Beyond the Disability

Hi, good evening, everyone. This is the last podcast of the Beyond This World podcast. This is your doctor Janice Brown. The Beyond the Disability podcast was my passion project.

For almost two years now. I published every other week.

I looked for persons with disabilities who were doing amazing things. I was honored that they allowed me to tell their stories and get a glimpse into their lives. I was even more honored when my guests from the 4th episode became my first return guest on the 45th episode the ones who sparked the idea to create the podcast. And I am so proud of how far along she has come.

What I have learned is that life happens. Any one of us can have an accident or an acute illness that robs us. Of some of our physical and psychological functions. What many of my guests taught me is that there is a choice to allow disabilities define to define them; or to move beyond their disability.

In the world of physical medicine and rehabilitation. I have seen many people who choose to allow a disability to define them. I'm not here to judge. But I know it removes from them the power to heal. I hope these podcasts will help them see beyond their disability. And open their eyes to the possibility.

I will continue to work with persons with disabilities in my practice. Advocating for them whenever I can. I will continue to offer non-surgical and non-opioid pain management to those who seek it. But more importantly, I now will place my energy on educating people. That chronic diseases are not the norm. And empowering them to take control of their health and well-being. We can no longer leave it up to the medical establishment to guarantee a quality of life. That is completely up to us.

So many people are afraid to manage their chronic diseases. I'm not sure why, as a result, is a life that is more pleasurable and fulfilling. We are humans and death is inevitable. Your quality of life is a choice. I want to thank all my guests for their time. And again, for being vulnerable and being and telling their stories.

All episodes of the podcast will be available to listen to. I welcome. All who are interested in my work reach out and connect with me via my website, betterhealthlifecoaching.com.

You can contact me there as well as book a free consultation with me to see if I can help you achieve better health. Finally, share the podcast with someone you know who is struggling with their disability and could be uplifted by any of the stories told. As always, I am here to serve. And will continue to do so until the inevitable happens. 

In today’s Episode, Janice Brown talks to a returning guest Mica Barrington: She is a single mom who survived Five strokes that resulted from her Moyamoya Disease.  Mica has accomplished something that is very rare. She healed and was able to walk again after thinking she would never walk again.

Mica talks about learning to be independent again, learning to walk and care for her children. She shares her accomplished goals and the new goals she has set for the future.

Highlights:

{04:00} Recovery from a stroke past the six-month marker

{05:15} Tutoring business

{06:00} The joy of knowing you are healing

{08:36} Goals for the future

{11:00} 6 Ps

Links:

betterhealthandrehab.com

Knife: https://www.walmart.com/ip/As-Seen-On-TV-Copper-Knife-Medium/936266691

Last Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-with-moyamoya-disease-and-surviving-strokes/id1562774495?i=1000530377282

Born with just one eye never stopped Ashton Smith, who found her passion in competitive swimming. She won Gold in the Special Olympics and today wants to inspire others.

Highlights:

{01:40} The journey to swimming

{02:36} Being Born with one eye.

{04:00} Swimming as a blind person in the Special Olympics

{06:40} Winning Gold

{08:00} The time and effort needed to compete at a high level.

{10:15} The 6 Ps

Links:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TRT7NJS

Glasses for the visually impaired: https://www.orcam.com/en/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=19300734672&cq_term=orcam&cq_plac&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=OrCam_GA_US_Branded_GeneralOrCam_GA_US_Branded_General&utm_term=orcam&hsa_acc=5047145566&hsa_cam=19300734672&hsa_grp=147338619049&hsa_ad=641862918639&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-1466183344465&hsa_kw=orcam&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAioifBhAXEiwApzCztvJyVLyGDe2K9LQlboBfjKtPXZAVi77H4WO-NYzWdfyqMIbvjweHzBoCx4wQAvD_BwE&fbclid=IwAR2pexD9SCysdAfDO8TarOu1DjcSh4WDhkX3N0CIwUqtquXOtEqLYbWWGnE

More about Ashton: https://golden-ashton.us/?fbclid=IwAR0lNH-vsTyHWNBJnNDkIetH3ZmOIbrNkIgYrjx80BQUDAwdBSCoCdLXN1o

While dealing with Cancer treatments, Jen contracted COVID. This led to heart failure. Today she talks about living life with the lifetime effects of Cancer, COVID, and heart failure.

Highlights:

{00:43} Introduction to Jen

{06:24} Changes Jen made in her life to get healthy

{08:45} The difference between Cancer and COVID effects on the body

{11:14} Jen’s medical writing career

{16:02} Advice for family members of cancer patients

{19:05} Life today and looking into the future

{20:42} The Six Ps

Jen Singer bio:

Jen Singer has survived cancer, Covid, and heart failure. For years, she was a medical writer for some of New York City’s most prestigious hospitals. When she’s not working as a ghostwriter, developmental editor, and writing coach, she writes patient-friendly ebooks called “The Just Diagnosed Guides” to provide the newly diagnosed with the information they really need to know now. She lives at the Jersey Shore (the place, not the TV show).

Links:

justdxguides.com

jen-singer.com

betterhealthandrehab.com

After losing her husband to sudden death, Lisa was left to figure out life as a widow with two young children. And then, she received a cancer diagnosis. After surviving cancer and changing her life, Lisa was shocked to find she had cancer again.

Today she lives with the effects cancer had on her body. She reminds us to live our lives today and remember it is never too late.

Highlights:

{01:24} Lisa’s journey

{12:36} Cancer when you have young children

{19:15} Life today

{22:15} The Six Ps

Links:

thevirgintraveler.com

http://www.reeltravelsmagazine.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirgintraveler/

After having a stroke at the age of twenty-five, Maria had to find a way to heal her body. Maria searched for healing. After a long hospital stay, she returned home to rehab. She shares her tips and advice for other stroke victims.

Highlights:

{00:50} Introduction to Maria Garcia

{04:09} A long Hospital Stay

{07:37} Life After the Hospital

{11:44} Life Before the Stroke

{16:45} Life Today

{20:31} The Six Ps

After losing her eyesight, Lois was forced to learn to navigate the world with blindness. She thrived from being in a band, writing books, hosting a podcast, and helping businesses to be accessible. Today she shares her story of inspiration with us.

Highlights:

{02:00} Lois Journey

{12:20} Learning to navigate the world blind

{16:33} Getting her first job

{18:11} Helping business set up their space to be usable for people with disabilities

{24:30} Writing books and hosting a podcast

{32:36} The work that needs to be done to make the world more accessible

{39:08} The Six Ps

Lois Strachan bio:

When Lois Strachan became blind at the age of 21 as a result of Type 1 (childhood-onset) diabetes, she realized she had a choice –to go home and give up and be angry, bitter, dependent, and depressed for the rest of her life… or she could take back control of her destiny and actively choose to move forward as a blind person in a sighted world.

As an inspirational speaker and author, Lois is passionate about two things:

• Helping people to see their own lives, and their challenges, in a different way
• De-mystifying the abilities of those who are a blind and have low vision to facilitate increased integration into society and the workplace

Lois is the author of “A Different Way of Seeing: A Blind Woman’s Journey of Living an ‘Ordinary’ Life in an Extraordinary Way, allowing readers to gain a greater understanding of how Lois accomplishes simple, everyday tasks without sight, including personal stories to back up her explanations. She is also the author of the illustrated children’s series “the Adventures of Missy Mouse” which help children understand how blind people lead normal lives.

In 2015 Lois was awarded the prestigious Tributes Excellence award, which honour women with disabilities who have exceled in their fields, in the category of education and literature. In the same year she was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for Casual Day, South Africa’s largest fund-raiser for persons living with disabilities.

Since losing her sight Lois has achieved a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature and Classical Civilisations, and an Honours degree in Classical Civilisations from the University of KwaZulu Natal, a diploma in practitioner Coaching Skills, a Certificate in Human Resource Management from UNISA, and is a Distinguished Toastmaster.

She has worked as an office manager in a marine engineering company, has been a singer/songwriter in a rock band, and has served as District Director of Toastmasters International (Southern Africa), a non-profit volunteer organisation focusing on communication and leadership development. She is an avid reader, enjoys music, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and a houseful of dogs, one of whom is her guide dog, Fiji.

Links:

https://www.loisstrachan.com

Is it possible to find healing from depression and anxiety? Pollie shares her story of struggling with depression and anxiety, the effects of the struggle on her health, and her advice for others.

Highlights:

{01:57} Pollie’s Journey

{08:00} Telling yourself a new story

{23:00} Is it possible to find healing from Depression and anxiety?

{30:21} The Six Ps

Links:

Janice Brown is joined by a physician living with Lupus and MCTD. Mamta shares her story of discovering her illness and finding solutions that would allow her to live her life. Today Mamta runs her own clinic, and her strength will inspire you.

Conversation Highlights:

{00:50} Mamta’s story

{07:00} The doctor reports

{10:32} When you are forced to leave work

{11:53} Finding solutions

{16:53} Working again, opening her own clinic

[20:00} Life today

{23:19} Six Ps

Resources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/miami-proud-marine-biologist-recovers-life-changing-incident-determination/

Integrative Care MD - Healing Body & Mind

betterhealthandrehab.com 

Janice Brown holds an interview with Kemit Amon. Kemit recounts how a bacterial infection caused him to become Quadruple Amputee. He describes his time in the hospital, his rehabilitation, and his instruction in using prostheses. Kemit returned to the water to spread his optimistic view, where he got the bacterial infection. This story will inspire you.

Conversation Highlights:

{01:11} Kermit’s journey

{04:06} Hospital time and Rehab and Prosthetics

{12:33} Relocating to Florida and diving back into work

{16:33} Going back in the water after the accident

{19:00} Pain management today and living a confident life

{26:33} Six Ps

Resources:

Kemit-Amon can be reached via e-mail: 

[email protected]

betterhealthandrehab.com