Throughout my life, I have had many incredible experiences. Some have been filled with joy, others with pain. This doesn’t make me special, of course, since everyone has ups and downs. But for me, I have always been able to find something meaningful, some valuable lesson, even in the toughest times.
I grew up in a small town in northern Illinois with my parents, 2 older brothers, and 1 younger sister. Life was pretty “normal” with school and church activities. Part of that “normal” life was growing up with a funny-sounding condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (formerly known as Dejerine-Sottas,) which is a progressive neuro-muscular disorder that impacts my muscle strength and balance. Despite various challenges, I always had a sense of my real dignity as a unique person in the eyes of God. My parents expected much of me, just like my siblings, and always shared their love for and with me.
That foundation of faith and family helped me grow into adulthood to have a family of my own. In 1993, I married Bruce (the love of my life!), and in 1994 I conceived our only biological child. A routine ultrasound at 14 weeks detected serious anomalies, and I was advised to abort. Knowing that all life is precious in the eyes of God, including people with disabilities like me, we rejected abortion. The months that followed were filled with brief moments of joy and many tears. Through it all, I learned to cling to Christ in all things.
I have always been told “You should get out there and tell your story. It’s inspiring!” Well, now the time has come to do just that. Actually, I have many stories, but they all center around the dignity of human life, and the power of God’s love. I would be happy to visit your community to share a message of hope and healing, love and laughter, faith and family.
Please check out the pages here to get to know a bit more about me. You can also read my blog posts on the homepage, and I’d love to read your comments, too.
Peace and Blessings,
Kim…Gabriel’s Mom