I would like to share with you some of my life's joys and pains. At the age of four, I accidentally fell out of the car driven by my mother and was crushed under the wheel. My family was told I would never live and, if I did, would surely never walk. My bladder, urethra, vaginal wall, bladder neck and one ovary were ripped out. Most of my small and large bowel was destroyed and my pelvis was in many pieces. My reproductive organs were unrecognizable - I was told I would never have children. The list of internal injuries was truly endless. since that time, I have had over 180 surgical procedures. Due to all of my scarring and adhesions, I will have surgeries for the rest of my life.

We all have a story, whether it's physical or mental. Mine just happens to be a little of both. The first several years after my accident, I had one surgery after another. I had a urinary bag on my leg for 11 years and was incontinent until 1994 when I agreed to have a permanent urostomy. And we all know the saying that kids can really be cruel. It was truly true for me throughout my school years. I was made fun of often, but I had a family that taught me to smile through my pain and instilled in me a belief that my joy outweighs my pain.

Another huge hurdle in those years was that I was sexually abused from the ages of nine to eleven. The details of those years were horrific, but the perpetrator was caught and prosecuted. Turns out the emotional scars sometimes hurt worse than the physical scars.

I was married in 1990 and had a stillborn son in 1992. My surgeries continued, but a true gift was given to me when my daughter, Mackenzie, was born in 1995. She has an incredible story herself. She was born premature and classified as a failure-to-thrive baby. She had a hole in her heart, premature lungs and underdeveloped digestive tract and she spent the first seven months of her life in the hospital. She had several surgeries and a feeding tube for the first three years of her life. But in spite of epilepsy, she is now a healthy, happy young lady. And as a child who loves cheerleading, she brings cheer to my life every day.

In 1996, I went through a divorce and all the pain that goes with it. I remained a single mom for seven years. It was nothing but a miracle I married DeWayne in August of 2003. DeWayne has told me that my scars are what has given me my heart. He has shown more love without conditions or limits than I have ever know. He is not just my love, he is my best friend.

I had over $750,000 in medical debt when we met and it is now almost at $1,000,000. We pay over $2,000 a month in prescriptions and ostomy supplies that are not covered by insurance. But by the grace of God and a few anonymous friends, we make it most months, though some months I go without medication and treatments needed.

Though I have a great support system from a select few, would-be friends and allies often times become overwhelmed by the suffering I endure. You might say that when the going gets tough, the non-tough get going. But I believe through it all that our struggles truly make us stronger. And my hope is that in sharing my story, I can give hope to the hopeless and to those that are blessed with so much, a desire to give and be thankful.

The past two years I am still battling my staph infection. I believe I would be well if I was rich but I'm not, so I can't stay on my meds every month at the doses I need. I am on them a month and then I am off until I raise it again. Remember just my staph meds are $8400 dollars per month. That doesn't count all the other meds or ostomy supplies, ect. I still do my treatments 7 days a week.

DeWayne is doing great. He is still working hard and my closest friend. He is still a huge Wildcats Fan and he still loves to deer hunt. I think he got about 14 this past season. Crazy huh! He has been going to the gym everyday for over a year, I think as a stress reliever from work and me being sick, but boy does he look HOTTTTT! His smile and unconditional love keep me going.

Mackenzie is now 11 years old. My baby is growing up and so is her attitude. She is still the best miracle God ever gave me and is such a loving, giving kid. I am so proud of her. She is that quiet friend when you first meet her, but then she is a dancing, singing fool. She is the kind of person you know you can count on and I am just proud to be her Mom.

This is what I want you to see that in all my daily pain God gives me more blessings than we can count.