Rolling with Sarah

When I was eleven years old, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. I required a life-saving bone marrow transplant. I was lucky enough that my sister was a perfect match. Fast forward a year when a routine blood test showed that my cancer had returned. This time I was in for a stem cell transplant, but with a twist. They would induce a slight rejection of the transplant to kill any lingering cancer cells. Unfortunately, the  rejection got out of hand. It quickly attacked all of my organs, including my skin and muscles. Slowly I became more and more dependent on a chair until my contractures made it impossible to walk or stand. I have been in a wheelchair ever since. I have never been one to take things lying down, I’m a fighter. So I made a resolution to advocate for accessibility,  not only for myself but for others in similar situations. Accessibility is not a privilege, it is a right. Those who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices are just as important as those who are able-bodied, yet we constantly have to petition for equality. I am trying to do my part in ensuring a more accessible tomorrow for all.