Living life beyond Cerebral Palsy for God's glory.

Archive for the ‘Cerebral Palsy’ Category

SIXTY YEARS

Sixty Years

Sixty years ago, a young couple were excitingly expecting their first child. The nursery was prepared, baby items were purchased, and baby showers were held—all in anticipation of a healthy baby.

Mom had a long hard labour and delivery. As soon as I was born, I stopped breathing and was whisked away to ICU, where I spent my first week in an incubator. The doctors didn’t expect me to live. Back then, parents weren’t permitted in the ICU. My parents hope of having a normal child were shattered when they heard that I had Cerebral Palsy.

God had plans for my life—and normal was not in His plan. 

I’ve lived my life being dependant on others, using a wheelchair to get around, and using my mouth to type, paint, knit, and complete many other tasks. With God’s strength and my families support, I’ve been able to graduate from high school, compete around the world for Canada as a Paralympian, run my own accounting business, and publish an award-winning book.

In Mark 10:27 ESV, we read, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” (emphasis mine)

I’d like you to help me celebrate this milestone. Please write a memory below in the comments. It can be funny or sad, but it must be true. I’ll be reading them before they’re posted. Then I may pick one or two to be included in my second book, which is in process. If your story is picked and published in my book, you could win a free copy.

I never expected to reach my sixtieth birthday, but it’s not about me. It’s about God faithfulness shining through brokenness. Why I was born to live with Cerebral Palsy I do not know, but I know the One who does—and I trust Him. If you’re broken, turn to Him. He’ll welcome you with open arms.

John 3:16 ESV says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

In Sept. 2020 I became a Great Aunt, Kristal had her first baby.

Category:

Cerebral Palsy, Devotions, living beyond my circumstances, Love, Thankfulness, Uncategorized

Mom’s Tribute

On November 26, 2019, my world was rocked. My mother was taken home to be with Jesus.  This was my tribute to her. It was read at her funeral.

 

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (Proverbs 31:28-29 NLT)

We met when she was 21. She was an ordinary person, but her smile would warm up the coldest day. She loved chocolate, ice cream, black coffee, and making things with her hands. She always made time to listen and help others.

She knew nothing about Cerebral Palsy, but she was willing to learn. She pushed me to work hard, but at the same time, she accepted my limitations and loved me for who I was.  When the world told me I could not succeed, she told me to try.  Mom would not let me use the words, “I can’t.”  She made me try everything at least once.  Sometimes her friends would get upset with her because she wouldn’t help me, but her perseverance made me who I am today.

Even before my sports career began, she was my biggest cheerleader! She was always encouraging and pushing me to go further. Even my staff gets frustrated with me because they want to help me, but because of my mom, I am determined to do things on my own as much as I possibly can.

She took me to Pioneer Girls at our church. I loved to earn badges, but I was concerned I could not get my hiking badge. But she made sure I could by carrying me on her back through the woods with the other girls. Then I had to light a fire to finish the badge. The other leaders said not to worry about lighting the fire, but Mom insisted that I would do it if I wanted to complete the requirements. She got me to hold the match in my front teeth and brought the box up close so I could strike it. Then I leaned down, dropping the match on the paper and the fire was lit.

Mom looked after me every day for the first 25 years of my life: getting me up and dressed every morning, bathing me, feeding me, getting me ready for bed. She could not call in sick. The doctors told her to give me up and put me in an institution, but she would not.

Mom had a sense of humour. She wanted me to experience life. One morning when she was getting me out of bed (I am not a morning person), she sat me on the toilet with the seat up, which resulted in me plunging into the cold water, waking me up rather abruptly. When I looked at her with a questioning shocked look, she just laughed and said, “I just thought you should experience this!”

Mom travelled to many of my sports events. The biggest event was the 1984 Paralympics in New York, where she proudly carried around the Canadian Flag. During the wheelchair soccer game that I was playing in, she was interviewed on TSN. To this day, I don’t know what she said, but that interview was a highlight of this trip for her.

On Tuesday God called Mom home. She has left a big hole in our family and in my heart, but I know she is with her Saviour and Lord.

Thanks, Mom. You’re the best! See you soon.

Category:

Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances, Love, Thankfulness

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Mother’s Day

For Mother’s day I thought I should re-post this.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised” (Proverbs 31:30 NLT).

We met when she was 21. She was an ordinary person, but her warm smile would warm up the coldest day. She loved chocolate, ice cream, black coffee, and making things with her hands. She always made time to listen or help others. She knew nothing about Cerebral Palsy, but she was willing to learn. She pushed me to work hard, but at the same time, she accepted my limitations and loved me for who I was.  When the world told me I could not succeed, she told me to try.

This person is my mother. She looked after me every day for the first 25 years of my life: getting me up and dressed every morning, bathing me, feeding me, getting me ready for bed. She could not call in sick. The doctors told her to give me up and put me in an institution, but she did not.

In 2012 Mom went through a different battle. She had ovarian cancer. Mom went through surgery and chemo. This May she has been done chemo for five years. It has not been an easy five years. She has lived through much pain and the chemo has given her many other issues to deal with.

I want to thank Mom for her dedication to Jesus, her husband, her children, grandchildren, and life.

Thanks, Mom, I love you, you’re the best!

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (Proverbs 31:28-29 NLT)

Category:

Cerebral Palsy, Love, Thankfulness

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BOOK SIGNING

phot-poster NO DATE

SATURDAY MAY 14th FROM 11AM TILL 2PM

CHAPTERS @ 1037 WELLINGTON ROAD

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.

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Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances, Uncategorized

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The Word Guild Award

Paralympian Deb Willows and her coauthor, Steph Beth Nickel, are thrilled to announce that Living Beyond My Circumstances, available from Castle Quay Books and other suppliers, has won after being shortlisted in The Word Awards 2014 Life Stories category. Though born with cerebral palsy and faced with numerous challenges over the years, Deb has had many dreams come true, the nomination and subsequent win of her memoir being the most recent. She and Steph are honoured and overjoyed.

book award

Winners in each category were from across Canada and recognized on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at The Word Awards Gala held at the Novotel Hotel in Toronto, ON. If you would like to see the complete list of winners, please check out The Word Guild website

 

Deb is available to speak in schools, churches, and other venues. If you are interested, please contact her at contact-Deb@bell.net

 

Steph is a freelance editor and writer and a regular contributor to HopeStreamRadio She is also available to speak and teach. You can contact her at stephbethnickel@gmail.com

 

Deb and Steph trust that this honour will open even more doors for them to point others to the Lord Jesus, the Source of their hope, strength, and salvation.

 

Living Beyond My Circumstances is for anyone who is facing life’s challenges and desires to “go for the gold.”

 

As Deb said in her speech on June 13th,

“This book and award is dedicated to Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Lord. Without Him, my life and this book would be meaningless.

I would like to thank Steph helped put my ideas into words, my parents who have encouraged me to live life and to Larry & Marina for getting this story published.”

For His Glory.

Steph, Larry & Marnia with Deb

Steph, Larry & Marnia with Deb.

Category:

Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances, Thankfulness, The Word Guild

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DADDY

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”    Psalm 103:13

 

When I was 10 years old my dad wrote this in my autograph book:

 

Big brown eyes, brown hair too,

Has her lows, lost her shoe,

Has her highs, face just glows,

. . . that’s my Debbie.

Love,   Daddy

 

Dad was strong in his faith, always putting God first in his life and teaching us to do the same. He always read a Bible story to us at the dinner table despite the many distractions. The phone often rang during devotions. Dad would take it off the hook and stuff it in the towel drawer. He was faithful in his own daily reading of God’s Word.

 

When I was young, before I received a wheelchair, he carried me everywhere. He was always trying to make my life a little easier. His hands were always big, strong, and rough, and he always smelled of wood. From as far back as I can remember, my dad loved to work with wood—and he could make anything. Because I could not use my hands, I fed myself by bending down and getting the food off my plate with my mouth. One day Dad made me a toast holder out of wood. Another time he made an ice cream cone holder. Sunday evenings were fun. After church he would make milkshakes or ice cream sundaes for all of us. It was the only thing he could make that was not wooden.

 

Dad always loved me the way I was. He never expected less from me and always encouraged me to be the best I could be. He loved to help me do things that were not expected or accessible. One time at Disney World in Florida, he was so excited that I was able to go on a ride that had been inaccessible the last time we went that he ran with me in my wheelchair towards a moving ramp. My foot plates hit the ramp and I was catapulted out of my chair and onto the moving ramp. I heard a lady yell, “I think she’s dead.” I was still alive and not hurt. The thing I was most upset about was the rip in my shirt.

 

I am so blessed to have a daddy who was handpicked for me by God. Thank you, Dad, for living for the Lord, for being real, and for showing us how to live for God. Someday in heaven I will dance first with my Lord Jesus, then with my Daddy.

 

 

Category:

Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances, Love

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Book Signing

Paralympian Debbie Willows and her co-author, Steph Beth Nickel, are holding a book signing at Chapters, 1037 Wellington Road in London on Saturday, September 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Autographed copies of Debbie’s memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, will be available.

 

phot-poster

  We hope to see you there.

Stept and Deb

Stept and Deb

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Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances

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My Rose

 

My younger sister is turning 50 this week. Sharon is a very caring person – even though she likes to hide that fact.

The Rose of Sharon is a common name that applies to several different species of flowering plant that are highly valued throughout the world. My sister is like a rose. Upon first meeting her, you might only see a rough, prickly person, but as you get to know her, you realize she is very hard-working, enjoys cooking for others, and loves to help people in need. Sharon is a highly valued person – even donating her left kidney. And she would donate the right one if she did not need it.

Sharon and I grew up in a time when it was not cool to have a “different” sister. She had to deal with much teasing at school. We had fun together sleeping in the same room (okay – talking more than sleeping). We worked well together. I had the ideas; she had the legs. Unfortunately for her, the legs got caught more than the ideas. She did not need my ideas, however, when it came to spreading butter on mom’s couch or climbing the cupboards to get baby aspirin.

Sharon, my little sister, thanks for 50 years of adventures and for being you. My life would not be the same without you. I’m so glad you married Ian. He brought your smile back – and I love your smile. Thank you for having three children and for being a great cook. (You make it hard to eat right.) I could not ask for a better sis.

Love you!  Happy 50th.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me

 

I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. ’

 

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

 

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?   And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?

 

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’   Matt. 25:34-40

 

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Cerebral Palsy, Love

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Castle Quay Books

On February 29, 2012, we drove to Vaughan Mills Mall to meet with Larry Willard. It was a dicey drive as the roads were icy and it was snowing. We made it and had a nice lunch at the Pickle Barrel. Larry left with my manuscript and only a promise to read it. Esther and I made our way home through the snowstorm. Was it worth the trip? Now almost two years later, my book is published.

It has been a long journey but so worth it. This journey with Castle Quay Books has been a pleasant one. Most people who publish have told me to be wary of editors who try to change too much in your publication, but working with Marina, my editor at Castle Quay, has been a great experience. She asked good questions so she could understand what I was trying to say. Marina did a great job putting the final touches on that shaped the book. I found myself a little disappointed when the editing was done.

As this book is now available in bookstores and online, I want to thank Larry and Marina for all their assistance in making this book a reality. It has been a privilege to work with them. They did a great job on the layout and cover; they even worked to get a note for the book from the Honourable David Onley. Check out Castle Quay’s web-site http://castlequaybooks.com/ they have published many good books.

Thank you, Larry and Marina and all those at Castle Quay, for your work on this book. May God bless you as He is glorified.

“He hath made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

book

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Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances

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Steph

We met in October 2007 in London, Ontario. Steph was introduced to me through a family friend. For many years, I felt God wanted me to write a book about my life, but I knew I could not do it myself. Typing with a mouth stick is slow going at times, so I started looking for a Christian woman with whom I could work. Steph was a great fit and I believe God brought us together.

 

I felt a good connection with Steph. We were around the same age, so many things I talked about, she knew what I meant. I started by dictating on tapes and sending them to her. After a few years, this book was taking shape, but we still had a long way to go. It was time to seriously work together on the book, so Steph came up for a week in the summer. We talked, wrote, talked, ate, and wrote. It was a great week.

 

Dr. Jerry E. White from the Navigators was speaking at M.B.C. and we asked him if he would read a draft of the first chapter. He graciously took the time then met with us over lunch and gave us many pointers and ideas that helped shape the book.

 

The next summer, Steph spent another week with me, again talking and eating, more writing and editing. She spent time with my parents and siblings, asking questions and at times, just watching us interact. I know this helped Steph write better because some stories she wrote like she had been there! Email and Facebook have made our communication easier and by January 2012, we had a completed manuscript.

 

Thank you, Steph, for seeing a story and putting up with all my questions, phone calls, emails, my ups, and my downs. I could not have done this without your expertise. Thanks for your friendship. This is a great bonus to working with you.

See Steph’s web-site to learn more about my friend.  http://stephbethnickel.com

 

Living Beyond My Circumstances is being released in December 2013. This is not just my book. It’s about my family and about a great God who cares for each life and how He can use anyone for His glory if you are willing to trust Him.

 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV).

 

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Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances

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