here's a Dose of Hope!

I was the “sick kid” growing up. I literally flunked gym in elementary school. The doctor excused me from gym class from that point on. I couldn’t jump rope or keep up with the other kids. Long childhood short—besides the inability to run, jump and do the things normal kids do, I had many surgeries including hip surgery at age 11, many respiratory infections, mono and pneumonia by age 17.

In some ways I was “Normal.” Growing up with my three sisters was an experience. We worked hard. We played a little. I am thankful for my parents as I learned good work ethics and moral values.

I became blind in my right eye at age 16. I found out I had a disease called kertaconus. Hard contact lenses fixed that issue until the cornea continued to bulge out and the lens no longer held it back—popping the lens off and out of my eye. At age 19 I had my first of 6 cornea transplants.

I graduated high school and started working a full time job for the State of Michigan. At the age of 21 my life’s dreams were shattered by an incurable disease called Multiple Sclerosis.

I love to laugh. Laughter doesn’t make the pain go away. But it is a great break from the pain and is medically proven to help us by releasing hormones that fight pain. I choose to take laugh breaks. It does my body good. I hope my story (and my books) will give you hope and encouragement.

The truth is, I cannot do this life alone. I needed and still need the help of my Savior Jesus Christ. He's alive. How do I know? If He wasn't, I wouldn't be either. He is Life. He loves you and so do I!