Tomorrow is my 20th Gimpaversary!!! Woot!

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Tomorrow will officially be my twentieth year as a quadriplegic. For those of you who don't know or don't remember how I became a quad, I had a brain stem stroke on January 7th, 2000. I was eleven years old and to this day no one knows what caused the stroke. It was so crazy and it changed my life and my family's life forever. But I have come a very long way since then. In the very beginning of my journey into "quad life" I really couldn't move at all. Not even my tongue. Only my eyes. I couldn't talk, eat, or breath on my own, I couldn't feel anything either. After two months at Dupont Children's Hospital's amazing physical rehabilitation facility I could eat, breath without a vent or oxygen, and feel almost everything. I still didn't have an audible voice when I left.I got my voice back in 2006. Just in time to graduate high school. Can you imagine going through high school without a voice? Talk (or rather don't talk. Lol ) about fun! But that's another story for another blog.

But despite all of this lame shit that happened in the past the truth is that It didn't stop me from doing a damn thing (besides the obvious). I still went to college, got an Associates degree in Web Technology, was a web designer for four years, became the world's first Quadriplegic SG Hopeful, the only quad cam girl (please tell me if I'm wrong.), and I wrote a cute book that's going to be published this year!

I have an awesome life with two amazing partners with a huge support system of friends and family. A lot of shitty things have happened over the past few years and this month has really been the straw that broke the camels back as far as my depression is concerned. I've even thought about checking myself into a mental hospital. At least it would give my boyfriend a break and it might convince Medicaid to give me more nursing hours.

But I said all of that to say this, despite the hardships I am incredibly happy and grateful to be here because I could have died that day and missed out on all of this beautiful life. Here's to 20 more years! I can't wait to see what technology the future holds!

@rambo @missy @shaine @eirenne

VIEW 25 of 29 COMMENTS
justanotherloudmouthedidiot:
That's quite a unique path to becoming a quad. I'm so profoundly sorry it happened to you. But I'm so happy to read that your drive helped you move through your circumstance to become a successful web designer and a cute as hell SG. You could have very easily decided you were a victim, but you wanted none of that. Support is key and I'm glad to hear you have good support helping to lift you up.
cripplethreat:
@phianixx Oh, you are so sweet and kind.  My therapist is so amazing. She actually came to my house today for our session because she knows I'm without nursing. It's lovely meeting you too and we have lots of time to get to know each other! SG has certainly been there for me before I had the Quad Squad that I have now. Especially @mitchymitch93 . They've been here for me every time I've needed them since. I know I can count on the SG community to be here for me for the good and the bad. @justanotherloudmouthedidiot Yes, it was pretty fucking crazy. It was like a bomb went off in me and my families lives. Nothing was ever the same again. Except for the disfunction. Lol We always had that. I am actually pretty grateful for my stroke. There is so much mental illness and addiction in my family that I know that if I had continued to be an able bodied person that I would have 100% undoubtedly followed in their footsteps. Haha Already at the age of 11 I was lying and stealing. I had already run away once. And please don't think I was a product of my environment. I had an amazing childhood. My mama was clean until my stroke. I still have my addictions today: weed and orgasms. I'm so grateful that I can't pick up a pipe or a needle.

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