Hi everyone my name is Marie Nicole I am 41 years old.
I was born 11 weeks premature. As a result of my very early birthday, I developed a brain hemorrhage and spent the first 3 months of my life in the N.I.C.U. at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; during which time I had my first operation to repair the hemorrhage with the placement of a shunt because I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus.
When I was one year old I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. As a result of my diagnosis, I was put into physical therapy and had what I refer to as my. “Miracle operation when I was 7.
The operation allowed me to begin walking with a walker a few weeks after the operation Therapy was a weekly part of my life until I was 13. At this point in my life I told my mom that I had had enough of therapy and I wasn’t going anymore because it “sucked
As a result of my attitude and rebellion walking eventually became difficult and as a result, I had to have another operation and learn how to walk again at the age of 15. High School had its ups and downs educationally and socially. I was teased in school, but I was also a go-getter who at the time was the only wheelchair user to be a member of our school choir all six years throughout junior high and high school. Being at Eagle Rock Jr. Sr. High School was my doorway to self-advocacy.
As a result of being told that I would not be allowed to participate on stage with my fellow students and friends. I was asked to tell my story at USC. As a result of my efforts and the efforts of many others a ramp was built following the death of a 100-year-old tree,
Fast forward to 2003, as a student at Pasadena City College, I met my best friend Noel Williams. During our friendship, we would talk about our view of disability and together we came up with the idea that the words disabled or disability should only be used in regards to things such as a broken down car because these things are incapable of moving, thinking, or feeling. It was awesome to hang out with someone who was confident and proud of the way God had made her. My best friend passed away on December 5th 2003.
in December of 2009. I was 26 and about to end my college career. I was 185 pounds I used a power chair to Get around campus and I was only able to walk short distances at this time. It was also during this time that I was being bombarded by so many unwanted questions and opinions
I was left feeling that something needed to change. so I committed to getting fit and healthy and began my health journey on January 5th 2010
One year later I was blessed with two amazing opportunities! One was a 6 week stint in physical therapy during which time I learned how to walk long distances and the other opportunity was being selected to be on a TV show called Live Big with Ali Vincent. While I was being motivated and encouraged by the new friends that I had made I trained for and completed my first 5k.In 2014 when the show ended I felt the desire to encourage others the way I had been encouraged to live a healthy life.
In November of 2014 my cousin introduced me to a friend of hers who was health and fitness coach in February 2015 I became a health and fitness coach with Beachbody.
As of October 2020, I realized that God was telling me to move on and simply encourage my community with writing and speaking.
On October 21st, I created a podcast called Encouragement Notes which is a mix of everything I have learned in this life God has given me; I share the things I learn in church, I share my view on disability and I share my experiences around performance and viewing live concerts and theatre.
Fast forward to July 2021, After the discovery of a YouTube channel called Wheels2walking, I gained the courage to virtually attend Rollettes Experience for the first time. It was the first time that I had the confidence to introduce myself to powerful women who looked like me and had amazing goals! Right after RE I applied for and was accepted into Boundless Babe Society This is the Rolettes mentorship program that teaches women with disabilities to live their lives with confidence and how to deal with different situations in life. It is an amazing opportunity for any woman or teen girl with a disability and I am so happy that I joined in the first place and that they have decided to start a graduate program, which means that women who have already graduated from the program can still be involved in the program. I look forward to continuing the sharing of my journey with you God bless you and talk to you soon.
I hope you love it here and we can connect often.
Encouragement Notes Podcast 