My story
Finally, I had an answer. After all those years of pain, of doubting myself and my body, I was sitting there being given a reason why. It wasn't an answer anyone would have wanted; it was confirmation that my life was going to be hard. Little did I know that it would turn out to be much harder than I ever thought possible.
As a 21-year-old trainee teacher, after years of being dismissed by doctors, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease; a medical condition that almost claimed my life and left me with complex medical issues. A lifelong lover of art, I turned to creative makeup as a way to take my mind off the pain and anxiety caused by my condition.
At my most vulnerable, during the night after a life-saving emergency surgery, I was physically abused by a doctor. Although the doctor was struck off from the profession I was left with a complex case of PTSD causing daily flashbacks and intense nightmares. Subsequent hospital stays were extremely difficult. As a way of coping and staying connected to the outside world while in the hospital I created my makeup social media channels under the name @slaywithsparkle, building a supportive community of like-minded creative disabled, and chronically ill people.
As I continued through my 20s my mobility gradually declined due to another condition, related to my joints. I was also diagnosed with POTS, a condition that makes standing upright for any length of time dangerous. The combination of my conditions resulted in me needing to use a walking stick and wheelchair. Later, I medically retired from a job I loved - being a teacher. After this, I could have allowed my conditions and disability to make me despondent, but never one to shy away from a challenge, I decided to bedazzle my mobility aids and embrace them as tools to help me live life to the fullest. This wasn’t an easy process and is still something I’m working on every single day.
I now use my time to help inspire others and raise awareness of life as a disabled person through my work as a content creator and inspirational speaker. Thank you for reading. ✨
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