Born in the 1980’s to wonderful parents in the great state of California. I was born with a disability called Sacral Agenesis (a rare congenital anomaly also known as Caudal Regression Syndrome), but I have never let that get in my way. I am completely missing the sacrum in my back as well as some vertebrates, yet I have been blessed by God and had great doctors, and am able to walk in my own unique way. For long distances I do, however, use a wheelchair.
When I was a wee baby, the doctors told my parents that I would never walk, talk, and would be mentally challenged. That it would probably be best if they just put me in a home. My parents were bound and determined to prove those doctor’s wrong. They found a great orthopedic surgeon and left those negative-thinking doctors behind.
During my early childhood years, I underwent three major surgeries to improve the complications from my disability. Most of these surgeries were done at CHOC by a great orthopedic surgeon. If it weren’t for the skill of that surgeon and the staff of CHOC, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to walk today and enjoy the life that I have come to love.
My father was diagnosed with Lung Cancer when I was eight years old. At the time, I had no idea what this meant. I thought it just meant that my father was sick, but he would get better. That’s what people who were sick did after all, right? My father passed away on September 4th,1992 at the age of 57. My world seemed to go into a tail spin.
Time went by and wounds were supposed to heal. My mom made me go to counseling, but that didn’t do any good. In the end I walked out of the psychologist’s office and never went back. I didn’t need them to tell me how to feel or deal with my feelings. What hogwash….or so I thought.
My mom became ill when I was eleven years old. She had Polymyositis, Connective Tissue Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Diabetes, and Coronary Artery Disease. By the time I was fifteen, the Diabetes had taken almost all of my mom’s vision and she was unable to work due that and the extreme pain she dealt with on a daily basis. All the medicine that she had to take and all the issues made things horrible for her. One disease would bring on another issue with another disease.
I started my first real job when I was 16 years-old. I worked long and hard at the job I hated, because we were in desperate need of money to keep us afloat. Times were rough. You do what you have to do. I worked at that job until I was almost twenty years old.
After high school, I went straight onto a four-year university. I finished college in four years with my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Computer Information Systems. Straight out of college, I was employed by a very large corporation. I have been with that company now for over three years. I am a Systems Analyst at my job and love it. I feel that each day there is a new challenge to learn. I get to stick my hand into all the cookie jars.
Four months out of college, my mom passed away. It was in the middle of the night. I called an ambulance and they rushed her to the hospital. When I got to the hospital, they took me to “that room.” You know the one they take you to tell you your loved one has died? The tears streamed down my face. My mom meant the world to me – more than anyone else. I didn’t know what to do without her in my life. I threw myself even more into work to get away from the pain I felt inside.
A year after my mom’s death, I met my future husband online through Dating4Disabled.com. I had joined the web site in hopes of finding some online friends to discuss disability-related issues; I never joined thinking I would find my future husband.
My husband and I met face-to-face and hit it off instantly. I needed a change from Southern California – everywhere I looked I saw my mom. I decided to move and start fresh. My husband and I dated for over a year before we were married on August 8th,2008. Our story was featured in Ability Magazine.
We are also parents to four fur babies. They are our pride and joy, even though they drive us insane at times. We hope to become parents to a human baby sometime in 2010 if all goes as planned…..
In 2008 I made the decision to return back to the academic arena. I am now working to achieve my Masters of Business Administration with a Concentration in Project Management. I love being back at school and learning new things.
During late 2008, I made a life changing decision. I decided to have the Duodenal Switch, which is a weight loss surgery. I quickly researched surgeons and found a wonderful one close to my home. He explained to me everything and was the best doctor a girl could ask for. I also joined Obesity Help and received a tremendous amount of support from the wonderful people there.
My whole life weight had been a struggle. I was a chubby baby, average kid, and then my major weight issues started when my father died. I am a short 4′10″ and by the time I was 25 I had ballooned up to a whopping 261 pounds. Diabetes ran rampent in my family and both my parents died in their 50’s – I didn’t want to follow down the same path. I had tried so many times to lose weight (BodyBugg, calorie counting, Slim Fast, NutriSystem, Jenny Craig, etc), but nothing worked. I knew surgery was now the right option for me.
In March of 2009 I had my surgery and it took 12 hours due to my insides being compact because of my disability. After surgery I was put in ICU due to the issues during surgery. Today, I am doing so much better and loving life again now that over 120 pounds are gone! People who say that weight loss surgery is the easy way out are ignorant. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done – emotionally and physically.
Using my handcycle has also become a passion of mine. Growing up I had always dreamed of a bike as I saw my friend’s ride theirs around town. What would it be like to ride on a bike – free down the ride? I rode my first bike aka handcycle in 2009. I am now addicted and love going out on the open bike trails in the area.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog and don’t get too offended by my candid posts. As for the rest of my life, who knows what the future holds……………….
…….Home
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