Members
Age: 25
Connection: No connection
Member since: 01/01/2008
Profile last updated: 01/01/2008
Current Status: Offline
Network: 1 Friends
My Favorite Sports: Swimming, Other forms of excercise
Top 5 movies: Because I Said So , Message In A Bottle, Walk The Line, Big Fish, West Side Story
Top 5 bands, composers, or musical artists: Reilly, Music by Sovereign Grace Ministries- http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums, Rascal Flatts, John Mayer, Rich Price, Ray Lamontagne, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens
Top 5 books: Bible, Live Like You Were Dying, When Sinners Say I Do, Wayne Dyer's Getting in The Gap, Love's Executioner
Overview:
Hey Everyone!
I am 24, married to a wonderful man who is my best friend, and live in the Chester County area of PA. I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy (MD) called Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). I am hoping soon that I will have a more definitive diagnosis. My neurologist suspects Calpain-3 deficiency (LGMD2a) or Collagen-6 (Bethlem Myopathy). But...MD isn't "who I am" obviously. So Id like to share more about that. I received my BA in Psychology at Nova in 05 and am currently in a doctoral program for Clinical Psychology elsewhere. It's a long program but I'm enjoying it and look forward to putting it all into practice! I hope/plan to work with other individuals who experience disabilities/chronic illness. I think the Lord has something really great in store for me in this field and pray that He will allow me to be "an instrument of His peace." Recently I feel that the Lord may have something in store for me in some type of Christian ministry for children and adults with disabilities. This is my passion and, most of you know, an effort that is close to my heart. I will always be an advocate for the disabled population and I will always speak openly and proudly about my faith. That's just me. I'm blessed to have the most amazingly loving and supportive family and a wonderful husband! God's good and I feel very blessed. That doesn't mean that things are always perfect, but it means that I trust God's plan :) If you'd like to know the reason for the hope that I have, it rests solely in Jesus! I believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for our sins and that believers are saved through him and his sacrifice alone.
I am on here because I would like to connect with others who have had similar experiences in living with a disability and those with similar interests.
God bless you and I look forward to chatting!
Disability Type: Neurological
Disability Name: LGMD
Disability Description: progressive muscle weakness, slow progression, onset around 7-8 yo for me but signs since I first started walking.
I am still fairly mobile but with difficulties. I tire very easily and so I need to use a powerchair when I go out.
Assistive Technology: Wheelchair - Power (Electric), Wheelchair - Manual
How has your disability changed your life...for better or worse?:
Having MD has, most notably, led me to have a very close relationship with the Lord. Many times, those who have it fairly "easily" (I say that loosely, I know we all have our "stuff") forget to come to God in the good times. The Lord has provided me with incredible love, strength, adn comfort in adjusting to life with a disability over the years. I know I have a purpose in Him, and trust in that fully.
Having a disabiity has also led me to have an interest in working as a psychologist with others who have disabilities/chronic illnesses in the process coping. Just to clarify: At this time, I am not a psychologist. I am just a student of Psychology.
Also, I have become a confident self advocate, learning to speak up for myself/others in terms of reasonable accomodations, I have become very creative about how to get around and get things done, I have honed in on other non-physical activity interests like art and love to draw/paint and love photography though I haven't had much free time to indulge lately.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows of course. I have hard times like everyone else where I am anxious or frustrated, but again I find comfort when I rest in the Lord. I pray for that comfort for all of you as well! The Lord is there waiting for you to ask him into your life :) or to come back to him with renewed faith!
How have you overcome obstacles?: I have a wonderful support network in my family and I have networked with others in similar situations via websites like this one, myspace, Quest magazine, online groups, MDA, etc. I have also learned how to speak up for myself and my own needs, especially because I have been in situations where it has been forced of me and I used to hate it, but I have become more comfortable with it in recent years. I took a LONG time and years of prayer but I am finally in a place where I can actually operate in a way where I dont hold myself back because of what others might think/say. I owe my overcoming each and every obstacle to the Lord!!
What is your most embarrassing moment?: Falling of course, which is part of having MD and still being mobile (not using a wheelchair full time). I fell on a first date once, which was mortifying, esp because it was in front of a bunch of ppl and I wasn't in a good place like now so it really got to me, but I have come to see that sometimes having a disability is a blessing in that it kind of weeds out people who are not very understanding or compassionate, where you might have otherwise wasted your time or someone else's time.
What is your most triumphant moment?: Just seeing the power of prayer, and God's grace in my life. To have the heavy burden of constant anxiety over what is to come and what other people think lifted from me. And when I fall back into it, I rely solely on prayer and the Lord once again. I feel really great with where I am at now for the most part, especially because my husband and I found an amazing church family recently! I am also very proud of my dedication to schooling. I didn't take a break between undergrad and grad school. Im passionate about my interests and goals.
What are your dreams...for yourself and your peers?: To have a family and be a wonderful mother. To continually grow in my faith/become a more Godly woman. To receive my PsyD in Clinical Psych and work with people with disabilities/chronic illness. To move down south to warm weather and live on the water. To make some sort of difference, albeit maybe small. FOR ME AND ALL OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST LIVING WITH MD TO BE CURED, IF THAT IS GOD'S WILL!!!!! For all those struggling to find meaning and purpose in life to find comfort in God and realize that our purpose truly is to rest in Him and to be able to enjoy eternity in His kingdom with no pain or weakness or physical issues.
I'm looking for: Friends
Religous Background: Christian
Languages: English
Educational Level: College Graduate
Job Title: Doctoral student in Clinical Psych
Areas of Expertise: Interest: Energy Psych, Rehabilitation Psych, Health Psych, and Religion
Current Status: Not Employed
My Blog, Websites, or Webpages: ask me for my myspace if we make friends and you'd like to add me!
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