My name is Simply J and I was born in Central Pa in the winter of 1993. Within the first 24 hours of my life, I stopped breathing four times. At this point, I was airlifted to a larger hospital that could take care of my needs. I stayed in the NICU at that hospital for 1 week before I was released to head home with my family.
Things didn't get better when I arrived home. Although my breathing remained stable, I had three seizures in the first three years of my life. I was eventually diagnosed with Epilepsy. Since being diagnosed with Epilepsy, my seizures have decreased, but new things started to become a concern as I entered in to grade school.
When I was in kindergarten, people started noticing that something was going on with my eyes and that I was having trouble with some social skills. My one eye would kind of float to the side. I would also play by myself often times and I loved giving my peers hugs, sometimes too much. I tended to tell everyone I ran into, how much I loved Jesus as well.
Finally, at the age of 16, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. I continue to struggle with things such as change and transitions, sensory processing, and maintaining friendships. At 24 years of age, I still have meltdowns on occasion, but these negative effects of Autism are not what defines me.
Today I a young woman who is happily identified as someone who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder and a mild Vision Impairment. I'm absolutely in love with anything Disney including Frozen and finding Dory. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, hiking, kayaking, traveling, and scrapbooking. When I have the time, I also really enjoy to sit down with a good book or work on a jigsaw puzzle. I am highly in tune with what I need to work on and I always strive to try my best and continue to grow. I have strengths in compassion for others and self-advocacy.
This is my story
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