Are you a hope spreader?

Hello! Spring is here, and that just lifts everyone's spirits right?! Sunshine, warm breezes, and more time outside just makes everything feel better mentally and physically.  

As I was brainstorming blog ideas for this week, I had an idea that I would like to anonymously share some of the wonderful messages I have received since I have stepped into what I believe is my calling in life. Spreading hope to others, who have none, or are stuck. If you have read any of my past blogs, you probably know why I am so passionate about this. Connecting my faith, with my life experiences of growing up without hope in regards to my disability, or even knowing someone who shared the same struggles as me, is what propels me into my calling. I wait for a nudging, meditate on that for a bit, and if I think it needs to be something I share, then I will strongly feel that and share.

I have received so much encouragement from the disabled community, as well as the non disabled community. Messages that indicate that I am making a difference by giving hope through sharing my journey. With the exception of one, the messages I will be sharing in this blog are from parents of children living with Muscular Dystrophy, some themselves living with MD, and a son of someone who lives with MD. I appreciate ALL the messages I get, but this week I want to focus on the Muscular Dystrophy community. So, let's take a look at some of the HOPE I have been able to spread by stepping into my calling....

"Hi Amy, I left a comment on one of your amazing posts. I am hoping to connect with you as we have learned our almost 5 year old has a variant of the COL6A1. Consistent with Bethlem. I am emotionally all over the place right now. I was frantically searching for answers understanding even just a clue about any of this and believe God put me on your page. I pray we can connect in hopes to gain knowledge and where to look for the best care for our son. Most of all peace. We are praying for you Amy. Praying you get answers. God has already answered one of mine and that was finding you. God Bless."

"You give us hope. Thank you for allowing us to follow you and being open to questions. Please know I am praying for you."

See what I mean? If I wouldn't have shared what I felt called to share, maybe she would still feel alone in her journey with her son. My parents felt alone right along with me. FOR YEARS!! I now talk regularly back and forth with this wonderful lady, and we encourage each other.

"Love seeing you just document your fight with MD! Watching you has just been giving me HOPE! I've NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE!" "Happy to just have a friend who shares the same struggle as me, it's tough out here and not many people out in this world struggle from this problem." (His mom lives with Muscular Dystrophy, and he has also connected with and made a friend in one of my boys who reached out to him. Neither of them had ever known anyone in their same situation)

"Hi, I really admire your courage and passion! I wanted to do that for my country, but didn't know where to start" (This woman lives in the Philippines, and I have since connected her with MDA's resource center). 

"I was diagnosed with MD four years ago. I find your posts very encouraging, and show that I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE dealing with this dreadful disease. (I have since become friends with this man and his wife. They are wonderful, kind people. We encourage each other).

"One of the things I would like to know is what would you have liked your parents to do or tell you when you were a kid?"  (Her 8 year old has MD, and we have talked back and forth and I have shared experiences with her, and things I learned along the way. She is a wonderful person, and a great mother).

I could share many more. These are comments from all over the world. I have also made some really great relationships with a few ladies in different parts of the world who share my same condition. They speak my language so to speak. One has even referred to us as soul sisters, which I love so much. I cannot tell you how life changing these ladies have been for me. I LONGED for them my whole life. I would love to meet them all in person someday soon. That would just be incredible. 

I would also like to share one quote not from a parent or individual living with MD, but someone I have been working closely with. She is someone who devotes her life to helping those living with MD. She said, "Thank you for everything you are doing for MDA. You are making a huge impact for families and bringing a lot of HOPE. Breakthroughs are coming because of all you're doing."

I am sharing all of this not to boast. I think most of you who know me know that I am not a boastful type of person. I am truly just on a mission of humbly and courageously spreading hope, one message at a time. I listen, and share, that's it. Always, my message gets to who it needs to. It's really amazing to witness. I'm just listening, and accepting an invitation. I don't have a huge following. I don't need a huge following to reach one person. The one who needs to hear. You were placed on the earth for a reason, don't waste it. It's important. You could be that someone that ONE person needs. 

Be the ONE!

"Every day, God invites us on an adventure. It's not a trip where He sends us a rigid itinerary, He simply invites us. And then, leaning over us, He whispers, 'Let's go do that together." ~Bob Goff