By Jordie Flaum
Fourth year psychology major
What does disability look like to me? Disability is my everyday life, but it means being strong and not letting your condition get you down. I’m Jordie and I am a rare disease warrior. I have two rare diseases called Ehlers Danlos syndrome and Mass Cell Activation syndrome. As young as I can remember I was the super flexible kid even doing cheer for most of my life. I was always breaking bones and popping my joints out. It wasn’t until years later I saw a geneticist about my dislocations and that’s when I got my EDS diagnosis. EDS makes me an ambulatory wheelchair user meaning I don’t always use my mobility devices, but on hard days I do. Saturday, Feb. 28 is internationally recognized as Rare Disease Day! Those with EDS are known as zebras. I’ve had countless surgeries including one on my knee where I had to learn to walk again. It’s so important we discuss and recognize those who suffer through a rare disease. Help me by wearing zebra stripes on the twenty-eighth.