I enjoy lavender tea and well-made allergy-friendly desserts (I am gluten and dairy free). I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and minor in Missions and Evangelism from Southeastern University. But more than sipping lavender tea with a good book in hand, eating decadent almond flour muffins, and studying course work on the DSM-5, my passion is to encourage others to dive deeper into their relationship with Jesus.

WHENEVER I WAS 14, MY ENTIRE WORLD CHANGED.

I began having mysterious episodes where I collapse and have temporary paralysis in my arms and legs, which is also accompanied by severe tremors and a whole host of symptoms I didn’t know were related. During these episodes, I cannot sit up, stand, or walk on my own. It generally takes an hour or so to regain these functions. However rarely, it has taken over a week. These episodes happen multiple times a month; my record is 18.

AS I GOT OLDER, THEY WORSENED.

Eventually, I missed half my junior and senior years of high school. I have withdrawn from college more times than I can remember and have seen more specialists and done more tests than I can count. Seven years of searching for answers finally led me to being diagnosed with a host of rare disorders: Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD), and Gastroparesis. Even after the initial diagnosis’, I was still declining. It wasn’t until 11 years after my first episode that I finally got the diagnosis that we were looking for – a rare neuromuscular disorder called Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. 

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME WHENEVER I WAS 14 THAT I HAD WOKEN UP ONE DAY AND WOULD NEVER GET BETTER.

The day that I realized I would never get better was difficult and there was a lot of internal grieving and mourning for the way I thought life should be. Getting a handicapped tag was not the way I wanted to enter into adulthood.