I Make No Apologies, This Is Me

I love the Greatest Showman, and This is Me has to be the most inspiring song. I can relate being disabled as it’s particularly aimed at those who are perceived to be different. But my story goes much deeper than my disability because I also have three children on the autistic spectrum and one with Elhers Danlos Syndrome. We have had a lot to deal with over years, but we march along to our own beat of the drum and will never apologise for being different.

A Brief Introduction (This is Me)

If I wrote a book of my life it would probably have many different volumes. I had a very interesting childhood, tinged with a loss and change. Then married young and being a young mother again my life took a different turn. I went into higher education later than most and got my degree at 34 years old.

My older children grew up and I don’t talk about them here but I do have two adult children who still live at home with me and continue to add colour and variety to our life.

I met Graham, my current husband, in 2001 and we got married in 2016. We had three children who have blog names, Star born 2005, Boo born 2007 and The Little Man born 2010. I’ve been writing here on Raisie Bay since 2011.

I am Brave, I am Bruised, I am who I’m meant to be.

Ok, I’m not always that brave, I don’t feel brave, but I’ve dealt with a lot over the years and I don’t care anymore what people think of me. I was struck down on January 1st 2016 with a rare condition. Originally mis-diagnosed with Transeverse Myelitis, I was later told I had Stiff Person Syndrome plus PERM.

It’s a progressive condition so I won’t get better, but I do my best, along with my consultant to keep it under control. The condition has left me unable to walk unaided and even aided I can only manage to walk for a very short period. I feel pain constantly, which you do kind of get used to. Occasionally, I don’t deal with it very well.

I get treated by a bucket load of medication and infusions of human plasma called Immunoglobulins. (IVIG) These help to keep me going.

I Know There is a Place For Us

This is me, it’s my place, my little spot on the Internet where I blog it all out. I also have another blog where I post most of my book reviews and affiliate posts as well as things that keep me happy while spending most of my life stuck at home.

This blog has been going for nine years and it’s recorded my little ones growing from babies to teens (Apart from The Little Man, at 10 years he’s still my baby.)

Each Friday I run a Word of the Week linky which has also been going for years and I love doing it. I also take part in My Sunday Snapshot and The Ordinary Moments on Sunday. I also take part in a Chronic illness link up each month were I go into more detail about my condition following writing prompts given.

To join in with Blogtober just pop on over the Mandi’s page using the badge below, or check out the Facebook page  I’m looking forward to reading some great posts and hopefully getting to know some new bloggers.