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Northrop Grumman
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My name
is Ed. I am 37 years old, and have been blind since I was 16.
I was
in a car accident that was not my fault and have been disabled ever since.
I find
poetry to be a good way to explain my feelings and would like to submit a couple
of
poems for your website.
It
would be o.k. if you included my email address in case someone would like to
write to me.
Life
Song of Greg
Rivard-eastersealsstudent4@yahoo.com
A problem in my life that I can remember is the
acquisition of my neuromuscular disease which affects
the way my muscles work and it affects my balance and
coordination. It has a knack for slowing me down.
Pyruvate dehydrogenace is a rare disease that I was
diagnosed with at 2 years old. I was in the hospital
for several months when I was young. The rare form
plagues at least 20 people all over the country,
including me. There is not that much information on
this disease, unfortunately. It is a permanent
disease.
The real problem occurred when I moved from
Philadelphia to Milford, CT because my father had
gotten a new Job. I felt like I was loosing all
direction in my life and I was just finding that
direction. I was just 15 years old I really had never
been out of state before. Most of my friends and my
mom’s side of my family lived and still live down in
the City of Brotherly Love. I was very upset. I was
just about to enter High School.
I remember I became a freshman in High school, after
I moved, and I still had no friends of which to speak
to. I remember sophomore year I was experiencing some
double vision in my eyes, at the time (not that good
to have because you feel like a “walking zombie”). I
was so disengaged at that time. I was on my way to
health class, and this kid named John came up to me
and said “what class are you in next”. I looked at my
class schedule. I couldn’t read it. So, John looks
at it and he says “I am in the same class”. When we
finally got to class, John finally said to me “are you
feeling ok”. I said, “No something is wrong with my
eyes, I just get double vision once in a while”. He
offered to walk me back to the place I was supposed to
sit. I said “No”, being the stubborn kid that I was
back in High School, and I stumbled back to my seat
over about five desks before I got to mine and luckily
I plopped my rear end in the right place. John and I
have been having a long distance friendship over
e-mail, ever since.
I had another downfall in my life. This came right
after I graduated High School, the move from Milford,
CT to Shrewsbury, MA. This was another extremely
difficult time, not only for my parents but for me
too.
My father’s job relocated, so my parents and I
stayed at my father’s place of employment, while we
were searching for a house to live in. I was having
trouble with my leg and my arm because of my
disability. It takes me a while to get used to new
things. I am still struggling with the leg and the
arm a bit, the light of Christ will lead me and my
disorder, but the important thing is that I couldn’t
cope with this disability if it weren’t for the light
of the lord. I believe that the light of Christ will
show me the path of becoming a better disciple of his
love.
All three of these problems would be situational
because they happened without giving any notice before
they actually took effect.
My parents give me most of the physiological support
that I need, my friends here at Quinsigamond Community
College give me some support, my friends that I made
when I was in high school, Church, family and doctors,
Counselor at Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
which encourages me on how to get a job, the Worcester
Regional Transit Authority which helps me get rides
around the city of Worcester, and certain groups on
campus. MRC provided computer training. I am
certified in the area of Microsoft office.
Now that I am 25, I am more present-focused and I am
looking forward to what God has in store for me in the
future. We mustn’t dwell in the past, we as
Christians and Non-Christians, alike must focus on the
present, and look forward to the future by having a
positive outlook on life and to know that the Lord has
a part in all situations.
What I learned from my experiences as a disabled
citizen is to always be yourself and don’t let your
limitations get in the way of your dreams. I also
learned that God has a plan for your life. Have faith
in god. Don’t give up + don’t back down from anything
Even though I still experience muscle tension and leg
and arm spasms at times, I know that I am blessed and
healed in Jesus’ Name.
God Bless
Greg
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