My name is Karen and I am a 35-yr old disabled woman. Don't know if my story
is worthy of being in your book or not, but I'll tell you a bit about me
anyway.
I have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. I was diagnosed at 14 years. I've
been married for 13 years now. I have always had a career and am employed by
the Internal Revenue Service. I've been there since 1988. October 1, 1994,
I went into respiratory distress. It was gradual, yet sudden. I have been
on a ventilator ever since. I feel the best I've felt in a long time. The
IRS helped me to return to work. I have 16 hrs of nursing care every day.
My nurses follow me to work and home (yes, I still drive my van). I was
just recently nominated for the IRS' Outstanding Disabled Employee award. If
I win, I have a chance to go to Washington DC. I am going on my first cruise
in August to Ensenada. I am anxious to start traveling so I'm researching
ways to travel by air on a ventilator. I'm sure Christopher Reeves does it
so there must be a way for someone who doesn't have as much money.
Anyway, this is my story. Thanks for listening.
Karen Craft