A Story About Helping Others

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From Cprince
I have a long standing history of chronic pain and health issues as far back as I can remember. Looking back, I now realize all my life I had been making adaptations to the way I did things because of my chronic pain and health issues, I never let it completely consume my life, it was a part of me. It was a mind over matter and maybe because I never knew that others didn't have pain associated with daily life, it just seemed normal. I choose a career based off helping others adapt their lives to conquer daily obstacles whether congenital or acquired disabilities. Through chronic illness, I know I have learned a great deal about being an advocate for myself, I know something isn't right and through this journey I have definitely found my voice and I teach my patients and their families this on a daily basis. Everyone deserves to be heard! You might be given the cold shoulder or written off as crazy, which I have, more than once. My Capstone project for my doctoral degree was on Power of Sport: The Impact Adapted Sports Can Have on Individuals with Physical Disabilities. When my chronic pain and illness became so overwhelming to the point of fearing death, this dream of starting my own adapted sports program slipped away. I knew I needed to focus my attention on trying to find answers and regain my strength and pain relief. Thankfully, I was able to start treatment with Dr. Matia, the first person to not look at me like I was crazy when I said I had yeast growing everywhere! She was almost excited to see my EGD results. I remember that first appointment, what a sense of relief I felt that some one finally recognized that this could be a huge cause for my pain and chronic health issues. After 2.5 years of treatment, I was making progress, but was still not to the point of starting my own program for adapted sports. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity from a friend who was starting a program called Dancing Beyond Limits. This is a group of young ladies from the age of 5-18 varying in disabilities, some very profound and can't move without the assistance of "buddies". We meet once a week and have two performances each year for the proud families and friends to watch their little stars all dressed up in their costumes. The smiles that come to their faces when for that moment they are able to move to the music. It's an amazing feeling to be able to give them that joy for even a moment. It's a team effort, I don't know who enjoys dance class more the buddies or the dancers? We are all overcoming our own obstacles in life and it's all about adapting and making the best of the current situation!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dancingbeyondlimits/