despite having burn scars all over my body,
despite the crutches and braces to help me walk,

despite my body being unable to move,
despite c.p. making it hard for me to talk,

despite the chemo that's robbing me of my hair,
despite being born deaf, left unable to hear,

despite the accident that took away my sight,
despite unrelenting pain that brings me to tears,

despite both my legs being bent and paralyzed,
despite me being several pounds overweight,

despite me having incurred a head injury,
despite having arthritis, which aches and frustrates,

despite having cancer, i won't give up the fight,
despite disease or sickness that makes me "deformed,"

despite having asthma which makes it hard to breathe,
despite being taller or shorter than the "norm,"

despite the muscle disease that's stealing my strength,
despite that wheelchair helping me to get around,

despite being disabled, i will not give up,
if you will let me...i will amaze and astound!
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despite any disability, we deserve to be seen,
heard, and treated with dignity and respect...
we are human beings, too, just like you are.

just because i may not look like you or do
things the way you do them, don't say i
can't...because i will find a way to prove you
wrong. :) it may take me a while, but i will
do it! :)

(((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)