Category Archives: My journey towards independence

My journey from utter helplessness to independence

Day 2782: Freedom Day 2018

“My freedoms must mean that I unlock the freedoms of others.” – Catherine Constantinides

It’s 12 : 55 PM on day 2782 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Jonah 2:6, hang out with very special people,  and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

Today as South Africa celebrates Freedom Day –  a day that commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa – I believe our gratitude for our freedoms can be expressed by what we do with them. How will you use your freedoms to better South Africa and the world? Happy Freedom Day South Africa.

Watch: Social Cohesion Advocate, Catherine Constantinides speaks about Freedom Day and what it means to her:

Day 2781: Wonder by R.J. Palacio #ChooseKind

“It’s like people you see sometimes, and you can’t imagine what it would be like to be that person, whether it’s somebody in a wheelchair or somebody who can’t talk. Only, I know that I’m that person to other people, maybe to every single person in that whole auditorium. To me, though, I’m just me. An ordinary kid.” ― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

 

It’s 12 : 44 PM on day 2781 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Acts 5:20  and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Yesterday I finished reading the incredible book Wonder by R.J. Palacio – a story  about August Pullman who was born with craniofacial difference – the book captures beautifully the joy and pain of being visibly different and it does so from August’s point of view as well as the points of view of his family members and friends (I cried and I laughed and I cried some more because I was August, my sister was Olivia and my mom was Isabelle –  the book basically captured me and our family dynamic growing up I so wanted to fit in, my family so wanted me to fit in and they also wanted to be like other families and in many ways we were but in many ways we weren’t I, like August, will never fit in because I wasn’t meant to I was born to stand out). I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book if I had to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 I’d give it ONE BILLION because it’s spreading the message that different is cool and that kindness is cool which is what I try to do in my life every day.

Day 2779: Those who understand and those who don’t

The people who understand always will and the people who don’t never will – that’s what I realized

It’s 12 : 40 PM on day 2779 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Ecclesiastes 3:14,  have breakfast, spend time outside and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Today I was reminded that the people who understand always will and the people who don’t never will I will always try to explain my life’s purposes but I don’t live in the expectation that people will understand or support me.

Day 2778: 2018: The Year of Everybody Else

2018 is everybody else’s year – that’s what I realized.

 

It’s 11 : 30 AM on day 2778 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read 2 Timothy 1:7,  have breakfast, – and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

This morning I wanted to arrange to go hot-air-ballooning until I realized everybody in my family has something going on this year (my mom’s going to india in June to visit my gran, my sister’s going to Australia to do her elective in June, my brother’s currently in his final year of high school and I don’t expect my dad to drive me long distances alone anymore he’s got back issues) 2018 doesn’t seem to be my year for crazy adventures and it’s make me sad I’ve been through so much pain this year I wanted to do something fun just for me I guess I should be happy just to be alive but before my surgery I promised myself that if i got out of that operating room alive I would continue helping people (which I’m trying to do) and also that I would travel more and do more fun things just for myself (which I’m finding hard because I need someone to come with me everywhere and everybody has things to do I’m not selfish enough to ask people to stop their lives just so they can help me live mine)

Day 2777: #EarthDay 2018

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

 

It’s 1 : 38 PM on day 2777 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Psalm 103:2, go to church  have breakfast, spend time outside  – it’s such a beautiful day out I loved watching a bird peck at the tree I found the sound strangely calming – and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Today is Earth Day and as someone who loves nature and being outside it’s a reminder that I have a responsibility to preserve and protect the natural environment. Happy Earth Day – make it your mission to tread lightly on Mother Earth.

Day 2776: Growth

If you don’t push yourself to achieve more you’ll never really know what you’re capable of– that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 1 : 46 PM on day 2776 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Proverbs 14,  have breakfast, spend time with the parents and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Recently I was planning a local project that I did last year also and while I could have set the same goal I did last year I chose to push a little further because I believe growth is important. ABR – Always Be Reaching.

Day 2775: Different Angles and Different Views

The things you look at every day may be the same but the angle from which you look at them changes everything– that’s what I’ve realized.

 

It’s 10 : 51 AM on day 2775 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Proverbs 13,  have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

A few days ago I was outside and for the first few minutes I was in one spot and then a few minutes later I was moved strangely the tree I was looking at looked completely different from a different angle I guess it’s kind of like life situations look different depending on what you’re standing

Day 2774: Nyle DiMarco in Dan and Shay Music Video

Inclusion of differently-abled people is becoming a reality – that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 12: 25 PM on day 2774 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Proverbs 12,  have breakfast, spend time outside – it’s a beautiful sunny day in my part of the world –  and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

A few days ago I watched Dan and Shay’s “Tequila” music I liked the song but I loved even more that Dan AND Shay invited Nyle DiMarco  (a really accomplished guy who just happens to be deaf) to help tell the story of the beautiful song I thought it was awesome I seldom see differently-abled people in music   Well done Nyle, Dan, Shay and everybody involved in the making of this music video. Watch “Tequila” by Dan and Shay below:

Day 2773: Why I Believe both Well-Intentioned and Evil-Intentioned People Are Both Responsible for the Current State of the World

If it’s good do it and if it’s bad don’t do it– that’s I believe is one of the most important lessons the Bible tries to teach us.

 

It’s 9: 31 AM on day 2773 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Proverbs 11  and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –  raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Recently it occurred to me that most people with good intention are too busy thinking about things and praying about things (I have nothing against praying I pray A LOT but I don’t pray about whether I should do a good thing or not because I know if it’s good God wants me to do it) and not actually doing anything while the people with evil intentions are doing a lot and causing suffering in the process I wish well-intentioned people would have the courage to do more and evil-intentioned people the empathy to do less.

Day 2772: #50NewFeet Campaign Ten Months Later

“Every minute of every hour of every day you are making the world, just as you are making yourself, and you might as well do it with generosity and kindness and style.” – Rebecca Solnit

 

It’s 12 : 36 PM on day 2772 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray,  have breakfast, read Proverbs 10 and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised  $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Today marks the ten month anniversary of my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet  so far 122 people have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $14  409 – enough to provide clubfoot treatments for 57  kids (only $4 341 more to raise to reach my second goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17th  2018)– I am SO THANKFUL AND AMAZED. Thank you to my parents,  Gaynor Young and B, Priya Thomas, GregThis, BevBern, Stan FarynaDavid BoutinSharon D’Agostino,  A&P, Julie and Don, Simon Magid, Giving Miracles, Meg Guegan, Maya Anne Ninan,Keith, Sendil Devarajan,Bithun Babu, Koshy Thomas, Katy Mannot, Mervyn, Deepu George, Nadine Sander, My paper PartiesLisa DewberyAdel De MeyerPearl Shongwe,Teresa Williams, Sarah, Lisel, Alex Forshaw, Russell Williams, African Greek Godess, East London Malayalee Association, Jose Mammen, Vijay Mammen,Maya’s Papu, Lissy and Shajan, Jindalee Foundation, Debbie Gleason, Laissa Thomas, Captain Cactus,  Asafika, Divine Illunga, Justine Perry, Anisa Sunker, Jerrin Mohan, Pramela Ramesh, Sebastian Schütte, Zarina Walele, Be Good To People, Kevin,Tim Fargo (founder of Social Jukebox), Shahrina Ramphaul, Matt (founder of We Make Good Things Happen), Melise, Mario, Dr. Jacob Mathai, Inna Valesquez Shaun Francis and Family,Tess Thomas, Air To Air Africa Ballooning, Dessy Bo, Julia, Rosly Renil, Piyuse Thomas, Rema Matthews, Roshni, Ciya and Riya,St. Thomas Orthodox Congregation of Southern Africa, J le Grange, OmniMed (Pty ) Ltd, Anjali, Juliet Parrott-Merrell, everybody who donated in honour of my niece Maya’s first birthday (i don’t know who among them wants their names mentioned and who doesn’t so I won’t mention any names),   and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you  Jacqui Mackway-WilsonStephanie YoungYusuf AbramjeeBritt Michaelian,  Catherine ConstantinidesStacey HollandStan Faryna,  Ryan CummingsHalla Tomasdottir,  Bianca Rungasamy, Criselda Dudumashe Kendall Rayburn,Lisa Dewberry,  Brand South AfricaMelissa JavanDaily Dispatch, Barbara Hollands, Ashraf Gerda and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign.