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The Accident That Caused Me To have a prosthetic leg Hello, my name is Thomas Winkler and I am 29 years old from Bautzen, Germany. I have recently moved with my wife to Austria. My passion is skateboarding. At the age of 12, I started playing sports because I found it interesting to try something new and my friends had also found pleasure in the sport. I did not know until then how popular skateboarding had become. I had a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 where my left leg had to be amputated. I started rehab and now have a prosthetic leg. This disability has never stopped me from living my life, playing sports, and having passion. I am the only German skateboarder with a prosthetic leg I was discovered on Facebook in 2014 by David Lebuser. He's a WCMX rider, which means a wheelchair motocross rider. He skates with a wheelchair in skate parks! It really fascinated me that even wheelchair sports are possible, so why not skate with a prosthetic leg? Since then, I am the only German skateboarder with a prosthetic leg. It really makes me proud to be a role model for people with disabilities interested in skating. #GoFundMe for New Prosthetic Leg I have launched a #gofundme, hoping I will eventually get the healthcare I need to continue skating. My current prosthesis is too high for jumps, and health insurance companies do not approve of the desired care I need. The cost is 10,000 euros, which I cannot afford. In May 2017, I had a prosthetic leg from Ottobock tested. This special carbon spring enabled me to improve my jumps because it is more flexible and had higher load capacity. I have tested this and was visited by a YouTuber from Switzerland @Fabian Doerig who is a skateboarder. He accompanied me for a week in Austria and we skated in Vienna together. I hope nobody gives up in life no matter how difficult their situation is because it can only get better again. A physical disability is an obstacle which you have to learn to overcome. It would help me if you could make a small donation by clicking on the link below: https: //www.gofundme.com/thomas-leg prosthesis-supply **This GoFundMe was launched by my friend (Instagram: @tomcat_skate) Thank you!

The Beginning of Transverse Myelitis It was July 10th, 2009 and I was 14 years old (16 days before my 15th birthday). I was participating in a travel camp for 3 weeks on the west coast of the US, far from my home in New York. I was with 40 other teenagers, a few counselors, and far away from my family - but I was perfectly fine. On the 8th day of the trip, we were on our way to Las Vegas on a bus - a trip that was going to last about 5 hours. After about the 2nd or 3rd hour, we stopped at a gas station to stretch our legs, use the restroom and buy some snacks. When the bus stopped and I made it to my feet, I noticed my butt, legs, and feet were pins and needles, but I figured they were just asleep from the long bus ride. Holding onto the seats, my legs were wobbly, but I made it off the bus into the 100+ degree sun of Arizona. I took one step and realized my legs were not going to hold me much longer. After sitting down on the burning pavement, I realized I couldn't feel how hot the ground was underneath me. I also could not feel the sensation of having to urinate anymore. Half in a panic, and half in a daze, my counselor came over to help me to my feet one last time. Even more wobbly than before, I managed to stand one more time, but little did I know it was the last time. Maybe 2-3 seconds later, my legs gave out from underneath me and went completely numb. Nothing. I felt nothing from my belly button down. In a matter of 5 minutes, maybe less. The Diagnosis: Transverse Myelitis I was carried onto the bus, surrounded by my 40 new friends who were all more concerned than I was, and a counselor who was on the phone with my parents who didn't seem so worried at first. The nearest hospital was 45 minutes away - a small hospital with no imaging equipment and definitely not what I needed at the time. By the time we made it to the hospital, I still felt nothing in my legs, and I felt nothing in my head. I was so nervous that I had become numb. I was wheeled into the emergency room by my counselor with a blank look on my face. Even as the ER nurse pricked my legs with a safety pin, hard enough to make be bleed a few times, I sat there straight-faced and confused. Once the nurse realized I was not faking this, I watched her face turn white and the next thing I new I was strapped to a gurney, neck brace on and my clothes literally being cut off my body. It definitely was not normal for a healthy 14 year-old girl to lose all feeling in her legs in a mere few minutes. My bladder was distended due to not being able to urinate on my own, and I was immediately catheterized (thank god I didn't feel that!). This hospital was so small and so under-equipped that I was flown on a small lier jet to the closest children's hospital, which was in Las Vegas. Once I was there, I was immediately rushed into an MRI machine and an IV was stuck in my arm filling me with steroids and fluids. I had every test known to man - CT scans, blood work testing for EVERY POSSIBLE DISEASE, a spinal tap, and 4 MRIs - maybe even more. Hours later when all the initial panic settled down, I was finally able to get in contact with my parents. One of my counselors stayed with me this entire time and she was talking with them the whole time, but I was undergoing so many tests that I didn't even have the chance to speak with them. Once my parents realized how long it had been since I felt anything, they really started to worry. The first thing I remember hearing is my mom crying on the phone telling me my dad was on his way to the airport and getting on the next flight to Las Vegas. I was still numb, emotionally. I sat there poking my thighs, my lower stomach, feeling absolutely nothing. But I wasn't sad, or nervous. I felt nothing for a few hours. Until my defense mechanism kicked in and all I could do was make jokes. I don't think I realized how serious this situation was, or how permanent. My dad finally arrived in the middle of the night, coming into my hospital room and seeing his youngest daughter hooked up to machines. I've never really seen my dad cry before, but I saw tears in his eyes that day. Tears and panic. Two days passed by, more tests were run and more viles of blood were taken. Until a visiting doctor from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia stepped into my room and introduced herself, along with my diagnosis. Transverse Myelitis. What the hell was Transverse Myelitis?! No one, including my pediatrician had heard of this horrific disease. Apparently my body had attacked my own spinal cord, damaging the nerve endings and leaving me paralyzed from the waist down. And the prognosis? There was none. Some people recovered, some people didn't. No one knew why I had gotten this illness, and no one knew if it would ever go away. I was not sick the week before, the day before, or the minute before I lost feeling. I was healthy, active, thin, and fine until my body turned on itself. And then the pain kicked in. My body was going through a trauma, and I had pain in my back that I had never experienced before. It had me on bedrest for over a week, being pumped with pain killers and unable to eat from the pain. It was so horrible I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Rehab: Regaining Independence After two weeks in the hospital in Las Vegas, I was transferred to a Children's Rehab hospital back in New York near my home. My mom, who flew out to Vegas after my dad had to return to work, accompanied me on another lier jet, roughly the size of an SUV, and we endured a 6 hour flight back to the east coast. I spent 7 weeks in rehab, learning how to use a wheelchair, dress myself, use a catheter, and basically attempt to regain my independence. And I didn't give up for a second. I never realized how strong of a person I was until I was put to the test. I had more good days than bad, despite celebrating a birthday in the hospital and spending the rest of my summer in a diaper at 15 years old. I did not recover any feeling since July 10th, but I was able to manuever my way through life by myself as much as possible. I was able to return to high school in September with my friends, and attempt to be a "normal" teenager. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Now What? It's been almost 9 years since my diagnosis, and I am stronger and more independent than ever before. I learned how to drive at 16, along with my peers, just with hand controls instead of foot pedals. I went to prom. I lost my virginity. I graduated college. And now I am in my second year of graduate school, pursuing a doctorate in Audiology. I will be Dr. Bender. And people still always ask me "will you ever walk again?". And I honestly have no idea. I spent years in physical therapy, constantly pushing myself to my limits and seeing nothing in return. No change in feeling or movement. So I decided I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life hoping and trying to walk again. I was going to live my life as normally as I possibly could. I knew my life was never going to be what I imagined, but it would be something entirely new and different. Of course things are always going to be a little harder from a wheelchair. This world was not made with us in mind - but there are always ways to over come. Maybe one day I will gain feeling in my legs. Maybe one day I will wiggle a toe, or bend my knee. And don't get me wrong, it will be the happiest day of my life. But for now I'm going to live my life. I'm going to get a job, travel the world, have children, and maybe one day feel the sand between my toes.

Overcoming All Setbacks Christi Jo Elle Williams was diagnosed with Cri du chat syndrome, a rare condition through a procedure called amniocentesis. I was asked do I want an abortion several times and told what a hard and stressful pregnancy I would have, but I knew Christi Jo was meant to be here. Christi was born with a hole in her heart and a cyst on her kidney. The hole has since been closed. She also has g-tube and a trach. Christi is such a happy kid! She has fought through a near death experience, had 7 surgeries, and several setbacks. She can't walk or talk yet but with her therapies, her fighter attitude, and her determination, she will overcome all of her setbacks! 2018 is her year! #christijoelle #mommyanddaughter #nicubaby #raresyndrome #chla #bowelobstruction #raredisease #heartsurgery #trachbaby #mompreneur #specialneedskid #gtubebaby #criduchatsyndrome #medicalmama #mommylifestyle #nicugraduate #stronggirl #hospitalnights #miraclebaby #physicaltherapy #napacenter #babiesofinstagram #specialneedskids #motorskills #occupationaltherapy #specialneedsmom #disabilityawareness

How So I'm Legally Blind Started Hi All! I’m Connie and I started @soimlegallyblind (www.soimlegallyblind.com) for individuals who have a visual impairment. My website is a resource for individuals, families, schools, etc. to offer support, encouragement and information for people like myself. I was born with congenital cataracts and later also had another layer of steroid-related cataracts due to asthma. During that time, I was losing my sight, and had to use a CCTV to work. I’ve always wanted to support people like myself, as I was very fortunate to have support, tutors and an awesome family to help me when needed. I chose to have a career in the disability-field, and pursued my Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling. I’ve worked as a Disability Counselor with the Physical/Visual caseload for the past 11 years, and I really enjoy my job. 😊 I also love anything to do with Assistive Technology, as I couldn’t work without Zoomtex! Love it! Challenges of being Visually-impaired I was also fortunate last year to complete a 10-week course and receive a certificate in Assistive Technology.😊 If any of you follow me at @soimlegallyblind.com you know I’m also the very proud Mom to my Dollie who is also visually impaired. Dollie is 9 yrs old, and has been the model for my website until this past year when she retired. 😊🐶❤️ I’ve often been asked what are some of the challenges with my visual impairement, and I would say the main one has always been the lack of timely, safe and dependable transportation. That has always been a challenge. I’ve definitely managed with the bus, family and friends, but with the recent rideshare-type programs available, it really has changed things for a lot of visually-impaired people. It has provided a lot of independence and a hint of what it might be like to have the independence and freedom to drive. 👍🏻 Bloom Where You’re Planted I’m also a consultant for other Universities and staff regarding the ADA, ADAA, 504, 508, and other applicable laws regarding individuals with disabilities. As my Daddy told me when I was a kid, never apologize or make excuses for your disability, just always “Bloom Where You’re Planted”! That advice has stayed with me forever and is the tagline for my website. So if you know anyone who needs support, encouragement or information regarding an existing or onset visual impairment, take a look at my website at @soimlegallyblind.com and I would be happy to help. 😊 Hope you all have a wonderful day and I was so happy to be asked to contribute to this awesome site. Thank you so much! Connie

My Physical Disability Does Not Stop Me From Living My Life In the age of social media, we can sometimes get lost in our screens of perfectly photographed selfies, perfectly arranged timelines, perfectly contoured or highlighted makeup, seemingly perfect lives, etc. We can sometimes begin to loose sight in the beauty of imperfections in some of the most powerful women that are right in front of us everyday. Everyone has imperfections or weaknesses. Our goal is to acknowledge everyday women who have taken their weaknesses and turned them into strengths to inspire those around them. Brave, strong, beautiful, courageous, pretty, funny, tough, inspiring- these are all words that were spoken to me and about me by people throughout my life. Words that I never really believed were true. I always felt like people gave me constant affirmation to assure me that despite my imperfections, I was still all of these things. Growing up with a physical disability made me feel as though I constantly had to prove to everyone that I was good enough, despite my limitations. This mindset of needing to prove myself only intensified as I entered adulthood and the workforce. During my late teens and early twenties I encountered several instances of discrimination while interviewing for positions that I was clearly qualified for on paper. Even in instances when I was employed in a 9 to 5 job, I always felt like I should be so lucky that they gave me a chance considering my disability. So I was still having to be the best, make no mistakes, and settle for less pay than I was qualified to receive with my level of experience. At one point, I wasn't only trying to prove my worth despite being disabled, but despite being a disabled woman working in a'man's world'. Constant situations like this caused me to take matters into my own hands and become a Certified Freelance Makeup Artist. In the past 7 years of being in the beauty industry, I have had the opportunity to build a solid portfolio, grow in my artistry, and gain confidence not only in my work, but in who I am as a powerful woman. Yes, I have and still at times encounter awkward moments when a client did not realize that I was disabled until I showed up for the the actual appointment. When this occurs I no longer feel instantly discouraged. I simply pull out my tools and get to work while making casual conversation and taking an interest in every person that sits in my chair. Before long, the awkwardness is gone and I'm seen for who I am.... an everyday woman, no different than anyone else. There is no greater feeling than seeing my client look into the mirror and to see delight in their eyes. Not only was I able to make someone else feel confident & beautiful, but I have created a life where I am able to surpass my limitations and empower someone in the littlest way. In this moment, I finally truly believe that I am brave, strong, beautiful, courageous, pretty, funny, tough, and inspiring. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story! XOXO Priscilla

Nothing Stops My Life, Now Even Transverse Myelitis! Hi, my name is Helen Fincham (@helenfincham), I am 23 years old. In August 2016 I woke up with a neck ache and by mid-day my body attacked itself and shut down completely leaving me paralyzed from the neck down affected at c4 level, leaving me a quadriplegic. Doctors had no idea how it came about or why it happened and took two months of testing for them to tell me they have no idea still, but that I’ll never walk and I have to just live with it. The diagnosis was Transverse Myelitis. I spent over a year in the hospital and rehab, but over the course of a few months I regained some movement in my arms, but my hands don’t function at all properly. THAT doesn’t stop me from still doing the same things I did before with my friends and family! I still go to the cinema, eat at restaurants, and go out at night. Never Give Up! You should not feel sorry for yourself, you can make good things happen. You just need to get up and find another way around doing it- you’ll be so much happier!! Remember, there’s someone out there who has it way worse than you. Always remember to make the most of what you have. Practice is key- remember you have to keep trying and never give up. I’ve found that having a great support group of friends, family and people around really helps me get through each day and make me want to better myself by not giving up.

Family Life Shortly after I gave birth to our second child--a boy--someone said to me, "Well, you've got the million dollar family now: one girl, one boy." While I understood the sentiment behind that comment, it bothered me. It felt cliche--an assumption about our family that didn't ring true. When my husband & I dreamed of our future, we never envisioned the stereotypical family with equal gender representation and matching brown eyes. We just figured we'd have a few kids (however they came to us) and that would be that. Life Questions & Dreams In the fall of 2012, when that second child was three years old, we began to rethink the direction of our lives. We wrestled through tough questions like, "What is God leading our family to do? Are we willing to parent more children in need of a home? Are we selfishly focused on comfort and raising 'easy' kids? What do we want our lives to be about?" The answer to some of those questions and prayers and conversations came from our 5 year-old: "I had a dream last night that we brought 4 babies home to the brown house." She even had them named. Then she asked a question that still stalks me, "Mom, who will take those babies if we don't?" The Road to 3-21 In January of 2013, we began the home study process to adopt a child with Down syndrome. After researching domestic adoption, we learned that most kids with special needs live for years in foster care or are never born because their birth parents feel overwhelmed by a difficult diagnosis and choose to terminate. We wanted to offer a more hopeful alternative for these families. In May of 2013, our home study was approved and we registered with the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, an organization that matches birth parents and adoptive parents specifically looking to adopt a child with Ds. One tumultuous year later, just after Mother's Day, we were matched with an incredibly brave and kind birth family. He's Here: Samuel Creed The summer of 2013 was full of phone calls to lawyers, finalizing details with our adoption agency, making arrangements to be out of town indefinitely, maintaining contact with our son's birth family, and 'nesting'. In early August, we left our home state to meet our son's birth family. We are grateful for the time we had with his birth parents, to hear their stories, to hug their necks--to thank them for this precious gift. Then we walked to the NICU to meet our Samuel Creed. He was perfect from head-to-toe. I marveled at his dark hair, almond-shaped eyes, his adorable tongue sticking out against his pouty lip, and his gorgeous mocha-colored skin. His chunky legs kicked at the wires and I noticed the characteristic gap between his first and second toes. I breathed a prayer of thanks for this tiny soul, so beautifully made by the One who led us to him. Finally Home: We Did Win The Lottery Less than 24 hours after his birth, Sam had surgery to correct an GI issue. We lived out of state for nearly a month while we waited for him to recover in the NICU and for the legal paperwork to be processed. Then that surprise phone call came from our social worker, "Guess what?! You can go home! This is amazing! Paperwork never moves this quickly across this state." Stunned but rejoicing, we packed up our bags, loaded the car, and left within the hour. Here we are 3 1/2 years later: Sam is no longer a baby. Like many toddlers, he is full of mischief and wonder. He teases his siblings, shakes his booty when the music starts, splashes water outside the tub, and experiments with markers on his face. He is running and babbling, laughing and 'reading'. He attends preschool, works with his various therapists, paints and colors, and loves to be tickled and snuggled. Sam is an absolute delight in our lives and though I'm convinced the 'million dollar family' is a myth, I do feel like we've won the lottery.

Advocating 101 What is an advocate? An advocate is someone who takes a stand on a subject that is important to them. Most of us are daily advocates, we just don't realize it. You most likely were an advocate when you were young and you objected to something in your life. You objected, then you presented a better view to someone else in order for an outcome. We might have done this when we were young and wanted to object to our night of doing the dishes. I remember once when my Mother said it was my turn to wash the dishes and I argued that it was my brothers. I presented my opinion with facts and then let my mother decide based on my objection. He ended up doing the dishes. As an advocate, you must always make your case. You first should present your issue with the facts and with courtesy. Honey gets you further than being a bully. Not everyone in our society will agree on all issues, but you may persuade them to see it your way if you use kindness. Remember we are all teachers, and advocacy is really educating. It is all in your presentation. So Advocacy is really your opinion on something, then making the case based on points or facts to change an outcome. Remember if something is fine, then there is no need to change it. Here are 10 keys to advocating. Tip #1: Advocate for something you understand If you understand the issue you are advocating and are familiar with it then you will be able to speak freely on it with others. You will also be comfortable when you are explaining the issue and the need for change easily. Tip #2: Be passionate and credible Passion mixed with kindness is such an effective tool. Make sure that you are passionate about this issue. Make sure that this issue rocks your soul, and it speaks to your heart. Because this is how you relay your message to someone so it resonates with them. That is when you catch their attention so that they can understand and care about what you are working on. Tip #3: Find others who believe as you do on this issue I believe that if you have a group or an army of supporters then you will have a greater chance of success in advocating your issues. Tip #4: Be Considerate of other's views Always listen to what the other person you are discussing with has to say, then counter their discussion if you need to. But be considerate of their views while sticking to yours. Always give clear facts on the issue. Tip #5: Be Consistent on the issue Always be clear and consistent on what the issue is and why you are asking for them to support the issue. Tip #6: Never assume the person you are talking with understands the facts Give the person you are speaking with examples that they can relate to. Such as, once I was advocating for wheelchairs policy so that each chair fit the person whom it is made for. I had to convince the staff of a Senator who I was speaking with why they needed to understand this issue. I said this: "Not every wheelchair is one size fits all, just like your shoes will not fit me. Your shoes are your size and are comfortable to you. The same is true about someone's wheelchair. The wheelchair has to fit the unique needs of the end-user, which is the person who sits in the wheelchair." My example worked. I took a situation they could not understand because they were not disabled and in a wheelchair. I helped them understand the importance of the wheelchair fitting the person. I used a similar example of their shoes. Tip #7: Explain to others who feel as you do Make sure you allow the person you are discussing the issue with to understand that there others who feel as you do. It's important to do your homework and bring it with you to the meeting. This shows that you have others who support this issue. Sort of like your team or army. Tip #8: Ask them if they understand & support you? Make sure you ask the person you are discussing the issue with if they have any questions for you. Ask them to support your issue or if their boss/ organization will support the issue. This is important, this way you know when you leave if you have support or more work to do Tip #9: Thank the person you spoke to Always be courteous and thank them for their time. Tip #10: Always Follow up The most important thing to do is to follow up with the person that you spoke to. Make sure you send an email, letter or phone call thanking them for their time and listening to you. If the person is a legislator or policymaker, make sure you follow up on the policy and its past, present, and future. Make sure to keep involved with the person or the issue until it is finished. Now get out there and Advocate the World!

Cerebral Palsy Life Hacks Message me your own Cerebral Palsy life hack if you want me to recreate it for another video called "My Viewers Tell Me Cerebral Palsy Life Hacks." Items talked about in this video Popsocket: https://www.popsockets.com/ Hickies - https://www.hickies.com/ Magnesium Oil: https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Minerals-Magnesium-Oil-oz/dp/B001AD0HL8 Heated Blanket/throw: https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-Microplush-Heated-Walnut-TSM8US-R470-25B00/dp/B008BF2OF0

הפכתי למשותקת והתחזקתי היי, אני ג'סלינדה, משותקת ממלזיה. הפכתי למשותקת ב-2015 בגיל 23 לאחר תאונת דרכים. שלוש שנים אחר כך אני רואה את עצמי משתפרת מיום ליום. התאונה וההחלמה עזרו לי להפוך לאדם חזק יותר, אולי לא פיזית (חה) אבל בהחלט רגשית ומנטלית! כל מה שאני רוצה לעשות הוא לשלוח מסר לעולם - שלעולם לא יוותרו. חשיבה חיובית והכרת תודה על הרגע סייעו לי להסתכל על החיים מנקודת מבט אחרת, ואכן החיים הם כל כך יפים. זה לא סוף העולם כשהופכים למשותקים, רק היכולת הפיזית מוגבלת, לא היכולת שלכם! אתם עדיין יכולים לעשות מה שאתה רוצים ולנסוע בעולם. אני אוהבת לטייל ונסעתי למקומות שלא חשבתי שאוכל להגיע אליהם. בקרוב אשלים לימודים לתואר ראשון. אני עצמאית לחלוטין עכשיו, ואני כל כך אסירת תודה על החיים שלי. לעולם אל תשכחו להיות אדיבים לעצמכם ולאלו שרעים אליכם. Becoming A Paraplegic has made me stronger Hi, I'm Jeslinda, a paraplegic from Malaysia. I became a paraplegic in 2015 when I was 23 after a car accident. Three years later, I see myself improving day-by-day. The accident and recovery helped me turn into an even stronger person, maybe not physically (haha) but definitely emotionally and mentally! All I want to do is send a message to the world to never ever give up. Positive thinking and being grateful for the moment has helped me look at life from a different perspective, and indeed life is so beautiful. It is not the end of the world when you become a paraplegic, its just that the physical ability is limited, not your ability! You can still do whatever you want, and travel the world, if you put your mind and heart into it. I love traveling, and I have travelled to places where I thought I could never go. I will soon complete my undergraduate studies. I am completely independent now, and I am so thankful for my life. Never forget to be kind to yourself and to those who are unkind to you.

I am not too young for a blood clot Hi! I’m Nicole Baral (@nicbaral), I am 19 years old & currently studying early childhood education. On October 17th, 2017 my life changed. I was leaving class when I suddenly had this overbearing pain in my left leg. After about ten minutes, my leg went numb and I was unable to walk. I called my friends who then rushed me to the emergency room. That day I had multiple scans and tests to try and figure out what was going on. At that point, my leg had turned purple & the doctors were sure it was a blood clot. Turns out, I had Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens (PCD) which is a severe case of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The surgeons were faced with a challenge, and were not sure if they would be able to save my leg. Two months inpatient and 14 surgeries later, I still have it. However, I have no feeling from the knee down and doctors are unsure if it will come back, so amputation is still an option. Right now I am working on walking with a brace & will hopefully be able to ditch the crutches for good. Although this has been the biggest challenge I have faced, I am not going to let it take hold of my life. My message to others is just to keep going. It may seem difficult right now, but things will eventually look up!

My life with Apert Syndrome My name is Dorsey Ross, and I was born on January 16th 1977, with a birth defect called Apert Syndrome. Apert Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which effected my hands and my face. When I was born my forehead was pushed inward, my eyes and nose where pushed outward, and my fingers and toes where fused together. There was no individual movement of my limbs. My parents Carole and Earl Ross, weren't even aware, and did not even know about my condition either before or after I was born until the doctors told them. After examing me, the doctors made them aware of my condition. They told them that because of my condition I would eventually become brain dead since I did not have any opening or soft spot in my skull. Thankfully my parents both knew and trusted in God, and believed that God had a better plan and purpose for my life. My parents decided to take the risk on the baby that God had just given them, and to take me home, and see what would happen. A nurse at the hospital told them that another hospital was doing operations on babies like me and to take me there. At the hospital doctors said that although I would have to overcome a lot of obstacles, difficulties, and future operations, I would survive. At six weeks I had the first of many operations over my lifetime. Five years later, I was able to enter the Henry Viscardi school for people with disabilties. Growing up as someone with a disability, I was teased made fun of, picked on, called a monster and a freak since I looked different than other people. I didn't have a normal face or hands like everyone else. I had the acceptance from my parents and family, though I didn't always have it from my friends or people in my neighborhood. My arms are shortened, so I can't always reach for things on a high shelf. Since my fingers are smaller, and thicker than most, I have problems with tieing shoe laces, though for the most part, I can do mostly everything else on my own. I grew up in the church, and as I got older, I started to go to the youth group in the church. That was one place where I always felt loved and accepted. I want to apologize if you were hurt, or never accepted in a church. Though their were times I felt loved and accepted unfortunately that wasn't always the case. At times I felt lonely, angry, depressed, and because of that I wanted to end my life. Though I never attempted it, it was something that lingered in my head. I didn't know what I was going to do after I graduated high school. My high school History teacher even told me that I wasn't going to make it in college since I wasn't smart enought. Though with all that I had been through and went through, I decided to attempt college anyway. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I was going from a small pond into the ocean. In high school I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, I didn't have a 4.0 GPA, I never made the honor roll. In college I never made the deans list, or received any special occlades. Though I knew that it was what God wanted me to do, or at least try to do. In my life, I have a saying that the word can't is not in my vocabulary. If I am going to try and do something I am going to try and do it at least once. Throughout my life I have had 68 operations to reconstruct my face and operate on my hands. On May 5th 2005, nine years after I was told I wouldn't make it in College, 28 years after my parents were told I wouldn't survive, I was able to cross the stage of the University of Valley Forge to receive my Bachelors of Arts degree in Youth Ministry. Though as of today, I am not a youth pastor, though I am a minister, and I travel around the country, giving my story of what God has done in my life. The other part of my story is that I am still single, and I would like to get married at some point in my life. Like most of us, I am sure that's something we all dream about, and hope to do. I say that to let you know that you are not alone, their are others out their hoping for the same thing that you are. Unfortunatley like all of us, because we look different, or are not perfect we wonder will someone find us attractive enough to love us. For all of us, I hope we all do, I hope that I find that woman of God that He has for me. If you get something out of this story I hope that you get that whatever you face, whatever you deal with in your life, you can overcome it, with Gods help. Don't Give UP, and don't lose out hope for your life, God has something great in store for it. By the way I am also an author of a book titled Overcomer: Discovering God's Plans Against All Odds. I hope that you enjoyed this story, and you can find out more about me on instagram at @dorsey.ross and my website at www.dorseyrossministries.com