My “Why”

Last January, during Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day, my grandma, mother, and I were reflecting on my limb difference on my right hand. My parents did not feel the need to hide my limb difference in public. My grandma was saying when I was a little girl, I started sometimes hiding my hand by myself, without prompting from my family.

As I look at this picture of me at the age of two, I see such innocence. I see her limb difference on her right hand as cute and unique. As I stare into those beautiful brown eyes, it breaks my heart that anyone would laugh at her difference and not want to include her based on her limb difference. I feel anger on her behalf and now that I’m an adult I really wish I could have been able to protect her and let her know she is worthy of belonging. I wish I could hold her tight and let her know she didn’t deserve to be teased and excluded.

This is why I do what I do. Advocate. For her. For every child and person of any age who feels left out due to being different. I want everyone to know they are deserving of love and inclusion. I want to help educate others how to interact with people who have limb differences and other disabilities.

I want little children to live in a world where they can walk freely without having to hide. I want them to walk tall, with confidence and know they are beautiful. I want to add more kindness and love in this world toward people who look different.

I want people to really stop and think about how they treat others and how that might affect them. To put themselves in the other person’s shoes.

As I again look into this beautiful little me’s eyes, I hope she’d be proud of me. Because I sure am proud of her. Even though she was bullied, she always had such compassion and empathy for others. What a sweet, gentle, kind soul she has.

As I hold her limb different hand, I want to tell her how extremely brave she is, and that together we are changing the world. I also want to tell her she belongs in this world and this is world is so lucky to have her. She is so very loved. I want her to feel that to be true.