Cindy

Cindy

Age: 62

Location: West Virginia

Injury or relation: Mother

Hobbies/Interests: Travel, needlework, reading, writing, advocacy, volunteering

Why did you become a peer mentor? I’ve been a disability advocate my whole life. Even so, I still experienced a really rough time after I fell asleep at the wheel; the accident that followed caused my daughter Beth's spinal cord injury. I wish I had connected with a mentor who understood trauma and the daily struggle. If I had, I’m certain I would have healed more quickly. Today, over twenty years after the car accident, my family agrees with me that our lives are better — not in spite of Beth’s injury, but because of it. I share our story in my Struggling with Serendipity book and blog. My goal as a peer mentor is to help others find hope, especially since I couldn’t see it for way too long. And, if you never give up? Hope wins.

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This project was supported, in part, by grant number 90PRRC0002, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.