I was born on Christmas Day, 1977. My mom says I was the best Christmas present she has ever received. When I was born and the doctors realized I had SB, my parents were told that I would never be able to walk, would never be able to talk and would have such a below average intelligence that the best thing for me would be to be put in an institution. Little did they know! My parents did no such thing. The doctors were completely wrong. While I do use a wheelchair now, I was able to walk with crutches for almost 25 years. I graduated from college with an ABOVE average GPA. I attended graduate school until I found someone lucky enough I'd want to call my husband He is a wonderful man, we have a wonderful marriage and are planning on starting our own family. While my degree was in psychology and I worked in the field for almost 10 years, I got bored and decided to try something new. I now work with training service dogs as well as getting my own photography business up here in Alaska going. I haven't always lived in Alaska, but love the scenery and personally love the challenge it gives me to get out and try new things despite being in a wheelchair. I've had over 20 surgeries, have endured a small "stroke" as they called it and about 4 of those surgeries have been shunt revisions. It hasn't always been easy, but when I take into consideration how much worse my life could have been I am very thankful for the blessings I have, even the blessing of having Spina Bifida. It has made me more compassionate and more open-minded. I hope and pray that those that read this who are new parents or perhaps are teens struggling with those weird and awkward years trying to figure out why this has happened to you will try and remember that God does not let us bear any more than we can handle. I'm a firm believer of that with everything I've gone through and I still have an amazing life. Just because you have SB does not mean you cannot lead a normal or more than extraordinary life. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be living in Alaska, take a glacier landing to the top  of Mt. McKinley, speak before Congress on the ADA and become a professional photographer. I just have always chosen to not let my SB get the best of me.  

I also self-cath and hopefully if Sophie's mom read this, my best piece of advice (besides dropping the use of the foley cath at night...it will cause more UTI's then will prevent and also does not help teach self-awareness) is to help Sophie learn to cath herself. My mom actually taught me when I was only 5 years old and I am so grateful that she did. I have run across so many young women over the course of my 32 years that don't know how to do this very simple skill. My mom used to get calls on occasion when I was younger from other moms, sometimes even older than she at the time asking how they did it because they had a daughter who was 18 (sometimes even older around 21) that was going to be getting married soon and she did not know how to cath herself still. It is the best self-confidence builder you can give a child with SB (boy or girl) because it builds their confidence and also teaches them more about how to care for their own body. Parents can't always be there for us and it is important to teach young children with SB as young as possible to self-advocate for themselves. It was the best thing my parents did for me. I can now talk to my doctors and tell them more about my condition then even they themselves know. 

God bless everyone that is learning how to live with SB and if ever anyone needs an ear or shoulder to cry on or has any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.