About Me
THE LONG JOURNEY
I have always loved creating things! As a young child I loved all kinds of crafts: sewing, painting, drawing, knitting, crocheting, and so much more! Anything that could be considered a craft, I loved! Once I entered middle school, I began to develop strange symptoms. These symptoms slowed my creative process but did not halt it entirely. Throughout middle school I continued to deteriorate physically; by the time I was in high school I was pretty much bedridden. By this point, I had stopped creating… Numerous doctors and countless specialists got involved. I was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS for short).
EDS is a connective tissue disorder that affects the collagen in your body. The best way to describe me is elastigirl. As fun as this sounds, it has some major consequences in real life. Countless dislocations, debilitating migraines, chronic fatigue, years of physical therapy, on and off paralysis, and so much more. As the years passed, I started to get stronger and decided to attend college to pursue my lifelong passion, nursing. Although I was getting stronger, my chronic fatigue prevented me from attending college full time. My course load was only 2 or 3 classes a semester. It became apparent that I would not be physically able to handle the tasks required to complete nursing school. I changed my major to psychology and dove into my studies. Very unexpectedly, I met the man I would marry and we decided to tie the knot. After the wedding, my plan was to finish my degree in psychology and then get a master’s in social work so I could work as a counselor.
I took a job at a local rehabilitation center to get some experience and to learn more about the field. For my physical well-being, this was one of the worst mistakes I could make… The job involved working long, inconsistent hours; I was working both 1st and 2nd shift interchangeably. Long story short, a job that was supposed to be part time turned into a job that often had me working overtime! This grueling schedule, heartbreaking work, and keeping up with school, quickly drained my physical and emotional energy. One good thing that came out of this job was that it brought me back to my passion for creating! It started with simple doodles I did at work and then grew until I was obsessed with creating art with every free moment I had. Although my passion for creating was growing, the long hours at work took a toll.
In order to salvage my remaining health, I had to leave my job. For the next year or so I tried to get my strength back, but I was just getting worse. After my work experience, I realized three things: I needed a job where I could set my own hours, I could not work in a traditional work environment, and that I would probably be unable to use my degree. My love of art kept me going and I began to wonder if I could do something with that passion. My new plan was to complete my degree and then start my own art business. Unfortunately, during my senior year, my health continued to deteriorate further and I made the difficult decision to withdraw from college.
The Happy Part!
This is where the happy part starts, I promise! I am now a fulltime artist and I love my job! This career path has allowed me to start to build up my health and pursue my passion for creating and expressing myself!
I could not have done any of this without God’s presence in my life and the support from my wonderful family, close friends and service dog, Dreyfus. Going through all these struggles has been hard but it has forced me to stop and focus on the little things, to see and appreciate the beauty in the world around me. I try to live in the moment and find something beautiful to smile about, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
My Favorite Verse
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11
