter than I have ever been but above all, I am happier. Climbing is my passion, my escape, my self-care, my form of meditation. It makes everything better. My hope is to eventually become good enough to join Team GB! When I'm not at work or on the wall training hard, I share my day today life of living with the complex different issues I now have. I talk about what it's like feeling vulnerable or scared, feeling sick and in pain but I also talk about the good moments and how I stay resilient. I love working with people and charities to show them what they can do if they believe they can and that they are the biggest limiting factor in achieving their happiness and their own potential. I also give a lot of talks and write articles on a whole range of issues that I believe society does not talk about enough. I also launched Paraclimbing London a couple of weeks back - it's a social climbing club for anyone who wants to climb who has a long term health condition (visible or invisible) or disability. It doesn't matter whether you have climbed before or not. I'm looking forward to seeing it grow this year! My hope by sharing my journey on yoocan is that people can see that, no matter what happens, there is always hope and there is always choice. Hope helped me stay motivated but it was the constant choice to fight for my health that has gotten me to where I am today. My life will never be normal but I don't think I want it to be. I wouldn't really be living a life worth living otherwise! If you want to follow my journey, check out my facebook (@Anoushehusain1) or my instagram @anoushehusain . Thank you to Sana Murad, Rebecca Westcott, This Girl Can Climb, The British Mountaineering Council, Skyhook Adventures, Charlie Lowe and Sandy Carr for the shots.

טוב יותר לחיות ביחד מאשר לבד תארו לעצמכם שאתם מתמודדים עם קשיים כלשהם בחייכם, אין לכם מושג מה לעשות והגעתם למבוי סתום. לא ציפיתם לקשיים האלה, ועכשיו אתם לא יודעים לאן לפנות כדי לקבל מוטיבציה ו/או השראה שיניעו אתכם בכיוון הנכון. זה המקום שבו חשבון האינסטגרם הפופולרי של yoocan נכנס לתמונה. זה יכול להיות מקור המוטיבציה שאתם מחפשים בכדי להניע את עצמכם בכיוון הנכון. יש בו כל כך הרבה סיפורים מכל תחומי החיים שיתנו לכם פרספקטיבה חדשה. אני יודעת על עצמי, שכשאני מרגישה שאני לא יכולה להמשיך במסע הרפואי שלי, אני מסתכלת בחשבון האינסטגרם או באתר האינטרנט שלהם כמקור השראה. לפעמים כל מה שצריך לעשות זה לקרוא כמה הודעות מעוררות השראה על איך אנשים אחרים התגברו על חלק מהצרות בחייהם. על ידי קריאת הודעות אלה ב-yoocan תבינו כי אתם יכולים להתגבר על הקשיים בחיים שלכם. כשאני קוראת את הסיפורים ב-yoocan אני אוהבת לקחת את הזמן ולראות את התמונה הגדולה. כך מבינים שכל סיפור הוא כמו אריח פסיפס. כל אריח מייצג סיפור של אדם. אם תבדקו רק את פיסת האריח של עצמכם, תרגישו שאתם לבד בעולם. אתם יכולים להרגיש כאילו אף אחד לא יכול להבין את הנסיבות שלכם. אף אחד מאיתנו לא יודע בדיוק איך זה להיות בנעליו של אדם אחר, אבל יש קווי דמיון רבים שנוכל להתחבר אליהם; הסיפורים ב-yoocandoanything@ מוכיחים לנו זאת. תבחינו שלכל האריחים / סיפורים יש חוט שמחבר בין כולם. כל סיפור עוסק בהתגברות על מכשולים. ישנם סיפורים על כוח, על אומץ ועל התמדה. אני מאמינה בתוקף כי עדיף לחיות חיים משותפים, לא משנה מה הגיל שלכם; לבסוף גיל הוא רק מספר. גילאים מגוונים מאפשרים פרספקטיבות שונות על החיים. לחיות את החיים ביחד מסייע לכולנו לעבור את המאבקים שלנו. בסופו של דבר, כשמשלבים בין אריחי הפסיפס הבודדים נוצרת תמונה יפה. זה בדיוק מה ש-yoocan עושה - יוצרת תמונה יפה המבוססת על סיפורים של כוח, אומץ והתמדה, ומציגה איך אנשים ממשיכים להתגבר על הקשיים בחייהם. Doing Life Together is Better than Doing Life Alone Imagine you’re dealing with some sort of hardship in your life, you have no clue what to do, and you have run into a brick wall. You weren’t expecting this hardship to occur, and now you don’t know where to turn for motivation and/or inspiration to get yourself moving in the right direction. That’s where yoocan's popular instagram @yoocandoanything comes into play. It can be the source of motivation you were looking for to get yourself moving in the right direction. There are so many stories from all walks of life to give you a fresh perspective. I know for myself, when I feel like I can’t keep going with my own medical journey, I go on their Instagram account or website as a source for inspiration. Sometimes all you need to do is read a few inspirational posts about how other people have overcome some of the trials in their lives. By reading these posts on yoocan it truly shows that YOU CAN overcome the hardships in your life. When I read the stories on yoocan I like to take the time and look at the big picture. If you take the time to look big you will realize that each story is like a mosaic tile. Each tile represents an individual’s story. If each individual only looked at their one piece of tile, then you might feel like you’re alone in the world. You might feel like nobody can possibly understand your circumstances. None of us will know exactly what it’s like to be in another person’s shoes but there are many similarities we can all relate to; the stories on @yoocandoanything shows us that. You’ll notice all those individual tiles/stories have a thread that connects them all. Each story is about overcoming obstacles. There are stories of strength. There are stories of courage, and there are stories of perseverance. I am a firm believer it is better to do life together no matter what your age is; age is just a number at the end of the day. Varied ages allow for different perspectives on life. Doing life together provides inclusiveness for all of us going through our struggles. At the end of the day when you combine each individual mosaic tile it creates a beautiful picture. That’s exactly what yoocan does. It creates a beautiful picture built on stories of strength, courage, and perseverance, and how people continue to overcome the hardships in their lives.

What is a CSA? This new social enterprise venture is based on the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. In an agricultural CSA, farmers sell shares in their season in advance, securing capital they can count on before harvesting any produce. Share buyers then receive produce from the farmer at regular intervals throughout the growing season. In an art CSA (Community Supported Art), a group of artists sell shares in their art before the art is created. Art patrons pay a set amount for a share, entitling them to a number of original works of art from the participating artists. Art patrons then receive those works of art at regular intervals through a fixed period (the “growing season”). Why a CSA? For the participating artist, Art Garden CSA will serve to generate reliable income, connect artists to new buyers, and further their careers as professional artists. Locally-created art has a unique appeal, CSAs have lower start-up costs, and they enhance the ability to forge connections between artists and patrons quickly. Unlike in a gallery, buyers purchase art shares prior to art creation, establishing reliable income, and cash in hand for artists. We have seen in our own sales, and at private galleries where our team members have worked, that connecting buyers directly with the artists increases the probability of future sales to these same collectors and increases opportunities for our artists. The CSA distributes the artists' work directly to patrons who will display and/or gift the work, and may purchase additional work, furthering exposure for the artists. Direct sales eliminate commissions to galleries and cost of exhibitions. Advance payments to artists mean they can make art after being paid, rather than making art and hoping it sells. This risk reduction is important to so many of our artists with limited resources. CSA's have been successfully established in locations nationwide, including Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and DC. These CSA’s have served to further the professional careers of the participating artists by connecting artists directly with local patrons, while providing income to the artists that they might not otherwise have. Why this CSA? Arts Unbound and Arts Access bring their significant expertise in the field of arts and disabilities, and both organizations have proven successful track records working with artists with disabilities to promote and market the individuals and their work. The staff is uniquely qualified to develop and sustain the project. Our team members have experience specific to the business of art sales, marketing, client development, and working with artists with disabilities. In addition, our team members, along with the organizations, have long standing relationships with other local non-profit art organizations, museums, galleries as well as private art collectors, independent curators and art advisors. How is this program sustainable? Art Garden CSA is a scalable model with potential for growth, offering unique employment alternatives for people with disabilities. In addition to locally-created art having a unique appeal, CSAs have lower start-up costs, and enhance the ability to forge connections between artists and patrons quickly, making them ideal for replication. Once established in our region, we will explore adding partners that would help us to offer CSA shares in southern and central New Jersey, and create employment opportunities for more people with disabilities across the state. Our current financial plan is based on securing start-up grant funds for building the CSA brand and online presence. Funds from the sales of shares will go towards providing a stipend to our artists and underwriting the following year's operation costs to ensure sustainability. Advertising underwriting from local businesses who wish to reach share-buyers through distribution of coupons or flyers in shares will be another source of funding. With the data gathered through operating the CSA throughout the first cycle, we will adjust price/practices to ensure sustainability. What if I can't attend the pickup events? Although we strongly encourage you to come to the events and meet the artists behind the art, we understand that people's busy schedules may keep them from attenting these events. In this case, please let us know that you will be unable to attend and we will hold your share at either the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, NJ or Arts Unbound's Orange, NJ location for you to pick up at your earliest convenience. We also offer shipping options for an additional fee. If I like an artist who is represented in my share, can I buy art from them directly? Yes please! Our artists have many other works that are available for sale and are always creating new pieces for your consideration. What can I expect to receive in my share? ​ Each share includes unique artwork made exclusively for the Art Garden CSA. When you purchase a full share you receive ten pieces of art; one artwork from each of the participating artists. You can also choose a half-share to receive five artworks. Take a look at the actual pieces shareholders received last year here. ​ Can I purchase individual items? ​ Good news! All of the items in this year's Art Garden CSA can be purchased individually. Visit our "Buy" page to learn about all your buying options.

ניתוח ושיתוק מוחין היום (15/2/18) מציין שלושה חודשים מאז הלילה האחרון בו גופי היה מובנה בצורה בה השתמשתי בו במשך 20 שנה. 16 בנובמבר 2017 והחודשים שלאחר מכן היו ימים שלעולם לא אשכח. הייתי אמורה להישאר בבית החולים לילה אחד ולעמוד או ללכת כפי יכולתי בימים הבאים. למרות זאת, נשארתי כחודש ואני עדיין מסתגלת מחדש לחיים "נורמליים". בית הספר חזר לשגרה לפני כמה שבועות. איזו דרך מטורפת זו, אבל לגוף ולחיים האישיים שלי יש זמן. יש לי צלקות שהפסקתי לספור ואני מקבלת את איך שהן נראות ומתרפאות. אני מסוגלת לעמוד אבל לא ללכת באופן עצמאי עדיין. אני גם צריכה כיסא-מעלית כי כבר לא יכולה לזוז סביב הברכיים. Surgery and Cerebral Palsy Today (2/15/18) marks three months since the last night my body was structured in the way I adapted to use it for 20 years. November 16, 2017 and the months following were days I will never forget. As I have said many times before I was supposed to stay in the hospital one night with the ability to stand/walk as much as I was able the days following. However, I stayed a month and am still adjusting to “normal” life again. School started getting back to normal a few weeks ago. What a crazy ride that has been, but my body and personal life have a while to go. I have scars that I’ve lost count over and am still accepting the way they look and are healing. I am able to stand, but am not able to walk or make transfers independently yet. I also need a stair lift because I can no longer move around on my knees. עמידה ביעדים לא להיות מסוגלת לזוז באופן עצמאי, או להגשים את החלום שלי של ללכת טוב יותר במסגרת הזמן שהגדרתי לעצמי, זה משגע אותי. אני תמיד מציבה לעצמי מגבלת זמן לעמידה במטרות כי אני יודעת שאני מסוגלת ליותר טוב ממה שהחברה מצפה ממני. אני מאמינה שזה קורה לכולם, אבל אפילו לעתים קרובות יותר עבור אלה עם מצבים שיכולים או לא יכולים להשתנות. המשכתי לתת לעצמי מגבלות זמן על דברים עד שהחבר הטוב ביותר שלי התקשר אלי אתמול בלילה. הייתי נרגשת מאוד לרוץ מרוץ לזכרו של חבר אחר וגם לעמוד על הבמה בטקס הסיום עם הרגליים החדשות שלי; להוכיח לעצמי ולכולם שאפשר להשיג כל מטרה. המרוץ באותו הזמן היה כ-9 חודשים לאחר מכן, אז חשבתי שיש לי מספיק זמן להתרפא, אבל כשהימים והחודשים המשיכו לעבור, ההתקדמות שלי עדיין נגררת והלוואי שיכולתי לזרז הכל עד זמן המרוץ. אתמול בלילה, החבר הכי טוב שלי גרם לי להבין כי למרות שאני מציבה מטרות גדולות, זה לא משנה איך אני תורמת למצב (בין אם בהליכה או בשימוש בכיסא הגלגלים שלי), אלא העובדה שהגעתי לשם ואני ממשיכה לא לוותר על החלומות שלי. Reaching Goals Not being able to move independently or conquer my dream of walking better and in the timeline I had for myself is driving me nuts. I have always put a time limit on my goals because I always knew I could do better than what society thought I could. I believe that happens to everyone, but even more often for those with situations that may or may not change. I continued to give myself a time limit on things until my best friend called me last night. I was all excited to run a race in memory of another friend and also walk across the stage at my next graduation with my new legs; to prove to myself and everyone that any goal and situation is possible to get through. The race at that time was nine months away, so I thought I had plenty of time to heal, but as the days and months continue to tick away and my progress is still dragging on I wish I could snap my fingers and make everything better just in time for the race. Last night, my best friend made me realize that even though walking at big events such as this is a great goal it doesn’t matter how I contribute to the situation (walk or use my wheelchair), it’s about the fact that I made it there and I continue not to give up on my dreams. מה לימד אותי ניתוח שיתוק המוחין שלי שיתוק המוחין והניתוח האחרון שלי לימדו אותי שהחיים לא צריכים להיות על הדרך שבה אתה עושה דברים, אלא שעשית אותם ולהרגיש מאושר שגרמת לשינוי. היו גאים בכל אחד מההישגים שלכם וחיו את החיים עם שמחה והוקרה בלב, לא משנה מה המצב שלכם. What my Cerebral Palsy surgery has taught me Cerebral Palsy and my recent surgery have taught me that life shouldn’t be about the way in which you get things done, but rather that you got them done and feel happy and as if you made a difference. Be PROUD of each of your accomplishments and LIVE life with joy and thankfulness in your heart no matter your situation.

PRETEND - TINASHE [FEAT. SHAWNCRUTCH] היי משפחת Yoocan, אני יודע שאני מאחר ביום אבל הנה גרסה שכתבתי ושלחתי לזמרת הבינלאומית המפורסמת Tinashe בתחרות של Pretend. למרות שאני לא מדבר בשם כולם, כתבתי את זה בתקווה כי אלה מבחוץ יוכלו להסתכל ולקבל תובנות על כמה מהמכשולים שאנחנו צריכים להתגבר עליהם במערכות יחסים. אני מקווה שתהנו! זכרו חברים, אתם יכולים לעשות הכל ❤💯😎 Pretend - Tinashe [feat. ShawnCrutch] Hey Yoocan Family, I know I'm a day late but here is a verse that I wrote & submitted to World famous singer Tinashe's "Pretend" Contest. Though I don't speak for everyone, I wrote it hoping that those on the outside looking in can gain insight on some of the obstacles we have to overcome in relationships. I hope you enjoy! Remember friends, When You #KnoWAbility Yoocandoanything ❤💯😎

מיס כיסא גלגלים הראשונה בעולם אני לורה, בת 28 מאיטליה. אני בכיסא גלגלים מ-2011 עקב נוירופתיה פריפרית בשם Charcot Marie Tooth (מחלה הכוללת חולשה ודלדול שרירי גפיים דיסטליים). בעלת תואר בתקשורת דיגיטלית וכיום עובדת בעסקי התיירות. הגעתי לגמר בתחרות הראשונה של מיס כיסא גלגלים כשייצגתי את איטליה. אני נשואה וכעת מחכה לתינוק שלי. 💗 אני מבינה שהחיים יכולים להיות יפים על שתי הרגליים ועל גלגלים. first Miss Wheelchair World I'm Laura, and I'm 28 years old from Italy. I've been in a wheelchair since 2011 because I had a peripheral neuropathy called Charcot Marie Thoot. I graduated in digital communication and currently work at a tourism business. I was a finalist at the first Miss Wheelchair World representing Italy. I'm married and now and waiting for my baby. 💗 I realize that life can be beautiful on both feet and on wheels.

Driven: When I Fall, I Get Back Up "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." Yes, one may face more adversity and triumph than another in a thousand different ways; but who am I to judge? My battles in life are no different than any other. Besides, what is it really that defines me as "defying the odds?" From my prospective of being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at eighteen months, I know no different. My walk is my walk; my drive is my drive. When I fall, I get back up, wash the blood off, and carry on. I grew up bunny hopping the hallways of Shriners Hospital-Chicago. At the tender age of Three, I thought Dr. Miller, who was the mirror image of my Grandfather, was indeed my Grandfather. I would bunny hop down the hallways after him, asking, "Where are you going, Grandpa?" Fast forward to the age of four, I had my first surgery. That won me a couple of state pegs in both ankles and two casts from hip to toe for the summer. In a time that my mom was accused of breaking my legs, I adapted to the world--the world did not adapt to me. One might find me scooting up and down staircases, getting in and out of bed, on and off the couch and getting prepackaged snacks for myself. You name it, I did it. I was determined and waited on no one. At age eight, I again spent my summer in the hallways of Shriners hospital only this time, I had three surgeries in one; a Rotational Osteotomy of the left hip, Heal Cord lengthening and a hip plate. To this day, the scar on my left hip reminds me of the pain like it was yesterday. It was when the morphine drip couldn't drip fast enough, the morphine pills didn't have time to kick in. I spasmed off the bed. At age ten, the hip plate was removed and I was DONE with surgeries...or so I thought. At nineteen, I had emergency removal of the state pegs in the left ankle due to internal bleeding and hardware breakage. Throughout my youth, I sported a total of six different AFO styles, walked with a walker, rode in a collapsable stroller and wheelchair, but ditched them all. I spent countless hours in Physical and Occupational Therapy of which I hated. Fast forward to adulthood and I can't get enough of these types of therapy, often running at least five miles daily. I missed out on much of my childhood, but it had made me a real responsible individual. I was that girl who moved to Florida and was told I could not handle mainstream education. Another time in middle school, the Assistant Principal told me, I would never graduate High School, let-alone College. I was that girl that was told I would never amount to anything. Today, I stand strong. I allow my voice to be heard and my walk to be seen. I am who I am because Cerebral Palsy shaped me into the person I am today. I am also the person I am because I never let Cerebral Palsy hinder my life. I am that driven girl who moved back to Chicago on my own. I am the one who walked a mile to the train at 5:00 A.M., took a 45-minute train ride, got off and walked another half mile to work. I worked eight hours, reverse commuted often adding in shopping, numerous bags and multiple flights of stairs at the end of the day. I did it-- for five months. I AM a college graduate with honors with three college degrees from Florida State University and St. Petersburg College. I AM a homeowner. I AM a Sign Language Interpreter. I AM a professional in the Corporate Buying Office and have been for eight years. I AM a liaison-- working on an initiative that includes product lines with a focus on disabilities and giving back to nonprofit organizations. I AM CP Strong!

YOOCANDOANYTHING@: קהילה משנה חיים נתקלתי ב-YooCanDoAnything@ במקרה. זה היה לילה רע, אבל לא במובן הקלאסי. רוב הלילות הרעים של אנשים הינם בשל ציון גרוע או פרידה, אבל הלילה הרע שלי נבע מכמות גדולה של סימפטומים שהיכו בי בבת אחת. זה לא היה רק ​​לילה רע, זה היה אחד חסר תקווה. כשקמתי ממיטתי לאחר שסיימתי את שיעורי הבית באותו לילה - נפלתי עם הפנים על הרצפה, קצב הלב שלי קפץ ואיבדתי את הראייה שלי. כשנפלתי, שמעתי את ה"צליל" המוכר - "פיצוח", "פיצוץ" - כשהמפרקים שלי השתחררו בדרך אל הקרקע. התעוררתי כעבור דקות אחדות, עדיין על הקרקע, עם חמישה מפרקים בחוץ. התחלתי להרים את עצמי בחזרה והכאב הכריע אותי. שכבתי שם על הקרקע וחשתי אבודה במשך דקות עד שבסופו של דבר החלטתי שהגיע הזמן לעשות משהו. תפסתי את הטלפון שלי שנפל לידי והתחלתי לדפדף באינסטגרם בתקווה להסיח את דעתי, ואז צץ בפניי עמוד האינסטגרם YooCanDoAnything@. חשבון האינסטגרם שלהם הוא קונספט ייחודי מאוד. משתמשים משתפים את הסיפורים והתמונות שלהם באתר האינטרנט, וכל יום מתפרסם בחשבון האינסטגרם סיפור אחד. בעוד שהרבה חשבונות המציגים מחלות כרוניות הם חסרי תקווה ועצובים, זהו אחד שמפתיע באופטימיות שלו. המשתמשים חולקים את האמת האמיתית שלהם, אבל תמיד דואגים להדגיש כיצד כתבו בעצמם מחדש את הסיפור. מדברים על עצמאותם, תשוקותיהם וחוזים עתיד חדש שהם מעולם לא דמיינו כתוצאה ממחלתם. זה בדיוק מה שהייתי צריכה למצוא באותו לילה נורא. אני רוצה להודות ל-YooCanDoAnything@ שהאירו לי את החושך. חשבון האינסטגרם הזה איפשר לי לקרוא סיפורים חשובים בזמנים קשים והקים אותי בחזרה על הרגליים (פשוטו כמשמעו) יותר מפעם אחת. קהילה זו משנה חיים לעקוב ונתנה תקווה לרבים שנאבקים. לכל מי שלא בדק את חשבון האינסטגרם הזה עדיין - אני מאוד ממליצה. זה לא חשבון טיפוסי של מחלות כרוניות, אבל עדיין אמיתי תוך שמירה על אווירה חיובית. חשבון זה עזר לי בנוסף ללמעלה מ-19,000, ואני לא יכולה לחכות לראות לאן זה הולך מכאן. תנו לזה הזדמנות, חלקו את הסיפור שלכם. אתם בהחלט לא תצטערו על כך. @YooCanDoAnything: A Life Changing Community I encountered @YooCanDoAnything by chance. It was a bad night but not in the traditional sense. Most people’s bad nights would be due to a bad grade or a breakup, but my bad night was from a flurry of symptoms hitting me right at once. It wasn’t just a bad night, it was a hopeless one. As I stood up from my bed after finishing homework that night, I fell. I stood up and face first hit the ground as my heart rate jumped, and I lost my vision. As I fell, I heard the familiar “snap,” “crackle,” “pop” as my joints gave out on my way to the ground. I woke up minutes later, still on the ground, with five joints out. I was beginning to put myself back together when the pain finally set it. I lay there on the ground feeling hopeless for minutes until I finally decided it was time to do something. I grabbed my phone that had fallen next to me and began to scroll through Instagram, hoping to distract myself. That was when @YooCanDoAnything popped up on my explore feed. Their Instagram account is a very unique concept. Users submit their stories and pictures on their website, and every day the Instagram account publishes one story. Where many chronic illness accounts are hopeless and saddening though, this one is surprisingly upbeat. Users share their real, raw truth, but they always make sure to share how they have rewritten their story. Followers speak of their newfound independence, passions, and futures that they never imagined as a result of their illness. This was exactly what I needed to find on that horrible night. I want to thank @YooCanDoAnything for giving me a light in the darkness. This Instagram account has allowed me to read important stories at bad times and has gotten me back on my feet (literally) more than once. This community has been life changing to follow and has given hope to so many who are struggling. To anyone who has not checked out this Instagram account yet, I highly recommend it. It isn’t your typical “woe is me” chronic illness account, but it is still real while maintaining a positive vibe. This account has helped myself in addition to over 19,000 more, and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. Give it a chance, share your story. You definitely won’t regret it.

עם שיתוק מוחין, סרטן, קטועה ומורה היי, שמי אנה! אני בשנות ה-30 שלי, נולדתי בשבוע ה-29 עם שיתוק מוחין עם דימום מוחי דרגה 4. יש לי גם הידרוצפלוס (מחלה שבה מתקשה הגוף לנקז נוזלים עודפים מהמוח ומחוט השדרה). שבועיים לאחר גיל 30, אובחנתי עם סוג נדיר ביותר של סרטן, והייתי צריכה לקטוע את הרגל הטובה שלי מאחר שאני משותקת בצד ימין של הגוף. אני יועצת לפגיעות מוחיות אחרות ולבריאות הנפש. אם לא מרגישים טוב - יש ללכת לרופא בהקדם האפשרי! חשבתי שהבעיות הבריאותיות שלי היו נשיות, אבל היה לי גידול סרטני מאוד מאוד נדיר שגרם לי לאבד את רגלי השמאלית. הקיפו את עצמכם באנשים חיוביים שמאמינים בכם ותמיד זכרו שמישהו תומך בכם, גם אם אתם לא יודעים זאת. אם יש לכם הצעות אנא ידעו אותי. Cerebral Palsy, Cancer & Amputee Advocate & Teacher Hi, my name is Anne! I am in my 30's, and I was born at 29 weeks with Cerebral Palsy with a grade 4 brain bleed. I also have hydrocephalus. Two weeks after turning 30, I was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer, which meant that I had to have my good leg amputated as I am hemiplegic on the right side of my body. I advocate for other brain injuries and mental health as well as sharing resources. The cancer advocacy advice would be if you don't feel good, go to the doctor ASAP! I thought my health issues were sciatica, but I had a very very very rare sarcoma which caused me to lose my left leg Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and always remember that somebody is pulling for you, even if you do not know it. If you have any suggestions let me know. Check out my blog: livingthepost-itlife.blogspot.com

הסיפור שלי: לשרוד פגיעה בחוט השדרה היי, שמי בינה ואני בת 31. הייתי בת 29 כשנסעתי בכביש חוף האוקיינוס השקט ועברתי תאונה קשה. המכונית שלי התגלגלה שלוש פעמים ונחתה על הגג. הייתי צריכה להיות מחולצת מהרכב והתעוררתי בצרחות. שברתי את חוליות T1 ו-T8, עצם הבריח, עצם הזרוע, הריאות שלי קרסו וסבלתי מדימום תת-קשיתי כתוצאה מזעזוע מוח חמור. הייתי בבית החולים במשך 5 ימים. חשבתי שברגע שאחזור הביתה הכל יהיה כרגיל, אבל כמה שטעיתי! בסופו של דבר שברתי גם את T9 ו-T10 כאפקט דומינו של עומס יתר וסד ​​הגב שלי נשבר. לאחר מספר רב של ביקורים בחדר המיון, אני עכשיו סוף סוף מראה שיפור מסוים. אני משתמשת בהליכון כדי להסתובב. נמצאת בתהליכי פיזיותרפיה ותרפיה במים. יש לי המון בדיקות בקרוב למוח ולעמוד השדרה. אני מנסה לחשוב חיובי ולעשות כל מה שאני יכולה כדי להשתפר. סבלתי מדיכאון, הפרעת דחק פוסט-טראומטית, הפרעות קשב והיפראקטיביות מאז הילדות, שלאחר התאונה גדלו לנקודה בה הייתי צריכה לבקש עזרה עבורן גם כן. קיבלתי השראה רבה מאנשים שמשתפים את הסיפורים שלהם, אז חשבתי שגם אני אשתף את שלי. :) My Story: Surviving A Spinal Cord Injury Hi, my name is Binah and I'm 31. I was 29 when I was driving on the Pacific Coast Highway and had a serious accident. My car rolled over three times and landed on the roof. I had to be extracated from my vehicle and woke up in the ICU screaming. I fractured my T1 and T8 vertabraes, had a collapsed lung, fractured collarbone, fractured left Humerous, and a Subdural Hematoma caused from a severe concussion. I was in the hospital for 5 days. I thought that once I returned home everything would be business as usual, boy was I mistaken! I ended up fracturing my T9 and T10 as a domino effect of overuse and my back brace broke. After multiple stints in the ER, I am now finally showing some improvement. I use a Rollator to move around. I am currently in Physical Therapy and Aqua Therapy. I have a load of tests coming up for my brain and spine. I am trying to think positive, and do everything I can to get better. I've had Depression, PTSD, and ADHD since childhood, which after the accident magnifed to a point I had to seek help for this as well. I have found a lot of inspiration from people sharing they're stories, so I figured I'd share mine too. :)

Aren't sports out of the question? Miss T is 4 years old. She suffered a traumatic brain injury at 3 weeks old, and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy resulted. She uses a walker, wheelchair, and orthotics. Does this prevent her from becoming an athlete? Why no! Have you seen the list of adapted summer and winter sports at the Paralympics (https://www.paralympic.org/sports)?? There are 28 sports!! These athletes pave the way for Miss T to have access to these adaptive sports (Did you know that these Paralympic athletes can compete as young as 8 years old??). Could my four year old become a future medal winner at the Paralympics?? I now know it is a possible option! At the very least, she has the choice of so many fun sports to try. Adaptive Skiing We are starting out by utilizing United States Adaptive Recreation Center (http://usarc.org/) and Miss T has been able to try skiing that has been accommodated to her abilities. Specialized equipment and dedicated volunteers make this possible. Her first couple of times out she used a bi-ski. This looks like a bucket seat sled with two skis which she sits in with safety straps to secure her, helmet on, and ski goggles or sunglasses are used protect her eyes from the snow glare. Miss T uses prescription eyeglasses for eye protection to fit over her eyeglasses. As she is so young, we were unable to find over-the-glasses goggles that do not squish her nose, so she wears sunglasses over the top of her prescription eyeglasses. Once Miss T hit the slopes, she laughed and laughed the whole time! The proprioception, sensory integration, and sheer exhilaration of speed were terrific for her. The two volunteers lifted her in her bi-ski onto the chairlift, then guide her down the mountain, keeping her out of range of other skiers. They are trained and sensitive to the individual needs of each participant, checking in with them often throughout the session. As Miss T can use a walker, it was suggested she try stand-up skiing. They use a SnowSlider supportive gear, with “outrigger” skis for stabilization. It's finely been adjusted to the user, and after giving it a try Miss T said this was even better than the bi-ski! She did become much more tired, as she had to use far more muscles than in the bi-ski. A snack break helped keep her energy up. She loves going out skiing, and we are thrilled for her to enjoy this activity! Kayak/Canoe/Rowing Miss T has been kayaking on the lake a few times as well. She tells us “let’s go get some lake!”. Her ability to use the paddle will increase as she becomes taller, and stronger. Equestrian Sports She takes therapeutic horseback riding with www.Equu8.org and this has had an amazing affect on her tight hip muscles, and range of motion for her arms. We look forward to this becoming an opening to more equestrian sports for her. Soccer Miss T loves kicking a soccer ball around, so we have been looking into finding a nearby location to become involved with American Youth Soccer Organization VIP program in the near future. In the meantime, we place cones from the dollar store around the driveway and invent games to help her maneuverability and stamina. Future Sport Opportunities?? The Unstoppable Miss T has older siblings who have been involved in rock climbing, archery, shooting sports, soccer, fencing, tennis, equestrian sports, T-ball, swimming, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and martial arts. Adapted sports make it possible for Miss T to have access to every one of these sports, and other athletic interests as she grows up! What adaptive sports are in your neck of the woods?? Which one would your child love to try? Let's go play!

Introduction You never expect to wake up one day and have your life change so drastically; becoming an amputee is an experience that not only alters what you look like physically but also your confidence, your abilities, your attitude and more. At the age of 14 I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma cancer and within a few months I had my left leg amputated above the knee. From that day I became a new person. Everyone copes differently but here are 10 tips that helped me cope with my new journey of being an amputee. Tip #1: Have a Strong Support System I think the most important factor in coping with any illness, disability, or life changing altercation would be to ensure you have a strong support system. Your support system is built up of the people who you will turn to when you are feeling low, those you want to be around when you are feeling happy, and those who are there to help you get through all the ups and downs. It is important to recognize the toll your amputation may have on those closest to you and to understand how to work together and support each other through the whole journey. A strong support system will help you to feel a bit more at ease with becoming an amputee. Tip #2: Express Yourself When you first become an amputee, it is common to be so caught up in the therapy sessions and the prosthesis fittings, that you sometimes forget about self care. It is important when coping with your new amputation that you find something that you can use to express yourself and make you feel confident. Especially at a time in your life when your appearance has so drastically changed and negative feelings may be arousing, you want to ensure that you have something that is yours and only yours. For example, for some this may be photography, art, fashion, playing an instrument and so forth. Find something you enjoy doing and just do it, don't let anyone take it away from you and use it as a coping method for those days your feeling low. Express yourself through this activity, it also helps for people to look past the amputation and see you for more than just a person with a disability. Tip #3: Experiment When you first become an amputee everything about what a prosthetic is and how it works, is all new. It is important to know that you are in charge of your own body. If something does not feel or look right, you have the power to speak up and change it. This is your body and your prosthetic is a part of you, your life and how you feel. You need to be open and willing to experiment, in order to find and meet your own personal needs. When I got my prosthetic I struggled with self esteem as I did not like the way it looked and made me feel. I experimented with different socket colours in order to build my self esteem, but nothing ever worked, until I discovered a company called UNYQ. UNYQ makes prosthetic covers for amputees, these covers are designed specifically for your needs, interests, and likes. I now feel more confident in the way I look, feel better about expressing who I am through my cover, and enjoy wearing creative clothing that expresses my own personal style. The best way to cope with becoming an amputee is to experiment so that you begin to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. Tip #4: Add some Humour In many occasions, an amputation will be new to many people. Lots of time you'll have a kid ask their parent where your arm or leg went, and they'll so slightly whisper how it magically went to heaven. Sometimes you'll get the people that just stare and never speak, or the ones who call you unique names like robot. The key to coping with this, is to laugh about it. You need to remember that to a lot of people someone with a prosthetic is not something they see on a regular basis. You have to have fun with it! Kids will get a kick out of your shark attack stories, and it will eliminate the awkwardness of the interactions. If people see that you are humorous with your situation they will be less likely to "feel sorry for you" and more likely to be open to ask you questions and allow you to share your story. Tip #5: Be Adventurous Be adventurous. It is a term that might scare a lot of people, but it is an important factor to coping with becoming an amputee. Don’t be afraid to do something just because you feel like you can’t or because someone tells you, you can’t. You have a disability, you are an amputee, but that does not limit your abilities to do anything you set your mind to. Yes there will be challenges, yes maybe not all amputees will be able to do all the same things, but you must remember that it is important to find the things you can do rather than dwell on the things you can’t. Some individuals will learn to hike, while others will learn to ski. It is just important to be adventurous with the endless options of things amputees can achieve regardless of abilities. You may have to learn to do it differently but that will be the fun in it. Tip #6: Be Yourself Becoming an amputee may alter your life, but it doesn’t have to change who you are. It is important to stay true to who you are because that will help to remind yourself that your physical appearance may have changed but your personality remains the same. You don’t need to alter who you are in order to meet society standards. It is important to embrace all your skills, talents, interests and more. DON’T ever let a disability, a person, or yourself stop you from being who you are, achieving what you want, and believing in yourself on a regular basis. Tip #7: Be Open If there is anything I have learned that has benefited me throughout my whole amputee life, is to be open. Most of the time people are just curious. Be open to answering questions and sharing your story, people will appreciate that and will be more accepting of you when they see you again in the mall or the grocery store. You may also find that you feel better once you start to open up about your journey. It is important to set your own boundaries for what you want to share and what you don't. Never let anyone pressure you into opening up about things you don't feel comfortable sharing. Tip #8: Embrace Your Struggles Being an amputee is not easy, especially if it is new to you. You have to adjust new ways to meet even basic tasks such as walking, or climbing stairs. You don’t realize how hard it is to develop new ways to do things until your life relies on it. It is important to understand that not everyday is going to be easy, there will be times where you will struggle, break down and even cry hysterically. Some people will struggle physically, others emotionally and some people both. I know when I first became an amputee I battled depression for many years before I found ways to cope with it. I also had many days where I struggled so much I didn’t want to even leave my bed. I still struggle daily to be an amputee, and it is important to know that you are not alone, and it is okay to embrace your struggles because they make you that much stronger. Once you learn to embrace your life, even with all it’s ups and downs, you will begin to find better ways to cope with the struggles that come with being an amputee, and learn to find your own unique way of doing things. Tip #9: Set Goals I think setting goals is super important when coping with becoming an amputee. With all those ups and downs it is important to set your self some goals in order to help you feel energized and to keep your spirits up. Everyone will have different goals and that is okay, and the level of goals you have may be different depending on where you are on your amputee journey. For myself, when I first became an amputee, I made it my own personal goal to learn to walk again without supports before I entered into my first year of high school; with hard work and dedication I obtained this goal in just a short 4 month period. Now as I am 6 years into my amputee journey my new goals would be to bring awareness to the amputee lifestyle by sharing my experience and to continue to be a positive role model and support system for those beginning their amputee journey. Your goals don’t need to be extreme, they just need to be yours. Tip #10: Educate Finally, my last tip for coping with becoming an amputee is to educate. Educate your family, your friends, your work, and so forth. Most people don’t know what you can and can not do, and with out being educated they may assume you are incapable of more than you are. Sometimes your family or friends may walk to fast, or not invite you somewhere because they don’t think you can do it. You know your limits but without being educated they may not know what you are capable of doing. It is important to speak up. Lots of time it may feel like they are leaving you out or not being considerate but majority of the time it is because they just don’t know. The more you educate people about your abilities the less they are to assume. Educate on a regular basis, whether is is at your workplace or even just hanging with your friends on the weekend. People are open to learn and accomodate, they just need to know how.