Capitol Hill-2017

Melissa Phelps said it clearly this past week:

"Hard work pays off doesn't it?"

 Flying to Washington DC in two full days and back is exhausting! 

Flying to Washington DC in two full days and back with dystonia is even more exhausting! 

But beautiful as always...

I didn't come this far to not make my voice be heard.

I need your attention and your full attention.

There are too many children who travel on this dystonia journey and I am not the kind of girl who is just going to sit back and watch dystonia take over a child's body. 

In this journey I have come to meet some amazing people.

Such as Hannah. 

Meet Hannah Thompson everyone.

The girl is on fire and unstoppable! 

Hannah should be an inspiration to everyone in this world! See, this girl has a college degree, lives out on her own, not once...not once have I heard her say "I can't", Hannah and I met this time last year...both there for the same purpose! A purpose above ourselves. 

Maybe you like what we are doing in DC. Maybe you don't. Maybe you don't understand it? You might say "I'd never do that!"

Let me tell you something. You would absolutely do it if you knew or loved someone going through these struggles.

Ask Hannah why she was in DC this past week and I guarantee her answer will be "For everyone going through Dystonia!"  

We totally understand some will never get it. 

Some will never understand why we flew miles away to fight for a cure!

We know it won't happen over night.

IF everyone was as courageous as Hannah our world would be the most amazing place on this earth.

Nothing about chronic illness is easy!

Meet Anne liese, Elizabeth, and Jason! 

Anne liese & Jason are an amazing couple who have taught me that dystonia may have someone's body but it doesn't have their heart. Love with dystonia is out there and real. Anne liese is an amazing supporter to not only her husband Jason but the whole dystonia community! Meet, one of the 2017 Dougless Kramer award winners-She earned it! 

Spend minutes with them and you'll be inspired to keep on keeping on! 

Meet Elizabeth who I about cried when she came up to me and said "Hi Chelsi!" 

We have talked on the phone and gotten to know one another through social media but the actually get to meet...?! It was fully amazing! 

She is one of my sweetest friends. 

I am so grateful that in this life I get to meet some of the most amazing people ever! 

Meet one of my best-friends, Partner in crime, Melissa Phelps.

A mother of two that has dystonia! 

Three years ago she reached out to me. Simply letting me know 

"I'm a Mother of children with dystonia. I am there if you need me. I love you!"

Miles away she's been my strong tower.

She has cried with me,prayed with me, and this past week hugged me so tightly!

Leaving me with

"I love you like I love my babies! I am always here for you!"

Go team 12!

Please pray for her babies as they struggle with dystonia daily.

Sometimes, You just gotta stop for the camera! 

Meet my friend, Hannah who flew miles away with me to fight the fight along side us. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. I know she learned a lot and I truly think this trip touched her heart. She did an amazing job and I am so thankful to call her MY friend.

Not many would fly miles away but she was "I'd love to help! Just tell me what I do!"

At the end of the week I was left overwhelmed in all that the Lord has taken me on with dystonia. From saying good-byes, to bursting into tears on the way to the airport. Not because I was sad. But because my heart was so full at the end of this trip. You go through life thinking your all alone. That no one will love you because you look different. That no one knows how I feel or how hard the flare ups can be. 

Wrong! 

They're are people who do live this life daily. Who do know how hard the flare ups or bad days can be. Who too had or have the same fear of being loved despite dystonia.

I knew at the end of this trip this is where the Lord had me on purpose.

That I was suppose to be here! 

Here for a bigger purpose then myself.

I won't stop fighting until we have a cure! And if that doesn't happen in my lifetime...I am sure praying it happens in Olivia & Madison's lifetime! 

We are team strong together! 

  

While I'm waiting.

"While I'm waiting I will serve you"

Pslams 27:14 

I've always thought waiting in a doctor's office was extremely annoying. The older I get the more I've got 'use' to all the people crowning around waiting on the same doctor I am. This time is different for me though. This time the waiting is longer then any waiting period I've ever experienced. See, I've had this mindset that while I wait I will serve Jesus. 

   In every single speech therapy appointment to every difficult day both physically and emotionally that my health has brought. 

Those times where the "H" sound doesn't come out.

Those times where reading a children's book out loud becomes the biggest struggle.

Those times where I say over and over again "I'm 25 years old and I SHOULD be able to do this but I can't."

If Blake, Haley, and Amanda got paid for every time I've said that they would be rich speech pathologist! 

I am so thankful for their patience, love, support, and oohhhh their loud excitement when I accomplish the "S" sound or get through a children's book! 

Meet Haley and Amanda. Blake is MIA. 

The waiting seems so long. Tuesday so near but oh so far! 

With medication trials being finished. The only thing left on our journey is to see a neurosurgeon Tuesday.

That in it's self has been one of the most difficult decisions.

My heart is overwhelmed right now.

Overwhelmed that my plans just might not be God's plans.

And I have to somehow be ok with that. 

Be ok with right now it's hard but one day his plan will be shown to me.

That every single doctor's appointment, heartbreak, and disappointment was all part of his precious plan for my life.    

Serving Jesus in the hallway is really very difficult. 

As this week we lost my beautiful cousin whom was only 17 years old. 

I was forced to realize that life is short.

Life is really short.

Heaven became a little closer then I ever had thought it to be. 

Our stay on this earth isn't for long.

Heaven gets sweeter each day to me.

No more sickness.

No more heartbreak.

That alone has my full attention.

Knowing that this life isn't forever, dystonia isn't forever, the medical bills, the tests, isn't forever makes my heart long for Heaven even more. 

While the waiting is tough 

While the unknown answers are heartbreaking 

And trust me my heart is heavy today

I know that one day all this unknown, waiting, scary feelings will soon make scene. 

As I know that these upcoming days maybe tough.

And while I might want to give up, quit speech, I also know I've worked way to hard to walk away even while my heart might break even more soon. 

A simulator or no simulator it's a scary journey.

Either direction will be a rough one.

But even in the mist of heart break, and hurting I will serve him.

I will.

I have these precious children to teach that just because life is hard 

You don't give up.   

So while I'm waiting I will serve you with all of my heart Lord.

And if you never give us a 'go' for a simulator then I will still serve you.

I will still love you.

And love that cross where your blood was shed for me.

Stay near to me as this week is quickly approaching. 

When I gave my life to you I also gave my broken hurting heart to you as well.

The answer is:

Yes. 

Yes. I will.

What Moves You?

What Moves You?

Last week ended rough. Dystonia had decided to take 'control' and landed me staying in bed a lot. By the end of the week I was so frustrated, bitter, and starting to become depressed. Depressed that there is no cure yet. That researcher's are still hard at work.

In those moments I feel lost. In those moments I'm begging Jesus for an open door. Like I'm literally on my knees praying during those times. Balling my whole heart out.

During those moments I have no doubt Jesus's heart breaks for not only myself but the thousands of others living with this movement disorder, The thousands that are going through Chemo. The thousands that are told they may only have days left.

There is no doubt our father's heart breaks for what breaks our hearts.

I have these moments where Jesus weights on my heart. 

See, I have two options the way I look at it.

Give up

OR 

STAND UP and be a voice for others!

Facts are I can't do this alone. I just can't.

These past two days have taught me the BIGGEST lesson.

The lesson of 

No matter what your going through. Your NOT alone. 

People care. People truly care.

The Delaware Co. Sheriff's Dept. CARES.

An innocent baby even cares.

Just look at that smile.

Teenager's care! 

A Heritage Christian School parent cares!

See, she knows about dystonia and allows me to watch over her little ones daily.

Dystonia doesn't define me as a teacher. 

The Cooper family cares! 

Blake, Who was my speech pathologists cares.

If he didn't he wouldn't have worked SO hard helping me weekly.

He has choosen a career to help others like myself struggling.

Mrs.Thompson & Mr.Thompson care!

A English teacher who saw first hand how dystonia effects a person. 

A Middle School counselor who caught me in the halls more times then I can count in tears due to dystonia and the daily struggle of "fitting in".

Pastor Jason. Who wants to see every heart saved. A parent of a little one who was in my class this past year who have brighten my life daily.

Hannah. A beautiful 26 year old that knows all too well the effects of Dystonia.

Yet she chooses to be a voice for others. Helping them daily.

The sweet friend who sent me a card during one disappointment of our last medication fail.

Cole. Who cared so much about this took 50 pictures before choosing the right one! 

He could have easily said "No. Pok'emon go is calling me"

Instead he wanted to make sure his picture was great! 

Props to his little sister for allowing him to barrow her ride! 

Friends who knew you before you asked Jesus to come into your heart and stuck around after!

Taylor, Who is going to school to be a Physical Therapist. Who's heart IS set on helping others.

Who is also in the mist of a finals week but stopped to take a Selfie because Dystonia moves her to do something about it! 

My AMAZING boss and best friend, Mrs.Bond.

She sees the good and the bad days. She sees the tears.

Hannah. My roommate from last year sees the daily struggles no one else may ever see.

The nightly struggle of eating with a fork or spoon.

The frustration that has built up on those rough days. She has herd my complains.

She kept chocolate on hand.

Mrs. Everhart who had me in High School. Who stopped what she was doing to come over and help me write.

To tell me to keep on going! 

The same teacher who saw my fear. And I mean fear of writting upfront on the chalkbord. Boy, Am I glad she made me face that fear. 

Chelsea who has grown up in church with me. Loving me daily. Who is the amazing mother of this little one. 

Meet my best friend from High School. Hannah. Hannah shared a locker close by and would say often "I've been praying for you!" The friend who when I got saved had the biggest smile on her face. Meet Avery who just wanted her Mommy! 

Maddie who has done some amazing things in life. 

She's going to Olivet this year and will be awesome at whatever she gets her hands on! 

Nici, Who works a ton and is the amazing mother of four kids!

One of those kids were in my class this past year. 

Meet Violet. She loves pictures and just did her very first pagent...Only infront of over 800 people! 

The girl can cook too! She can't feed those brothers fast enough.

Oh man. I'm almost in tears. Thanks a lot Mr.Luce! 

Meet Mr.Luce, who never once gave up on me. Not once. 

The coach who allowed me to be a basketball manager for his boy's basketball team. The High School teacher who had no problem putting me back in my place. 

The teacher who would sit and listen to me cry daily.

The teacher who set down today and was late leaving due to listening all about what's new in my life.

My awesome girl who I get the honor of mentoring daily! 

Who got a hole in one in golf tonight.

Proud moment! 

Sarah who is always waiting on me because I can't tell time very well.

Who I made late for work today...It's a normal thing for us.

She loves me. She just got a new job at Muncie Schools. So proud of her! 

This girl will be in first grade this year at HHCS! 

She knows that Miss.Chelsi has dystonia but that doesn't stop her from giving me hugs daily.

Mrs.Holdren who loved me as a 5th grader in her class. The amount of paperwork that she did for us to take to doctors was endless. She had dated EACH day ALL year! 

She had a class full of students. She took the time to make a journal for my doctors in hopes that they could help! 

Look at Mr.Big shot Clay who is a beast at football.

Go Warriors! 

Mrs.Bunnell who cheered me on daily! 

"Chelsi Christman you CAN do it!"

Giving me warms hugs on those rough days.

Oh and hot tickets! I was good so I always won enough hot tickets to get in the prize box!

Look at this! A parent and friend who has been learning about Dystonia this past year. 

Meet another one of my roommates from last year! Kalie who is a nurse and helped me out so much at the house. Who would sit in my room on those hard nights talking to me. Letting me know she was just a room away. And when I was sick or dystonia got bad. She worked 12 hour shifts then came straight home to clean and make dinner! 

I can tell you that if you get her as your nurse...Well your in great hands! 

She's had practice! 

Meet my biggest cheerleader and supporter. My Mom. My sweet Mom who has been at every single doctor's appointment, through every single test with me. Oh the amount of paperwork, calls,money, and time she has put in.

Thanks to her I truly am the person I am today.

It takes a strong Mother to have a child that struggles daily.

Not one picture is the same. Not person in these pictures are the same. We are ALL different. We all have our struggles we face in life.

Weather you love Trump. Weather you love Hilary. Weather you don't like either.

We all are created by a perfect God.

We all hurt at some point in our lives.

The ONE thing that EVERY Single person in these pictures have in common is they care. They care about others. Otherwise they wouldn't have spent time taking these amazing pictures! 

We are all fighting for a cure! 

I GET first hand how frustrating having no answers are.

BUT look at THIS.

Your NOT alone.

My heart couldn't be happier right now.

My eyes are filling with tears and my smile on my face hasn't left yet! 

My point is that we are all differnt but when it truly comes down to it we all are beautifully and wonderfully made by God.

He makes no mistakes.

Today, I am SO proud of Delaware Co. for coming together and joining this fight.

Weather your a Kid, a teenager, a young adult, or older YOU all have a purpose in this life.

You all can help somebody each and everyday.

Just showing you care is simple.

SO PROUD! 

KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!