FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR July 2021 Newsletter |
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Happy Disability Pride Month! Being proud of who you are while living with a disability isn't something that comes easy to everyone, but, we are here to tell you that WE are proud of you no matter what! Whether you are someone who is beyond proud of the person you are regardless of your disability or someone who is still struggling to say the same because of stigma that gets put on us through out society's expectations, this month is for you! We at Fight Like A Warrior are here to support you through your journey to acceptance and pride. We will advocate for each and every one of you, every step of the way! |
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As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, Fight Like A Warrior wanted to share three warriors from different communities who are proud to be disabled in their own ways! Meet Kalex (@typewondiabetes), who has the often invisible disability of Type One Diabetes, shares his feelings below: “Taking pride in your disability, to me, means being aware of your condition and its impact on your life, yet still feeling comfortable in your body and bravely tackling life's hurdles. I show pride in my disability by being open about the struggles I face, whilst setting an example that life doesn't have to slow down. It's just as fun, weird and full of possibilities for those with disabilities as those without.” |
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Meet Drake (@drake_draws_)! Drake has a cognitive disability called Dyspraxia and was kind enough to share his experiences with us: “I was diagnosed with #dyspraxia at the age of 21. Dyspraxia is a cognitive disability that affects motor skills, comprehension, physical strength and ability, and much more. Growing up #trans and dyspraxic, without having the language for either of those things, led me to feel very isolated. I still struggle with various parts of my life being out of my control. However, transitioning and being diagnosed with dyspraxia has given me the freedom to express why I am who I am. I went from feeling stupid and useless, to feeling #empowered and proud of the traits I’ve developed in response to dyspraxia. One of my goals these days is to encourage others to think about the ways that various aspects of one’s life combine to create unique circumstances. My biggest goal in life is to exist so loudly that others feel less alone, and empowered to do the same!” |
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Meet Kateryna (@kateryna_smirnova)! Kateryna has a disability called Spinal Muscular Atrophy and is an incredible disability advocate herself: “My name is Kateryna and I’m a 33-year-old translator, disability activist and blogger from Kyiv, Ukraine. At a young age, I was diagnosed with SMA which stands for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare genetic condition which leads to progressive muscle wastage (atrophy). I’ve been a wheelchair user for over 10 years now while my journey to self-acceptance and self-love has been much longer and bumpier. By documenting my life (with the good, the bad, and the ugly), I aim to promote inclusion, empower other disabled people to embrace who they are at their own pace as well raise awareness about rare diseases, such as the SMA. In many ways, aside from attempting to encourage other disabled / chronically-ill people on their journeys and build greater awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, my advocacy is what has also greatly helped me step out of my comfort zone, be more open and accepting of my own body.“ |
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We are pleased to announce a new upcoming project that we are going to be launching in August, Spoonie Meal Saturday! One Saturday of each month, we will be going live on Instagram to bring you a virtual cook-along of a delicious meal meant for spoonies. These quick and easy meals can be altered to meet specific dietary restrictions and will be perfect for making on those days where you're low on spoons but don't want to sacrifice tastiness! We will be posting the recipe, accessibility requirements, and possible substitutions you might use for the meal each month in our newsletter. That way you have time to get your ingredients so you can cook right along with us if you would like to! These videos will be saved on our social media pages if you weren't able to come to the instagram live or if you want to cook the meal again! We encourage you to submit your own “spoonie meal” recipes that you love to kelsey.calimer@fightlikeawarrior.org to help us build up this excellent resource for all others living with a chronic illness or disability and for the chance for us to make it in our cook-along! These can be recipes you have created yourself or ones you have found elsewhere and have grown to love! The first ever Spoonie Meal Saturday will take place on: AUGUST 21st @ 7:00pm EST/4:00pm PST
We will be making: Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Pesto Pasta The Ingredients you will need are: - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or vegan meat substitute/no meat - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - 1 pound asparagus, woody ends cut off - Olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper to taste - 12 ounces rotini pasta or gluten free pasta - 1/3 cup pesto - 1/2 of a lemon, juiced - 3 tablespoons shredded Pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese or vegan cheese substitute - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts - Fresh chopped basil and more Pecorino Romano for garnish Accessible prep: If you have trouble holding or using knives/other tools, please purchase pre-squeezed lemon juice, pre-cut asparagus and pre-shredded cheese. You can also purchase pre-cooked meat. This recipe can be modified to be vegan or gluten free. |
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Lex's Life with Lupus I have decided to share my new journey with Lupus and how it has given me the most self confidence I have ever had. I’ll first start off by saying my symptoms emerged out of what seemed to be nowhere at all. My first signs of chronic illness were the blood clots on my hands and feet mainly towards the tips (Osler Nodes). Although they seemed so small and harmless (how they first started) they shortly became extremely painful to the touch, often making it so painful just to do simple tasks like picking up an item, buttoning pants, or turning a door knob. I would wake up early in the morning with excruciating wrist pain, often so bad I couldn’t even lift myself out of bed. The pain then started moving to other areas; like my shoulder, ankles, elbows, and fingers. I would often find myself taking way more than normal mid-day naps. I would constantly feel tired, even after a full 5- 8 hour “nap”. | | |
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Blog Post Featuring:You! Have you ever wanted to be featured in a Fight Like A Warrior blog post? Maybe you were a little too deep in the fight or had too much on your plate at the time. Well, now is your chance! We are having an open call to have your story featured in Fight Like A Warrior's blog! Do you need a little help getting your story to come together? Maybe all you have is an idea, well that's all you need! Our very own incredible blog manager, Shannan would love to bring your blog ideas and dreams to life! Email: shannan.oharalevi@fightlikeawarrior.org or click the link below to share your story! | | |
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