It might be easy for you to merely hear about multiple disabilities affecting people that you are not attached to. However, it can be another story altogether to read true stories of people who have lived their entire lives with severe, numerous disabilities. Mary, a Disability Living reader, is one such person.
Mary has several conditions that are debilitating. Still, she has managed to create a good life for herself. Interested in hearing more about this amazing person? Here is Mary’s story.
Mary is both deaf and visually impaired.
Mary, who has multiple disabilities, was adopted as a child. Her foster parents began relocating to several different areas of Canada when she was just 2 years old. Mary attended various deaf schools depending on where she lived.
Mary discovered at a young age that she was not only visually impaired and deaf, she also had a hole in her heart.
Her foster parents responded to this news by agreeing to let her have a surgery she desperately needed. At age 15, Mary underwent heart surgery. This put her in the hospital for 2 weeks. In Mary’s own words that she spoke at that time, “I wanted to die.”
Despite her multiple disabilities, Mary not only graduated high school, she even attended college.
Mary attended college for 2 years. Considering the severity of her disabilities, it is amazing that she was able to accomplish this. Mary was never previously taught Sign Language or to read or write.
Today, Mary is married with 5 children. None of her children are deaf. While Mary still has heart problems, she is choosing to live her life with a positive attitude.
Mary is living proof that a person’s will is stronger than disability or circumstances.
Mary has not had an easy life. She is severely disabled in multiple ways and has also endured various forms of terrible abuse. Yet, her life has been fruitful and full. She attended college and has a family. How is this possible?
Hellen Keller said, “All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.” This is profound and true. This overcoming is present and obvious in Mary’s life. It lifted her from disastrous circumstances to a life of family, love, and positivity.
If Mary can overcome such circumstances, can you do the same?
Note: This blog post was inspired by a true story. The individual’s name has been changed for her protection.
Sources:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/helen_keller.html
Image made available by Balaji. B on Flickr through Creative Commons License.
*Please note: All research for this article is compiled from direct and third party sources. Mention of programs, organizations and companies does not imply support of The National Benefit Authority. Pictures are for creative purposes only; they are not intended to sell or promote products for the NBA and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Let’s Talk About It
What inspired you most about Mary’s story?
Do you agree with Hellen Keller that “all the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming”? Why or why not?
April 12
Congratulations to Mary, I can sympathize with her. But it is nice to see a success story, It gives me hope, that I too
can attain my dreams, but how how can I now ? I am a physically disabled an and able to care for my self to now.
I have a land-lord that DOES NOT not care. as he raises my rent 40 dollars every Year. I have been here now for
4 of them and I cannot make him understand that I can pay no more. All the letters I send and the communication
I do make with hi.m always falls of “Deaf Ears” He does not care for the 3 disabled people in the block as long as he
gets his rent. (We see him on Rent day only). When I refuse to pay the increase, he said he will evict me and put my
stuff into the street He likes to rent to the disabled as once here they cannot move easily. I do not know why the disability amount does not go up when the cost of living goes up. My support has not changed for the last 3 Years. Especially when I gave my best Years to Canada. I have to see if there is an Ombudsman that can fight for me and
for the the 4 other disabled people here. I posed these concerns to the Government disability office here in Nanaimo
but they cannot help us and the BC housing cannot either. They cannot do anything for us as I am on the BC Island
and BC housing controls the BC mainland more… Slum Lords love the BC Island for this fact, as they only care about
lining their pockets at the expense of the less fortunate,. It would be manageable if the BC ministry could help us. But
we always see it is futile effort….