Author: anna-local

  • Clint Cook

    In 1988, Clint Cook was just a couple years out of high school when he survived a spinal cord injury. After a fun night out, he and a friend got carried away racing home in brand new muscle cars and Clint had a terrible accident.  His car flipped end-over-end, ejecting him from the vehicle and…

  • Liz Spitzer

    Hello, my name is Liz Spitzer and I have Spina Bifida Occuture. Here is my story…. I was born in 1972, we didn’t have scans in those days like we have today, so my parents didn’t find out that I have SB, in those days if you had a disabled child you simply got on…

  • Vincent Accardi

    Vincent Accardi was born on December 30th, 1961. He grew up in Debary, Florida with his parents and three siblings. In high school, he was known for his love of rock and roll and his big afro. He was an all-around great athlete; playing baseball, football soccer, and running track. He graduated from Deland High…

  • Go Orange… For MS Awareness – LeeAnn Swinney

    I always start my story with” I went to sleep as LeaAnn Swinney and woke up a total stranger. This time I’m doing things a little differently. I must let you know that i do not suffer from MS. A very dear friend of mine is slowly losing her battle with MS. Not in death..…

  • Lyllyan Blair

    Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I never gave much thought to mindfulness. Even during my short foray into Soto Zen Buddhism in my late teens, staying present, being aware of my body, emotions and mentality didn’t seem like something I should give much import to. All that changed, however, at age 28. I was…

  • Katrina Smith

    Katrina Smith was born prematurely on October 16, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Her life took a spin, when she was nine months old. Ms. Smith suffered severe brain damage, to all of her brain because of someone driving drunk. Ms. Smith was placed in the hospital in the ICU; Her brain was damaged so bad that, she was…

  • Val Vera

    Valois J. Vera is a graduate of Purdue University and has professionally served as a Disability Rights Advocate. Born with Muscular Dystrophy, Val has traveled, sailed competitively, and coached youth sports. Val enjoys writing and, in addition to poetry, has contributed and written articles for magazines, newspapers, and online sources.

  • Lyn Ludtke

    Dyslexic With A Twist So, I met this lady named Anna Adams who reached out to me asking if I would tell our daughter’s story. Sure, after all how hard can that be? Insert laugh. I cannot tell you how many times I have started and restarted this. I mean I totally lost count. I…

  • The War Within PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury

    I always start my story with I went to sleep as LeAnn and woke up a total stranger. On September 2014 Labor day I suffered a Acute Subdural Hematoma. A bleeding stroke and brain aneurysm followed by brain surgery to relieve the pressure in my brain. This was caused by a blood infection that went…

  • Heather Panko

    Kevin’s Story I have always known my son, Kevin, was different. He hated loud noise with such a passion that I dreaded the 4th of July, New Year’s Eve, and even the fireworks at Disney World. All these things caused Kevin to have terrible meltdowns where he’d scream, hold his ears, and cry until I…