It all began on the day of March 25th, 1991 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Merriam, Kansas. This I believe was the day that God sent me a special gift a gift that I will always carry on my back. Now eight surgeries later, I believe I feel relief of pain, a pain that has hurt me for 17 years in counting. Being born with cerebral palsy a disease that leaves many people in wheelchairs for the rest of their life. I on the other hand get the gift of being able to walk each and every day. This special “gift” God has granted me has allowed me to be who I am today and has helped me overcome all of dreams.
It’s not easy having a consent pain and worries that this pain will ever go away. On November 26th, 2008 I was able to have a bone graph inserted into my left foot. This bone graph I believe was a true blessing, one of relief and happiness. I know longer have this tingling feeling i left in my foot anymore. I have this feeling of relief. I believe the word relief has a strong meaning behind it. Although my left foot may still be wrapped up in this hot pink cast I believe I feel that sense of relief inside of me. I’ve always been told since a young age girl that I will always walk with a “limp”, which has never stopped me from who I am. I believe that when I get this final cast off sometime in late February early March I will no longer have that special little “limp” that I’ve always had.
As many struggle with cerebral palsy on a much higher level than myself. I believe God has all granted us with a special little “gift” in each of our lives. My special little gift will always be that my left side of my body is smaller than my right side. No, it doesn’t bother me one bit how people look at me because I believe I am truly blessed. I give 100% in all that I do each an everyday. Yes, I may do things differently but that is because that is the plan God has made for me, and being able to share it is the best gift I could ever give to someone.
Without all of parents support I won’t be where I was today. There is one person who I could never give enough credit to which would be my Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Bradford Olney and his nurse assistant Coley. These two people play an extra special role in my life one of which is courage, the courage to be myself. Not many people can say that they have had the same doctor for 15 years, but I believe I truly can. Since day one Dr. Olney and Coley have always had a plan for me each with high goals set and I finally believe now that I have accomplished all of my goals and this “plan” is in its final stages.
It’s not easy walking into Children’s Mercy Hospital in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Seeing many other’s that struggle more than I do. They may not have a “plan” in life that I did, there “plan” is just too played out day by day. Approaching 18 years of age in March is going to be a struggle for me, Dr. Olney and Coley and I may have to say goodbye to each other. A goodbye that I believe will be the hardest one I will ever have to give to someone.
I believe that we all deserve to be granted with a special little ‘gift” in our lives but, some maybe more serious than others. This feeling of happiness and relief are the best things that could have ever happened to me in my entire life. A little “limp” may last a lifetime, so will my courage to do the best I can do in everything I do. I believe I will never be able to express my extent of thanks to Dr. Olney and Coley. So, in my I believe story that no matter what gift you may be granted from God except it and try your hardest to overcome it. Because it may just pay off in the end.