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Tip #1: You are NOT your disability Every day, thousands of millions of people around the world will try telling you what you can and can't do based on your disability. If you succumbed to those presumptions, where will that get you in life? We were always told by only our families of all that we could achieve, but when we went out into the world, we were met with all the "you can't", "you won't", "don't even try" and the list goes on and on. We've both outgrown these assumptions and want to help inspire others to not live by these accusations that seemingly "define" us. We define ourselves, YOU define your future, your life and how you see yourself. NEVER settle for anything less than greatness, because that is what you deserve. You are strong!! Tip #2: Don't live your life according to others Follow your dreams, reach for the stars and never quit. Nothing is ever too far out of reach for you to obtain if you put your mind to it. If you want something, go get it. If you want to get stronger, start today. Only when you begin to make a change will you see change. Others may have expectations or lack of for your life based on your disabilities, however, why hold yourself back? If at first you don't succeed, try again. But nothing great has ever come from not trying. Believe us, we've tried and failed many many times, but have always gotten right back up. Prove the world wrong and you will thrive! Tip #3: Be kind to yourself We don't all have great days. Maybe today you didn't work out, you fell, maybe you had an extra treat just because. Or, maybe you saw yourself in the mirror and quickly your mind began racing to negativity. Shift your thoughts and soon you'll start to see a whole new you. Don't beat yourself up from the mistakes, that's life. We are supposed to make mistakes, because from them, come some of the greatest adventures you may have. Tip #4: Travel No disability should keep you grounded! Make time to travel and experience new aspects of the beautiful world we live in! We know this all too well. When Danny and I first met, we both were to take our first solo flights to each others continents (USA and Brazil). Yes, we were both terrified of being alone and not knowing what to expect, but that is the thrill of growing up. When traveling solo and with a disability, you can get assistance to each terminal to ensure you make it on time(even with language barriers...hello Google translate!). Where there's a will, there's always a way. NEVER settle. Tip #5: Never be too serious The topic around disabilities always seems to be such a serious topic. When mentioned, often times we'll hear, "oh I'm so sorry, will you have that forever?" or "I hope you get better soon" as if it's a disease that can just go away. Please, for your own well being, brush this off. NEVER let the bullies from school or unknowledgable people in the world needing to make comments to you without asking questions affect you and your greatness. We are all here for a purpose and no one should ever stop you from finding you just because you are unique. If we had let our bullies win, we may not be here today, we may not have gotten the chance to share our story and help others not feel alone. Tip #6: Challenge yourself Do something every day that may frighten you, test your limits and your potentials. We challenge you to overcome your fears and live your life to your fullest potential that everyone deserves. Take that leap of faith out of your comfort zone, even if it's something simple as adding someone new on IG, or Facebook that you've been inspired by. I did, and here we are almost 2 years later, in Brazil for 2 months all while having Spina Bifida! If we can do it, so can you!

החיים של דני ומיטרה כש-Yoocan פנו אלינו בשנה שעברה, ניסינו עדיין להבין מה אנחנו רוצים שיהיה בדף שלנו. yoocan הפנו אותנו לכיוון הנכון כשהזמינו אותנו להיות שגרירים להפצת המודעות. מאז ידענו שאנחנו רוצים לחלוק יותר בנושא הכושר שלנו, החיים עם ספינה ביפידה, חיים בריאים (מזון וכו') ולהפיץ את המודעות לספינה ביפידה כדי לעורר השראה באחרים ברחבי העולם. קיווינו שנוכל לטייל ולשתף את הסיפור שלנו על ספינה ביפידה ולהיות במערכת יחסים רחוקה. לו yoocan לא היו פונים אלינו, אולי אף פעם לא היינו לוקחים את הצעד הבא באהבה שלנו ועושים את ההבדל עבור אחרים עם וללא מוגבלויות! The life of Danny and Meetra When Yoocan reached out to us (@lifeofdannyandmeemee) last year, we were still figuring out what we wanted for our page. With yoocan's help, they pointed us in the right direction by inviting us to become ambassadors to spread awareness. From that point, we knew we wanted to share more on our fitness, life with Spina Bifida, healthy living (food, etc.) and spread awareness of Spina Bifida to inspire others around the world. We hoped to be able to travel and share our story of Spina Bifida and being in a long distance relationship. Had yoocan not reached out to us, we may never have truly taken that next step to begin our passion and truly make a difference for others with and without disabilities!

רגע, סיפור, חיים שהשתנו לנצח כשהפכתי לקטוע רגל החובש צועק "ננחת בקרוב", או לפחות כך חשבתי שאמר - דבריו נבלעים בשאגתם של מדחפי המסוקים. טיסה של ארבעים קילומטר לסן-פרנסיסקו, עם חוסר הוודאות של המוות, הייתה קשה. חוסר הוודאות הזה, בעודי מרותק למיטת בית החולים, הכריח אותי לנתח את חיי עד לנקודה זו. האם מימשתי את הפוטנציאל שלי? אם תינתן הזדמנות שנייה מה אעשה אחרת? פעמים רבות לאחר טרגדיה שכזו מגיעים לצומת דרכים, וצריך לבחור אם לפנות לרחמים עצמיים ולוותר או לממש את כל מה שניתן מהזדמנות שנייה לחיים, להמשיך קדימה ולעשות משהו נהדר. מבחינתי, רחמים עצמיים לא היו מעולם אופציה. A Moment, A Story, A Life Forever Changed when I became an amptuee The medic shouts, “we’ll be landing shortly” or at least that is what I thought he said—his words muffled by the roaring of the helicopter propellers. The twenty-five mile flight to San Francisco with the uncertainty of death was all consuming. This uncertainty while confined to my hospital bed forced me to analyze my life up until that point. Had I been living up to my potential? If given a second chance what would I do differently? Often times with tragedy as such one may come to a cross road, either by taking the route of self-pity and giving up or realizing all the opportunities a second chance on life can afford, and using that as the fuel to move forward and do something great. For me self-pity was never an option. מתכונן לחיים שלי כקטוע רגל כשהייתי בבית החולים כבר רקמתי פתרונות למכשולים שחשבתי שצפויים בעתיד הקרוב. צפיתי בטלוויזיה רק ​​כדי לראות את הביומכניקה מאחורי ההליכה, בידיעה כי בקרוב אלמד איך ללכת שוב. ביליתי את רוב הימים בהכנה עצמית נפשית ופיזית לחיי כקטוע רגל. שנה לאחר הניתוחים שלי כשכמעט נרפאתי לגמרי, הותאמה לי רגל תותבת. נקבעה לי רק לשבועיים לאחר מכן פיזיותרפיה כדי ללמוד איך ללכת, אך הייתי להוט ונחוש ללכת באותו רגע. ביליתי את הימים שמובילים לפגישה שלי באימונים במשך שעות על התנועות היומיומיות שמובנות מאליהן. את הפיזיותרפיה הראשונה שלי סיימתי כשצלחתי מכשולים חיוניים לעצמאותי כקטוע רגל. באופן מפתיע, מעולם לא הסתכלתי על המכשולים המונחים לפני כמחסום לצמיחתי כאדם או להשגת מטרותי. במקום זאת, ראיתי אותם כחיוניים, אפילו הכרחיים, להתפתחותו וצמיחתו של האופי שלי, להתקדמות. הדחף והנחישות שלי ללכת שוב ולהתקדם בחיים הביאו אותי להצלחות הנוכחיות שלי ולשאיפות עתידיות. Preparing for my life as an amputee While in the hospital I was already devising solutions to what I believed were foreseeable obstacles I might face in the near future. I watched television solely to observe the biomechanics behind walking knowing that I would soon learn how to walk all over again. I spent most days preparing myself mentally and physically for my life as an amputee. A year after my surgeries and nearly fully healed I was fitted with a prosthesis. I was scheduled two weeks later for a physical therapy session to learn how to walk. However, I was eager and determined to walk at that moment. I spent the days leading up to my appointment practicing for hours a day the everyday movements that most take for granted. On my very first physical therapy session I was able to test out of therapy by completing an array of obstacles that are essential to an amputee’s independence. Surprisingly, I have never looked at the obstacles placed before me as a barrier that will prohibit my growth as a person or to achieving my goals. Instead, I have seen them as vital, even necessary, for the development and growth of my character and forward progression. My drive and resolve to walk again and move forward in life has in many ways become the prevailing undertone behind my current successes and future aspirations.

ההוכחה נעשתה מעייפת לא חלקתי את הסיפור שלי ב'yoocan' עדיין, אך המעקב אחר הסיפורים נתן לי זריקות עידוד רבות. קריאת המכשולים שהאנשים נפלאים הללו התגברו עליהם עזרה לי. אני תמיד מרגישה שאני צריכה להוכיח את עצמי לאחרים וזה נוגס באישיות שלי. יש לי מחלה שנקראת אטקסיית פרידרייך (Friedreich's Ataxia), מחלה תורשתית הגורמת לנזק מתרחב למערכת העצבים, המחייבת אותי להשתמש בכיסא גלגלים. עם זאת, אני משמשת כאם לילד בן 5. אנשים רוצים הוכחה שאני יכולה להיות עצמאית, אבל אני יודעת כי "אני יכולה לעשות את זה!" כי ניצלתי את המשאבים שהראו לי איך לחיות את חיי באופן הטוב ביותר תוך שימוש בכיסא גלגלים. אני רוצה שאחרים ילמדו את הסיפור שלי ויידעו שנאבקתי הרבה לפני שהגעתי למקום שליו בחיי. הסיפורים ב'yoocan' עזרו לי להגיע לשם כי ידעתי שאני לא לבד בעולם הזה של נכויות, מחלות ומוגבלויות רבות. אני מאמינה כי האפשרויות הן אינסופיות! הבלוג שלי: www.mywobblyworld.com Proof gets tiring I have not personally been a part of ‘yoocan’ to share my story yet, but being a follower of this account has given me many boosts of encouragement. Reading the obstacles these wonderful individuals have overcome has helped me remain humble. I always feel I need to prove myself to others and it’s taking away a little piece of my persona. I have a condition, Friedreichs Ataxia, that has led my body to a wheelchair. With this comes mothering my 5 y/o son. People want proof that I can be independent, but I know that “I can do it!” I can because I’ve tapped into the resources that has shown me how to live my best life while using a wheelchair. I want others to learn my story and know I struggled a lot before I came to a peaceful setting in my life. And ‘yoocan’ stories helped me get there because I knew I wasn’t alone in this world of many handicaps, diseases, disabilities, etc. The possibilities are endless and I believe yoocan! Please check out my blog: www.mywobblyworld.com

My Son: The Superhero with Cerebral Palsy “Hi, my name is Easton and I will be 5-years old in March; I was diagnosed with Right Hemiplegia at age-2. A form of Cerebral Palsy, Hemiplegia affects both my right arm and right leg, most likely caused by a stroke at birth due to lack of oxygen. At a very early age my parents knew I was different, even before I was diagnosed. When I was really young I favored my left hand, dragged my right foot, turned my ankle outwards and army-crawled, unlike most kids that used their hands and knees. My mommy (@loveandbabies) and daddy (@tippin20s_) kept asking the doctors about me, but they kept saying I was too young to tell anything for sure and that by age-2 we would know if any further testing was needed. Finally the day came and I was referred to the Neuromuscular (specialty) Clinic at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center. My (now) favorite doctor there diagnosed me within minutes of meeting me and hearing my mommy’s story - she called me “a textbook case”. I didn’t know what that meant but she assured my mommy and daddy that my condition was mild and that I would be okay. The doctor talked about a lot of other things that could happen to me; ADD, epilepsy, all kinds of scary thing. I could tell mommy was afraid so I held her hand the whole time. My mommy and daddy knew they would fight for me and get the care I needed and that no matter what I was the best version of me! Since then my team of doctors, nurses and physical therapists have treated me so special and take really good care of me. In 2015 I was equipped with a right-AFO (ankle foot orthotic) brace to correct and retrain my leg to walk straight and support my ankle - the doctors now say I may be upgrading to a shorter brace in 6-months and may not have to wear it at all in another year or so! Before preschool I met with some very nice teachers to test my brain function and see how much of it was affected by my stroke. They tell my mommy and daddy that I am SO smart (too smart for my own good sometimes) and function higher than my age level; this makes mommy and daddy proud of course. I don’t let my condition hold me back and I tell everyone that I meet about my “super-charged leg” that helps me run faster! I am learning to get myself dressed and can now even take my brace on and off, which makes mommy and daddy so happy and proud! One day I want to play baseball like my daddy, who tells me I definitely have the arm for it. My mommy tells me that I'm her little superhero - I like the sound of that!"

I won't back down with a Spinal C5 Cord Injury In December 2015 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which I suffered a C5 burst fracture to my neck and left me a quadriplegic paralyzed from the waist down with limited movements in my arms. I underwent 3 surgeries and was put on a ventilator to help me breathe. I spent one month in the ICU, then was transferred to Kessler Rehab for 2 1/2 months. There I had therapy everyday to help me relearn basic activities like feeding yourself. Since I've been discharged home, I continue to make gains. I refuse to let this injury defeat me. In the meantime I try to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. I may not have a huge platform to share my story, but you have to start somewhere. I help raise money for research, rehabilitation and treatments. I also educate people on the injury and the complications that come with it. There are approximately 200,000 people living with spinal cord injuries in the United States today. Approximately every 48 seconds in our country, a person becomes paralyzed. Most of these injuries occur from motor vehicle accidents, falls, work-related accidents, and sports injuries. I'm determined to raise awareness for Spinal Cord Injuries and share my experiences. I still have a long way to go, but I refuse to give up because I know my life was not meant to be spent it in a chair.

born with a visual impairment Hi there! My name is Glen, I'm 34 years old, and I was born with a visual impairment. Events during my childhood left me severely lacking in self-confidence, but over the last few decades I've developed into a very different person. Over the past year alone, I've started a significant new chapter in my life, having adventures and experiences that I never thought would be possible before. My Conditions: Aniridia & Nystagmus My primary condition is Aniridia, which literally means 'no iris'. So I can't tell you what colour my eyes are. But the iris isn't just there to look nice. It's actually a muscle that controls the size of your pupil, to control how much light enters your eye. It tries to stop you from being blinded in bright light, and helps you to see better in the dark. But I can't do that. So I'm overly sensitive to glare and brightness - meaning I wear green tinted sunglasses outdoors, and invert the colours on computer screens to have light text on dark backgrounds. And I struggle to adjust in the dark, so I have to stick to areas that are well lit. My other condition, Nystagmus, is a side effect of Aniridia. Not everyone gets it, and it can be part of the package with many conditions, but it is common in Aniridia patients. It makes my eyes shake and wobble involuntarily all the time. I don't notice the shaking unless I'm tired or stressed, as my brain compensates for it. But it does mean I can't focus on things unless they're near to me or enlarged. When I'm out, I'll use a monocular (a small telescope) to read things like signs. And on computers I will zoom things in and enlarge the text. It also means I can't drive. My School Years At my first mainstream school near my home in Devon, neither the teachers nor the other pupils knew how to help me. So I struggled in class, unable to read the blackboard or my work easily. And I was bullied by some of the other kids. So the only thing I learnt at that school was that I wasn't normal, and that nobody outside my family cared. So, as you can imagine, I became very shy and withdrawn. My parents quickly found a school for the visually impaired and transferred me there. But there was now a lot of damage to repair in terms of my confidence. And that wasn't helped by the fact that I was soon being teased and bullied by some of the kids at this new school as well. Not because of my sight this time, but because I was so shy and quiet and easy to upset. As the years went on, however, I gradually opened up and did make some very good friends. And, thanks to the wonderful teachers we had, I also did very well with my schoolwork - as a result of which, I started to get little perks and rewards that the bullies didn't. And that caused our relationship to change. Their initial jealousy turned into respect. And as I got to know them, I came to understand why they behaved the way they did. As tends to be the case with bullies, there were underlying factors that they really needed help with. So by the time I left school, we were actually good friends, and I was a lot more confident than when I'd started. My Transition Into Adulthood Moving from a disabled school to the mainstream environments of college and university was a new challenge, as I didn't know if people would be understanding, or if I would just seem odd to them. So I was still a bit shy then. I did chat to people and got on well with them, but I didn't develop any close friendships, as people only saw me in lectures and so didn't have a chance to get to know me. But, again, I did well with my work, and I still met up or chatted regularly with school friends, so I wasn't lonely. But my biggest confidence boost was getting a job. Soon after getting my Accounting & Finance degree, I got work experience with my local council - first with their finance team, and then with their printing team, after word got around about my computer skills. Again, I was shy and nervous to begin with, and some of my colleagues were also nervous as they weren't used to working with a disabled person. However, I soon settled in and quickly earned a lot of respect from people in my department and elsewhere, resulting in many good friends and a full-time job. And then, 6 years after starting my career, something happened that changed my life completely, and would give me the opportunity to make full use of my heightened confidence. A Fresh Start When my father passed away at the age of 65, followed 2 years later by my grandmother's passing at 105 (yes, seriously!), we were in an unexpected position. Mum and I had now inherited my grandmother's London home - which would have been sold if Dad were alive, as he wanted to retire in Devon. But without him, we had the opportunity to move to London instead. And given all that the city has to offer, it was a no-brainer. So, after a few years sorting stuff out, that's what we did, moved to London during Christmas in 2016. It was very exciting to be moving there. But it also carried a very real risk of isolation, because I didn't know anybody there. Not only that, but my employer in Devon was keeping me on as a homeworker, keen as they were not to lose me. So, happy as I am working on my own, it meant I wouldn't be meeting anyone during working hours either. So, determined not to be lonely, and calling on all the confidence I'd developed over the last 3 decades, I took the plunge and dived into London life as much as I could. I joined social groups (for disabled and non-disabled people), I went on walking tours, I visited museums, I saw theatre shows, and so on. And I had a go at blogging and making videos about it all. I wasn't sure what would result, but there was no harm in trying. And it's paid off more than I'd ever expected. I've been given amazing opportunities and experiences, including my first ever public talk about my disability - something I would never have had the guts to do in the past. And I've been having lots of fun and making many new friends. The Future I don't know where all of this will lead. All I do know is that I'm in an exciting new phase of my life that has further strengthened my confidence. By grasping the opportunities being presented to me, many others have resulted, so I'm continuing to build on them as best I can, and enjoying myself as much as I can. These new experiences have confirmed all that I've learnt over the years - that having dodgy eyesight doesn't make me any less of a person, that I can still achieve things, that I can still do the stuff I enjoy, and that I can still make friends. I wasn't being limited by my disability, but the limits I was placing on myself out of fear and uncertainty. There will always be an element of that within me, but it's nothing like it was. It's been a long journey to get to this point, but it's been worth it, that's for sure. If you want to follow my adventures, you can find me here: Blog - https://welleyenever.com Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/WellEyeNever Twitter - https://twitter.com/well_eye_never Instagram - @welleyenever

סובל מזאבת וממחלת כליות סבלתי מזאבת וממחלת כליות. התמונה שאתם רואים בצד שמאל צולמה חודשיים לאחר שעזבתי את בית החולים. הזאבת הייתה בעייתית. למשל, הרגליים שלי היו נפוחות כל כך עד שלא יכולתי אפילו לקשור את נעלי ההתעמלות שלי כדי שיתאימו לי, לא יכולתי להשתין בלי לקחת "גלולת מים", היו לי למעלה מ-9 קילוגרמים של נוזל בגופי שגרמו לנזק רציני! (70% סיכוי למות). Suffering from Lupus (SLE) & Kidney Disease I was suffering from Systemic Lupus and kidney disease. The photo that you see on the left was taken 2 months after I left the hospital. Lupus was kickin' my a$$. For example, my feet were swollen so badly that I couldn't even tie my sneakers for them to fit properly, I couldn't urinate without taking a 'water pill,' I had over 20 pounds of fluid in my body; which did some SERIOUS DAMAGE! (70 percent chance of dying). הזאבת הייתה לברכה גדולה התמונה שאתם רואים מימין צולמה כעבור כמה שנים. המחלה שאני עדיין חי עמה היא ברכה ענקית כי היא שינתה את החיים שלי בצורה חיובית מאוד. עכשיו אני מתמקד בלהיות כל מה שאלוהים ברא אותי להיות ואסיר תודה לדעת שאת מה שעברתי בעבר לעולם לא אצטרך לעבור שוב. בשם ישו! (ישעיהו 54:17) אל תהססו לקרוא את העדות המלאה שלי: www.KenWeal.com - לחצו על HISTORY Lupus has been a huge blessing The photo that you see on the right was taken a few years later. The sickness that I'm still living with is a huge BLESSING because it changed my life around in a very positive way. Now I'm focused on becoming everything that God has created me to be and I'm grateful to know that what I have been through in the pass, I will never have to go through again. In the name of Jesus! (Isaiah 54:17) Please feel free to read my full testimony on: www.KenWeal.com - Click on HISTORY Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: @KennethWeal

החיים החדשים שלי כמשותק שמי אלכס, אני בן 27 ממקסיקו סיטי ואני משותק. עובד כמנהל פרויקטים בחברה פיננסית. אני נהנה מאד מספורט, בעיקר כדורגל ומשחק כדורסל. אני גם אוהב ללכת לקולנוע, לפארק ולמקומות בילוי נוספים. עברתי תאונה שבה נפלתי מגובה של 10 מטרים, שגרמה לי לשבר בעמוד השדרה ולבעיות רפואיות אחרות. אני חייב לקבל את מצבי. זה היה מאוד מתסכל וכואב כשנפצעתי. למרבה המזל, יש לי משפחה וחברים נפלאים שמעולם לא עזבו אותי או נתנו לי להגיע לשפל המדרגה. הודות להם ולרצון להתקדם - התאוששתי במידה מסוימת. My New Life As A Paraplegic My name is Alex, I'm 27 years old from Mexico City and I'm a paraplegic. I work as a project analyst for a financial company. I really enjoy sports, soccer, and currently play basketball. I also enjoy going to the cinema, park, and recreational center. I was in an accident where I fell 10 meters causing a fracture in my spine among other medical issues. I must accept my condition. I have nothing that allows me to accept that at any moment something can change. It was very frustrating and painful when I became injured. Fortunately, I have wonderful family and friends who never left me or let me hit rock bottom. Thanks to them and the desire to move forward, I recovered in many ways. ממשיך קדימה כמשותק ידעתי שזה לא יהיה קל, אבל הייתי נחוש להחזיר לי את חיי בחזרה. ידעתי שאלה לא יהיו החיים שהיו לי פעם, אבל שבהחלט ארגיש שלם. החיים החדשים שלי הגיעו עם טיפולי שיקום ואינטגרציה. אני מתאמן כדי לחזק את הידיים ואף התחלתי לחדש את התנועה באזורים אחרים בגוף שלי. לאחרונה הבנתי שאני צריך כיסא גלגלים שימושי יותר כדי לשאת את הבן שלי, אז עברתי קורס לנסיעה בכיסא גלגלים. זה היה מכשול ללמוד להיות מסוגל לזוז לכל מקום אליו רציתי. זה גם עזר לי ללמוד להשתמש בתחבורה ציבורית עם הכיסא. התחלתי לנסוע ברכבת התחתית ובאוטובוס, שהינם חיוניים על מנת לנוע ברחבי העיר בלי בעיות. הוזמנתי גם לשחק בקבוצת כדורסל שאני אוהב כי הייתי משחק כדורגל. אני מלא שמחה כשאני משחק כדורסל. מתאמן קשה כדי שאוכל להצליח. להיות חלק מהקבוצה ללא ספק סייע לי להעלאת הביטחון כמשתמש בכיסא גלגלים. אני אסיר תודה לאין שיעור על ההזדמנות הזאת כי זה עזר לי להרגיש בטוח, עצמאי ולפתח את הכישורים שלי בסביבת העבודה. עכשיו אני מקבל משכורת שוב, שגם היא עזרה לי עם רמת הביטחון שלי. כעת אני מרגיש לגמרי מותאם למצב החדש שלי. אין לי מושג מה העתיד יביא עמו, אבל הכישורים שרכשתי וההחלטה לעשות את מה שהופך את החיים שלי לקלים יותר עזרה לי מאוד להתקדם בחיים. אני רוצה להמשיך לגדול. יש ציטוט שאני מאוד אוהב: "לעולם לא להרים ידיים" - ואני לעולם לא! Moving Forward As A Paraplegic I knew it was not going to be easy, but I was determined to get my life back. I knew it would not be the life I once had, but that I would certainly be whole again. My new life came with rehabilitation and integration therapies. I exercise to strengthen my arms, and I've started to resume movement in other areas of my body too. I recently realized that I needed a more practical wheelchair to carry my son, so I entered myself in a wheelchair driving course. It was an obstacle to learn to be able to move everywhere I wanted to go. That also helped me learn to take public transportation using the chair. I started taking the subway and metrobus, which has been vital for learning to move around the city without any trouble. I was also invited to play on a basketball team, which I love because I used to play soccer. I am filled with joy when I play basketball. I practice hard so I can succeed. Being a part of the team without a doubt has helped me gain confidence as a wheelchair user. I am infinitely grateful for this opportunity because it has helped me feel confident, independent, and develop my skills in a work environment. I now receive a salary again, which has also helped me with my confidence level. Now I feel completely adapted to my new situation. I have no idea what the future will bring, but the skills I have acquired and the decision to do what makes my life easier helps a lot for me to move forward in my life. I want to keep growing. I have a quote I really like, which is “NEVER GIVE UP” and I never will!

Menstrual Cups are not Made for Everyone. Menstrual cups are awesome. They're better for the environment, save you money and trips to the store, and they can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time unlike disposables. However, they can be really tricky to use. I found this out the hard way after suffering multiple subluxations and dislocations trying to use cups while living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Instead of becoming quietly discouraged and embarrassed by this problem, I set out to make something better. How Keela Cup is Different Unlike most cups, which feature a nearly useless, uncomfortable stem, Keela Cup's stem is it's most novel feature. Made of soft, flexible silicone, our pullstring stem moves with your body, is fully adjustable in length and connects to the top rim of the cup to break the seal when pulled. No more trimming, reaching or pinching! We've made Keela cup as easy to remove as a tampon, making it more accessible to more people. Inevitably, Inclusive Design Benefits Us All Most products are designed to work for "the 90%" meaning, the majority of users. The obvious problem with this design philosophy is that it excludes so many people, and most likely the people who are most in need of easier, better options. People with disabilities have periods, too, and we deserve to have access to more choices in how we manage our menstrual health. Our philosophy is that designing for users that have the most challenges actually benefits everyone. Something that may be a barrier to access for you or me is likely an inconvenience to someone in that 90%. Solving for these challenges creates an easier to use product for everybody. We Need your Support to Make "Inclusivity" The Word of the Year for 2018 We are so excited to have been so well received in our crowd funding launch. With over 1,000 backers on Kickstarter, it's clear that the world agrees that inclusive design is what we all need. If you would like to support our mission, please share our story with your community and pre-order a cup at www.keelacup.com

My road to success I learned to stop thinking and start doing was the only way to live . How that if you simply dive abs life will open a host of opportunities.

My Former Life As A Breakdancer I used to be a competitive breakdancer, traveling and competing. I even danced for Vanilla Ice on his tour! That all changed one day. I remember the time I woke up and could hardly walk. It was 2015 and the pain behind my knees was so bad I could hardly stand up, but I didn't think anything of it. As time went on, the pain was so bad I couldn't walk without sitting every 5 feet and using crutches. It was like this for a year and a half, and the pain started to gradually fade away. It turned out I have an autoimmune condition that effects my joints called Ankylosing Spondylitis. My immune system attacks my joints and causes pain. As soon as that ended, in the beginning of 2017, I was hit with horrific vertigo and head pain. I couldn't do anything. I had to quit college, which was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I lost my best friend around the same time due to a heart attack, and it was all too much to handle. I lost my job and my life due to health issues. "But you look fine" In May 2017, I found out I had a brain tumor called Supependyoma. It is benign and not growing right now. Thank God! I lived my life as best as I could. I moved to California in July 2017 for better health care. I was in a weird situation where I was bit by a raccoon and had to get the rabies vaccine. Well, after a couple weeks I started feeling weak and numb in my extremities. I received a spinal tap, and was told I had a mild case of guillian barre syndrome. In the process of having a spinal tap, I developed a spinal leak and am having a hard time fixing it. I started a group on Facebook called "But you look fine." It's for people suffering from invisible illnesses, whether it be mental or physical. I also am an advocate for invisible illness on my instagram! I started the hashtag #IAMTHEFACEOF. My motto is, "I believe we should live in a world where everyone knows they matter." #YOUMATTER #IAMTHEFACEOF We have to keep going. We have to keep fighting!