Unboxing Us by Kelly Stover

Have you ever had a hard day due to something others couldn't easily see? Perhaps you had a bad headache and struggled to get through the day. If so, then you might be able to sympathize with those that have invisible disabilities. Nobody could see your headache, but you could feel it, and it affected you. Invisible disabilities are physical, mental, or neurological conditions that can't be perceived by looking at someone. A few common ones are diabetes, ADHD, dyslexia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

I have an invisible disability, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). PAH is high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. My family and friends know I have PAH, but what I don't often talk about is that I have another disability, depression.

After I was diagnosed with PAH, I attended a support group. One of the most surprising things I learned was that many attendees had multiple disabilities, just like I did. Some of the disabilities were easy to see, while others were invisible. Until it happened to me, I hadn't considered that it could be completely. normal to have more than one diagnosis.

Picture of a red box with an open lid and different colored confetti exploding out from it.

If there is one thing I wish others could learn from my ignorance, it's that you can''t fit us in tidy boxes sorted by disability. Every person with a disability is different, and what you may see on the surface, or know from a conversation, may not be the only thing affecting them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Stover

A smiling woman with dark hair and glasses stands in front of a door.
Kelly Stover: A smiling woman with dark hair and glasses stands in front of a door.

I’m Kelly, a pharmacy technician and music lover. I enjoy playing video games and ttrpgs in my spare time.

A Snapshot of Brian Springer’s Life

Hi, you my name is Brian Springer.  I am 41 years old, and  I am from Houston Texas. I went to Deer Park Hgh School and graduated in 1999. I moved to Mississippi when I was 19 and got a job working on a tugboat barge. I then left and did the auction driving cars, detailing and driving wreckers and forklifts. A few short years later I worked on commercial refrigerators until my back injury in 2002. I also have spina bifida occulta, autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. My hobbies are playing with my son, installing stereo systems, hanging out with my fiancé, and learning how to wire 12 volt battery systems. These hobbies help with my anxiety and depression. I have only had one surgery when I broke my back and pelvic. Now I can’t work,  but I don’t let my disabilities stop me from helping my fiancee, getting on the floor and playing with my son and helping my future father in law around the house.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Brian enjoys creating inventions. Down below an image of one of his inventions. It is a very bring light made with various parts. This bright light will be great to use during a power outage.

Picture of a bluetooth car stereo, a 12-48v dc light, and other dc devices
It’s got a Bluetooth car stereo a 12-48v dc light 💡 dc USB ports one cigarette lighter 12v plug and a plug to run a fan it has 4 DEWALT 20v battery’s charging of of a laptop 20v charger

Snapshot of One Person with Spina Bifina: Courtney Parker

Spina bifida also known as split spine. A birth defect in which a developing baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly. There are fewer than 200,000 cases per year. There are three types of Spina bifida occulta also known as hidden spina bifida, myelomeningocele and meningocele.

 

Occulta- Also known as hidden spina bifida. It is when a baby’s back bone doesn’t fully form in pregnancy. The baby is born with a small gap in the bones of the spine. Spina bifida occulta is common and happens in 1 in 10 people.

 

Meningocele- A birth defect in which a developing baby’s spinal cord fails to develop or close properly in the womb.

 

Myelomeningocele- This is the most severe causing paralysis, bowel and bladder difficulties.

 

Hydrocephalus- Water on the brain.

 

Shunt- A narrow piece of tubing that is inserted into the brain in the fluid filled ventricle. The tubing is then placed most commonly in the abdomen but can be placed in the heart or lungs.

 

Various face emogies

Hello, my name is Courtney I was born in 1989, and I was immediately rushed to Riley hospital in Indianapolis due to a hole in my spine. I have Spina bifida myelomeningocele, the most severe type causing me to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I have had multiple surgeries due to my disability: 4 back surgeries, bladder and bowel augmentations, 3 shunt replacements just to name a few. But I don’t let my challenges stop me from doing the things I like to do. My hobbies are hanging with my fiance Brian, playing with our son, art, writing, and listening to music.

 

I will say this:   Being a disabled parent to “Spider-Man” has many challenges. . The most challenging things are lifting, bathing, and dressing him. But there are many rewarding times in being his mommy,  such as his smile and him waiting  for me in the morning for snuggles and our play time. Yes there are many struggles,  but Brian is always by my side as a wonderful support. He has built a carrier that attaches to my electric wheelchair so on walks, in stores, at the park and many more places,  I can put him in the car seat and wheel him around that way.

 

 

 I also have anxiety and depression so some tasks are harder to handle than others. The biggest task that is hard for me would be large crowds. I have trouble with severe anxiety speaking in front of people so writing is an outlet for me to deal with my emotions. But in the last few years Brian has been working with me on getting over my fears.

I Am A Survivor: Luna Eversong-Kloss

The video starts with a woman holding two blank pieces of paper taped together. She has a black tank top, and all that is seen is her torso and arms. As she is crumpling the papers, phrases appear on the screen. They are in a bulleted list here to signify when one phrase ends and the other begins.

  • You’re crazy
  • I don’t think you should hang out with them.
  • Next, the word “wh*r*” appears.
  • I’ll get you back
  • all your threats
  • assault
  • stalking me
  • isolating me
  • hiding my meds
  • no one will ever love you like I do
  • You’re a burden

By this time the papers are in a ball.

Now she is uncrumpling the papers to reveal family photos with the words, “I AM A Survivor,” written in red below the pictures.

 

The pictures are an adult female in a black tank top snuggling a child while writing something, a mom holding a newborn baby, a male child about 4 or 5 held close to a man’s face, and two wedding pictures.

At the end there is a black screen with, “Video Art by Luna Eversong-Kloss.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Luna Eversong-Kloss

Luna Eversong-Kloss is a tattoo model, avocate, write, and mother of two. She also has cerebral palsy.

Luna is standing with her walker. She has tattoos and a lip piercing. She has long brown hair'with blonde streak. Her head is cocked, and she is smiling broadly. She is wearing a black shirt with skulls and flowers.
Luna is standing with her walker. She has tattoos and a lip piercing. She has long brown hair’with blonde streak. Her head is cocked, and she is smiling broadly. She is wearing a black shirt with skulls and flowers.