Stories
Looking Beyond Stigma
Mandy's Story: "You have a purpose. Never give up!"
We can be that beacon of light, just calling out to everyone, “Hey, step out of the dark. Do not let fear decide your choice in life.”
Stories
Looking Beyond Stigma
Chloe’s Story
Dear Baby,You are growing inside of me. I don’t know if you are a girl or boy but I know I love you more than I will ever be able to show. I have all of these plans for us and memories that we will make.
Dear Baby,
You are growing inside of me. I don’t know if you are a girl or boy but I know I love you more than I will ever be able to show. I have all of these plans for us and memories that we will make.
I am the mother of a 15-year-old girl who is funny, caring, helpful, witty, charming and … happens to have been diagnosed with epilepsy at age three.
Weighing just 2 pounds 14 ounces at birth, I began my life with many challenges – my mental health being my greatest challenge. I’ve spent my entire life trying to adapt and overcome those challenges.
I wrote this poem to express my frustration with the way that society wants to interact with my son. Often, he is treated as a collection of labels or diagnoses rather than an individual.
My name is Tina and I am the mother of an amazingly loving and kind teenager, Logan. Logan likes to do lots of things in his community. He enjoys helping others, going camping, taking a car trip just about anywhere, and of course, taking a vacation!
I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on September 15, 1981. When I was a baby, I suffered atrial septal defect of the heart and was sick for the first three years of my life. In this time, I was prone to getting sick all the time and I was held back from school. When I first encountered stigma at an early age, I didn't understand why I was being treated this way.
Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
418 West Kalamazoo Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
269.553.7120
hello @ lookbeyondstigma.org
