Jasmin's Own Words
"I always keep up hope that they will find a cure for FOP...."
I got diagnosed with a rare bone disease at age 5 ½ named FOP. FOP affects only one in two million people. It causes extra bone to form in places it shouldn’t (ex: the back, arms, legs, etc. For more info: www.ifopa.org). There is also more info on my website.
I am just like any other 13-year-old girl except with special needs. I sometimes use wheelchairs when my legs are bothering me or when I am tired. I mainly use them at school fieldtrips. I can only reach my arms up to table height. I have a lot of pain at times and it is a true miracle when I don’t. I sometimes am unable to attend school. I always keep up hope that they will find a cure for FOP. I can no longer bend down to touch my toes. I need to ask my mother or an adult to itch my neck and back and other hard to reach spots since I am unable to do that without some help.
I am a very spunky understanding person and I just know that all the prayers said to God for a cure will just be answered someday.
Sometimes I get mad at Him and ask, “Why me?” Sometimes I have even stated to Him, “Why does everything bad happen to me?” I still find myself mad but now I know that hope and not giving up makes a HUGE difference in the world. I am very truly glad I am alive and I am very happy to be me!
