A Synopsis of My Life (pg. 3)

Until recently, I walked unassisted, but now I walk with the aid of a cane. Several years ago, I developed a severe pain in my neck. X-rays showed that I had an arthritic condition at C2-3, C4-5, and C6-7 levels of the  vertebrae. An  operation was performed in the aforementioned areas to remove the calcium deposits due to arthritis. It was then discovered that the spinal cord was badly compressed, and a spinal cord simulator was implanted.

The first one did not relieve the pain nor improve the physical condition. This was removed, and a more sophisticated simulator was implanted. This also proved un-successful. My physical condition was regressing, and I became somewhat discouraged. I was not able to do the things I once did. It was through my mother's determination--and not the doctors'--that we resorted to physical therapy. Today, after months of extensive physical therapy, my physical condition is somewhat improved, and I have practically no pain.

It was not all as easy as this is presented. There were many difficulties, many frustrations, and many heartaches. My parents' patience, understanding, support, and encouragement have helped me develop both mentally and physically. They made many sacrifices. What I have achieved is not necessarily due to counselors or agencies, but to the efforts of my parents and their belief in me.  

I have been active all my life. I worked as a VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America--comparable to the Peace Corps) Volunteer where I was the curriculum developer for the adult literacy program at The League Serving People with Disabilities, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. I participated as a judge in the Regional Competition of the Johns Hopkins National Search for Computing to Assist Persons with Disabilities in 1991.

As a member of the Maryland Educational Media Organization, I was active with the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards Program.

I hope that, by being a member of the Maryland Governor's Board for Telecommunications Relay and a spokesperson for the speech  disability community, I am helping to make this specific population aware that they no longer have to depend on others to do their communications.  I am also continuing my advocacy for the speech disabled community by being on the Federal Communications Commissions Consumer Advisory Committee as the Speech-to-Speech Relay users' representative.

My interests now are physical fitness, needlepoint, traveling, reading, shopping, and craft shows.                                                     

                                                          top