Your parents are truly admirable for their efforts in trying to get your quality of life back💕 from the walks with the tricycle and dog to piano lessons, it really shows how deep their love is for you. I hope to be that kind of parent to my daughter😊
My Pshycologist I’ve seen for dealing with chronic pain had a great analogy for this. She described it as being suddenly stuck in Mongolia without speaking the language and without any control over why you were there, no ability to leave and no one who understood you because you didn’t speak their language and you didn’t speak theirs. You were powerless and stuck there and that means it’s really rocky in the beginning, as your whole foundation is gone and you can’t even use relating to people or leaning on them because of the language barrier. When she explained this scenario to me it made so much sense, and it explains beautifully why it can take so many years to get to a good place in your new situation. The beginning is so rough that you have to work ten times harder just to get to the first step of acceptance. I have different health issues but it took me a good 5 years to get to my point of acceptance. I think at 9 you’d either have a situation like you where it really takes till your an adult with some life experience (as you have control over them, like driving and going where you want to go). Or some people at that kind of age probably do bounce back just from the adaptability of children. Especially with your trauma and the back and forth for years with no definitive answer it’s no wonder it took you so long. I truly believe no one can get working on the path of acceptance till they have a diagnosis they understand, without that it’s a bit like your treading water and it’s so much harder. That was definitely my situation, until I had diagnosis I couldn’t get that foundation under me to try and accept it all.
all i can say is Thank You!! Thank you so much for sharing , what I know is a difficult story! My injury was 29 years ago, and at times I still cant get through it all without getting emotional. you did a fantastic job. Keep the videos coming. PS: I'm planning my 1st trip to Disney world, and your videos have been really helpful.
Not a easy video to film, but I wanted to share my journey with you. click -> th-cam.com/video/JDX5md1qbd4/w-d-xo.html to watch part one of this video.
You're fantastic, Gem! I don't have a spinal cord injury (Inflammation and possibly compression at times as my lumbar spine looks to be unstable) but I have mobility problems affecting my legs and it still takes time to come to terms with, and horses helped me through it too. Riding again has really helped my mental health. I can't feel my legs once I'm in the saddle but at that point I don't need them anyway! I hope you can get back into riding again 🤞
Riding has really helped me, too - it has kind of been the one constant I've had my whole life. After playing soccer for 18 years and then suddenly not being able to really run, riding is the one sport I've always been able to do (I've never done competitions), even though it always tires me out - it allows me to spend the entire afternoon out with my friends doing the exact same thing they are and gives me the chance to feel like things are back to normal again.
I 100% agree that social media changed my life. I didn't have instagram when I became disabled, and I've since found such an incredible group of people like me! It meant so much to realise that I'm not alone, and whilst in person, I haven't met anyone going through anything similar, I know there are people out there I can relate to. xxx
SO SO happy I found this! Although most of my patients' injuries occur later on in life, it's really nice to see/ listen to the whole coping process and overall outcomes. It's a part of my patients' lives I don't really get to see since they are usually so busy with therapy and then so busy living their lives once they leave us.
You're amazing. That had to be very hard to go through that at such a young age. It's understandable that you didn't understand and was very upset at first. Anger isn't necessarily a bad thing. That's good that your parents and grandparents were very helpful and supportive. I've heard that some parents get lazy and don't even really care about helping their kids through. Things were a lot different for me since my spinal cord injury happened when I was a baby. That's cool that you got to do those activities to help you move forward. School was tough for me too. You're a strong person. Love this!
Hi! 💕 You are a true inspiration and you have more passion for life than some people that are not disabled. Nothing would you back and you are truly so pretty, I want your hair! LOL I love your channel, and I just know how much you love Disney that’s our favorite place to go! I’m going through a lot with health issues myself and I draw strength from watching your video so thank you.
3:42 I guess that really depends on the type of disability. A heart desiese is really not something someone overcomes, but rather something that trying to overcome it only makes it worse. When I was a kid I did have times where I didn't want it to hold me back, but in the end it does. And trying to pretend it doesn't nearly killed me.
Thank you so much for sharing this hard part of your story! Your openness and honesty about the real struggles of the grief that came with your injury! It’s helpful to know we’re not alone in struggling with the loss!!
Thank you Gem, for sharing your story,for encouraging others and for your practical videos,they are really helpful. I'm no where near acceptance yet,its a struggle,but I'm working on it x
Thank you so much for this video! It was amazing! It gave me some kinda relieved feeling and a feeling of being understood! 💜🦄 Keep doing what ur doing ☺️✨
Thanks for sharing. I have hEDS and getting weaker and cant go out for a long time, so maybe it is time for a wheelchair, but my mind is not there yet.
I'm suffering atm I'm awaiting a 2nd fusion on my shoulder I gotta accept it and get on with it I also need surgery on my hip and back so yeah this video has helped me to accept it
I can't imagine what it was like to have your whole world turned upside down at nine years of age. I was born with my Disability. (spina bifida) I went through a lot of what you did. a lot of anger.because I was different from everyone else some bulling before getting to a better place. Now that I am older my body changing and my bones are wearing out
I'm confused, they told you after you got home? What did you think was happening before they told you what happened? Was it originally something you thought was a normal experience recovering from surgery?
You are brave to share your story.. I totally get that it’s not easy. What about the decade plus you recently admitted to.. faking it and hiding your mobility aids.. you could walk totally unaided and did so despite being paralysed? There is nothing wrong with walking for a very long time after injury then using a crutches and wheelchair in later life but it’s not the same as being paralysed and unable to leave your wheelchair. Have you seen Wheels to walking? Richard tells it as it is and this is despite having the ability to walk and uses a chair for much of the day.
Hi Gem. I just wanned to tell you that you are so awesome and you help me in many ways. (btw. I am not native speaking so please excuse) i am following you for i think 2 years or 1 and a half. I cant remember. My story seams to be so different from yours but i kind of like think i know what you've been through allthough i think your story is much worse. I was born with a illness. (I dont know the name in english. Sorry) So you know that our body parts ATP into ADP and my body is also able to do that but noone knows why it only very barely. What this means for me is. that i am always tired, i am always sick and i am exausted very quickly. They diagnosed me with 4 and they said that i'll never make it to a normal school and i'll never be able to do sports and on and on. Well i had a life as normal as possible (i even skiped first grade because i was so good) till i got 8 and everything got drasticlly worse. I wasnt in school for long time (btw. Homeschooling is illegal where i live) I got plently of medecation. And i made it. I got way better and i even got strong enough to join a drama group. In acting i found sth. that i love and that makes me happy. I made it to the highest possible school. (side note that doctors said i'll never go to normal school) Well, it was good till i hit puberty. My body is just not strong enough to rebuild and do all the things that he has to do. So i'm always ill. I can barely stand up i the morning and when the cough is gone i get a headache or whatever. But your positivity and your videos make me feel less alone. I love you. Aileen
Makes sense that your stitches ripped if you have vEDS though, huh? Too bad they didn't know that before surgery, or maybe you wouldn't have had such a traumatic thing happen to you.
Your parents are truly admirable for their efforts in trying to get your quality of life back💕 from the walks with the tricycle and dog to piano lessons, it really shows how deep their love is for you. I hope to be that kind of parent to my daughter😊
Or son
My Pshycologist I’ve seen for dealing with chronic pain had a great analogy for this. She described it as being suddenly stuck in Mongolia without speaking the language and without any control over why you were there, no ability to leave and no one who understood you because you didn’t speak their language and you didn’t speak theirs. You were powerless and stuck there and that means it’s really rocky in the beginning, as your whole foundation is gone and you can’t even use relating to people or leaning on them because of the language barrier. When she explained this scenario to me it made so much sense, and it explains beautifully why it can take so many years to get to a good place in your new situation. The beginning is so rough that you have to work ten times harder just to get to the first step of acceptance. I have different health issues but it took me a good 5 years to get to my point of acceptance. I think at 9 you’d either have a situation like you where it really takes till your an adult with some life experience (as you have control over them, like driving and going where you want to go). Or some people at that kind of age probably do bounce back just from the adaptability of children. Especially with your trauma and the back and forth for years with no definitive answer it’s no wonder it took you so long. I truly believe no one can get working on the path of acceptance till they have a diagnosis they understand, without that it’s a bit like your treading water and it’s so much harder. That was definitely my situation, until I had diagnosis I couldn’t get that foundation under me to try and accept it all.
This makes so much sense,thanks x
This is super helpful to me. Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!
all i can say is Thank You!! Thank you so
much for sharing , what I know is a difficult story! My injury was 29 years ago, and at times I still cant get through it all without getting emotional. you did a fantastic job. Keep the videos coming. PS: I'm planning my 1st trip to Disney world, and your videos have been really helpful.
Not a easy video to film, but I wanted to share my journey with you. click -> th-cam.com/video/JDX5md1qbd4/w-d-xo.html to watch part one of this video.
Thank you so so much 🤗🤗
You're fantastic, Gem!
I don't have a spinal cord injury (Inflammation and possibly compression at times as my lumbar spine looks to be unstable) but I have mobility problems affecting my legs and it still takes time to come to terms with, and horses helped me through it too. Riding again has really helped my mental health. I can't feel my legs once I'm in the saddle but at that point I don't need them anyway! I hope you can get back into riding again 🤞
Riding has really helped me, too - it has kind of been the one constant I've had my whole life. After playing soccer for 18 years and then suddenly not being able to really run, riding is the one sport I've always been able to do (I've never done competitions), even though it always tires me out - it allows me to spend the entire afternoon out with my friends doing the exact same thing they are and gives me the chance to feel like things are back to normal again.
I 100% agree that social media changed my life. I didn't have instagram when I became disabled, and I've since found such an incredible group of people like me! It meant so much to realise that I'm not alone, and whilst in person, I haven't met anyone going through anything similar, I know there are people out there I can relate to. xxx
SO SO happy I found this! Although most of my patients' injuries occur later on in life, it's really nice to see/ listen to the whole coping process and overall outcomes. It's a part of my patients' lives I don't really get to see since they are usually so busy with therapy and then so busy living their lives once they leave us.
You're amazing. That had to be very hard to go through that at such a young age. It's understandable that you didn't understand and was very upset at first. Anger isn't necessarily a bad thing. That's good that your parents and grandparents were very helpful and supportive. I've heard that some parents get lazy and don't even really care about helping their kids through. Things were a lot different for me since my spinal cord injury happened when I was a baby. That's cool that you got to do those activities to help you move forward. School was tough for me too. You're a strong person. Love this!
Hi! 💕
You are a true inspiration and you have more passion for life than some people that are not disabled.
Nothing would you back and you are truly so pretty, I want your hair! LOL
I love your channel, and I just know how much you love Disney that’s our favorite place to go!
I’m going through a lot with health issues myself and I draw strength from watching your video so thank you.
3:42 I guess that really depends on the type of disability. A heart desiese is really not something someone overcomes, but rather something that trying to overcome it only makes it worse.
When I was a kid I did have times where I didn't want it to hold me back, but in the end it does. And trying to pretend it doesn't nearly killed me.
Thank u for sharing your story you are truly an inspiration. God bless you!
Thank you chica. Have a lovely day.
Can I say I love ur video, u r so genuine and loving
Thank you so much for sharing this hard part of your story! Your openness and honesty about the real struggles of the grief that came with your injury! It’s helpful to know we’re not alone in struggling with the loss!!
Thank you Gem, for sharing your story,for encouraging others and for your practical videos,they are really helpful.
I'm no where near acceptance yet,its a struggle,but I'm working on it x
I'm glad your still here
Thank you so much for this video! It was amazing! It gave me some kinda relieved feeling and a feeling of being understood! 💜🦄 Keep doing what ur doing ☺️✨
It is good to be able to relate to others that knows what your going threw. I’m in a wheelchair and live with chronic pain.
Thanks for sharing. I have hEDS and getting weaker and cant go out for a long time, so maybe it is time for a wheelchair, but my mind is not there yet.
You are an inspiration
Fantastic. So many good points! Thank you!
I love this. You really are amazing!
I'm suffering atm I'm awaiting a 2nd fusion on my shoulder I gotta accept it and get on with it I also need surgery on my hip and back so yeah this video has helped me to accept it
8:43 Oh, I'm dyslexic too.
Much love Gem ❤❤
I can't imagine what it was like to have your whole world turned upside down at nine years of age. I was born with my Disability. (spina bifida) I went through a lot of what you did. a lot of anger.because I was different from everyone else some bulling before getting to a better place. Now that I am older my body changing and my bones are wearing out
This is so eerily similar to someone else I know, all the way down to being paralyzed due to complications during heart surgery at the age of 9.
Thanks Gem that helped a lot!
Thank you😭🥰😘
I'm confused, they told you after you got home? What did you think was happening before they told you what happened? Was it originally something you thought was a normal experience recovering from surgery?
Hi you are so inspiring
You are brave to share your story.. I totally get that it’s not easy. What about the decade plus you recently admitted to.. faking it and hiding your mobility aids.. you could walk totally unaided and did so despite being paralysed? There is nothing wrong with walking for a very long time after injury then using a crutches and wheelchair in later life but it’s not the same as being paralysed and unable to leave your wheelchair. Have you seen Wheels to walking? Richard tells it as it is and this is despite having the ability to walk and uses a chair for much of the day.
Your awesome!!!
👍💖
Hi Gem. I just wanned to tell you that you are so awesome and you help me in many ways. (btw. I am not native speaking so please excuse)
i am following you for i think 2 years or 1 and a half. I cant remember. My story seams to be so different from yours but i kind of like think i know what you've been through allthough i think your story is much worse. I was born with a illness. (I dont know the name in english. Sorry) So you know that our body parts ATP into ADP and my body is also able to do that but noone knows why it only very barely. What this means for me is. that i am always tired, i am always sick and i am exausted very quickly. They diagnosed me with 4 and they said that i'll never make it to a normal school and i'll never be able to do sports and on and on. Well i had a life as normal as possible (i even skiped first grade because i was so good) till i got 8 and everything got drasticlly worse. I wasnt in school for long time (btw. Homeschooling is illegal where i live) I got plently of medecation. And i made it. I got way better and i even got strong enough to join a drama group. In acting i found sth. that i love and that makes me happy. I made it to the highest possible school. (side note that doctors said i'll never go to normal school)
Well, it was good till i hit puberty. My body is just not strong enough to rebuild and do all the things that he has to do. So i'm always ill. I can barely stand up i the morning and when the cough is gone i get a headache or whatever. But your positivity and your videos make me feel less alone. I love you.
Aileen
They should’ve told you right away. You had a RIGHT to know immediately
I have horses
I don't know anyone like me. It's very lonely.
my daughter was a goth😢
I was an emo kid too!
I'm disappointed we didn't get to see pictures from Gem's emo phase 🤣
Makes sense that your stitches ripped if you have vEDS though, huh? Too bad they didn't know that before surgery, or maybe you wouldn't have had such a traumatic thing happen to you.
I hope this doesn’t offend you or sounds rude because I’m young and I don’t know this answer : can you have children?
She has a daughter
Bee Bale sorry I didn’t know but thank you for answering my question!
Can you go shopping by yourself ?
Yes of course she can!!! Just because she is disabled doesn’t mean she isn’t independent
wouldn't have pictured you as a former emo/goth lol great video tho
Why can’t she talk English i/we can’t understand a word.