About Me (My Personal History)

     My story begins like everyone else's story, with one exception.  I was born about eight weeks early and had difficulty breathing correctly.  I have cerebral palsy due to the lack of oxygen at birth.  My first major surgery, at the age of two, was to improve my vision.  My next surgery was at age three for tendon release, which is basically a lengthening to increase stretching ability.  When I was eight, my first baclofen pump was installed.  This pump releases chemicals directly into my spinal cord in order to make me less rigid.  Without it, I would be like a statue in a seated position!  My baclofen pump also needs to be refilled every six months without fail.  I attended school as everyone else does, but the highlight of my calendar year is my annual summer visit to Camp Jabberwocky in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. 

I've been going to Jabberwocky since 2001, between third and fourth grade.  This camp for persons with disabilities was founded in 1953 and has approximately one hundred campers over two summer sessions.  One of the biggest reasons I look forward to camp each year is that no one ever looks at me as if I'm different.
     From ages five to thirteen, I was always able to drive my own wheelchair, but then another setback showed up.  At age thirteen, my spine began to curve to the right due to my use of my wheelchair controls.  By age fifteen, my head was at a ninety degree angle parallel to the floor when my waist was still in its normal position. 

You can imagine what fun it was to watch my favorite television programs!  Luckily, at age seventeen (right when I returned from Camp Jabberwocky), I had two steel rods and thirty screws installed into my spine and now I'm straight as an arrow.  The only drawback is that I set metal detectors off wherever I go!  The TSA hates my guts!
     Life is pretty good right now.  I haven't had any major surgeries since 2010. 

I graduated from Harrison High School and am now a college student at Ivy Tech community college.  I will be attending Camp Jabberwocky for the fifteenth time this summer, and will get to see all my friends in person that I only chat with online regularly.  At least I won't have any homework over the summer!