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Joining us today is Amanda, the twenty-something blogger behind Life According to Amanda. Although she suffers from RSD, a chronic pain disorder, Amanda refuses to let her condition rule who she is or what she is able to accomplish.
Your blog is such a source of inspiration! What can you us about your RSD condition? What is it and how are you doing now?
RSD, or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, is a chronic pain and neurological condition that causes a burning pain in the affected area. I was diagnosed with RSD when I was thirteen after a strep infection moved into my blood stream and settled into my hands. After putting RSD into remission the first time, I was then re-diagnosed at seventeen with the pain this time being in my right leg. I spent eighteen months on crutches and was put into medical remission with the implant of a spinal cord stimulator in 2007. Since then, I have been experiencing some occasional symptoms in my leg and I am currently in medical treatment for the third time, this time with internal pain in my kidney. I have spent a lot of time coming to terms with the fact that I will never be completely free of pain and I have learned the best ways to adapt in my day to day life. Most people, unless I am open to them about what is going on or I am having a particularly bad day, are completely unaware that I have this condition. It has made me such a stronger person.
We see that you’re moving from Ohio to Mississippi for graduate school soon. What do you anticipate living in the south will be like?
I think my first answer is hot! I’ve spent so much time living in the north in snow belts that I know it is going to be a culture shock to move. I’m also terrified with the fact that I am moving so far away from my family and the friends I have made over my years at school, without knowing anyone in Mississippi. Another big change that I am trying to prepare myself for is just the rural-ness of the school I’m moving to–I’m going from a city of nearly 200,000 to one of 24,000. And that is not even mentioning the fact that the closest Target store involves driving for an hour and a half and crossing state lines! I’m not sure what I would do if I lived there and was not able to do some online shopping.
Tell us about the month you lived in France.
I lived in France in August of 2005 when I was sixteen years old. I guess you could say that living there for only a month was my first big “failure”–I was supposed to live there for the entire year as a foreign exchange student. While the time that I did get to spend there was beautiful, I don’t think that it was right for me at the time and my match with my host family just wasn’t there. Living in France was the first time I was truly able to experience independence, but looking back, I would have done things a lot differently.
Describe your best {and worst} day as a nanny.
I really think it is hard to pinpoint one best day with the kids I nanny. Both kids present different challenges (the younger boy, A, has Fragile X Syndrome and is Autistic and the older girl, B, is a typical teenager) but I truly do love them both to death and will have an incredibly hard time leaving the family in August for graduate school. I think that one of my favorite parts of a typical night (I’m there from 5pm until 9am, as the mom is a night shift nurse) is after getting A ready for bed and the three of us laying on my bed in “snugglefest” as B refers to it as. We will spend time reading and relaxing from the day, and it really does warm my heart to see how B interacts with A. The worst day, however, is an easy one. After taking B to school (in my brand new car, no less), A and I got back to the house to see that he had made a mess is his diaper that involved me spending the next hour or so trying to get the mess and smell out of my car. From there on, I’ve made sure to have a towel down no matter where we are going.
A few posts from Amanda that you do not want to miss…
A Letter to RSD: Sometimes, the things we hate most in life really do make us stronger.
Comparing Blogging to Online Dating: There aren’t too many differences between the two activities after all.
Failing at Being a Perfectionist: Turns out Amanda is not perfect. But then again, none of us are. And that’s OK.
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Moving far from family and friends is hard, but so exciting! I predict you will have an amazing time in MS and graduate school. I moved from CA to NYC when I was 23. I stayed about 5 years. It was by far the best thing I’ve ever done. Don’t think of your month in France as a failure! I think that took a lot of courage to move to France at 16! I couldn’t do it now at 42. Can’t wait to check out your blog.
What an inspirational blog! I can’t wait to visit her!
Happy Wednesday, everyone…today’s FB sure sounds like an inspiration!
looking forward to reading!
LOved It!!
An inspiration indeed! Thanks for giving us one more living example of possibility even in the face of adversity.
Most people would not handle the chronic pain as well as it sounds like she does. I like her positive spirit!
http://www.pampersandpinot.com
good morning ladies…
Wow such inspiration!
Aaah, I love her blog! I’m about to subscribe to her feed. We seem to have a lot in common over there as far as our experiences with blogging goes. π
What an inspiration! I am popping over to your blog to read more right now!
Amanda is truly an inspiration. RSD is in incredibly difficult diagnosis and to nanny a child on the spectrum on top of that takes a very special person. Looking forward to reading all about her!
Thanks for sharing with us!
Seems like such a cool lady…I think blogging it one of those things that helps those of us deal with life (hey, all of us) find ways to express and deal with things and get feedback on it from the world at large and maybe others around the world who’ve dealt with the exact same thing at some point in their life…how cool is that!!
Wow, RSD sounds incredibly challenging. What an inspiration she is!
Good morning ladies! I haven’t been around in a while…have a great week!
Wow, we’re getting up there close to 9,000 members. I remember when we were just rounding the corner for 5,000. Way to go SITS girls!
She sounds wonderful! I’m going to go check out her blog. Happy Wednesday!
Amanda is an amazing blogger and friend! So happy to see her SITS day is here! π
Off to say “Hello”! Happy Hump Day, Ladies!
I’m thinking she will give me some inspiration today!!
Headed over to read the blog!
What an inspiration to not let life slow her down!
Bernice
RSD sounds horrible. I admire you for being so positive with such a challenge to your own physical health!
I just moved to a foreign country, Denmark, 3.5 months ago. It was ridiculously challenging at first, so I can not imagine trying to do something like this at 16 years old. You may have ‘only’ lived in France for one month, but how many people can say such a thing about themselves? Trying something new is never a failure, so props to you! Also, I admire how you seem to live life within illness to the fullest, and not let chronic pain get you down. Good luck with your move to Mississippi, a new start is always refreshing! Off to check out your blog!
Good luck in graduate school!
I can’t imagine living with chronic pain… What a brave girl with a what sounds like a great story.
I’m looking forward to reading how she learned to cope with living with pain and managing her RSD.
She sounds like such an inspiration! Heading to her blog now… π
what a strong woman!
ALl the best & happy baking!
Sounds like she has an amazing head on her shoulders for such a young person. She sounds like someone I could be best friends with.
Wow she truely is an inspiration! Off to visit her site now! π
I have a couple of friends with chronic pain. You are very inspirational to me for working through it.
lol, yes Amanda it is definitely HOT here in the south! Kudos to you for bringing attention to RSD and sharing your story!
Congrats on your SITS day! Off to your blog I go…
Awesome blog, I admire your preseverance!
Happy Hump Day! I’m in Mississippi & yes, it is very HOT! (except for today, it is rainy and cold).
I LOVE AMANDA – she is honestly one of the sweetest, kindest, honest people I know! One of my best bloggy friends ever!
So happy for you girl! <3 Happy SITS day!
The upbeat attitude the FB’er has in the face of constant pain is amazing. Sure puts things into perspective. And she won’t go very long in Mississippi before she has friends galore – not just becasue people in MS are very friendly, but because the Amanda is so outgoing.
I’ve never heard of RSD. Thank you for sharing. Today I posted a custom piece of artwork for a salon. It’s so cute! Come see me sometime!
Welcome to the South, Amanda! π
Wow! What an amazing woman! I would die without a Target too!
Enjoy living in the south! watch out for the humidity π
Happy Hump day y’all!
Wow, I’d never heard about RSD. Thanks for the info!
Happy Wednesday! Spring seems to finally be returning.
What an inspirational blog! Off to go check it out.
Heading over to read her blog!! This girl definitely sounds like a true inspiration!! Cant wait to read some of her featured posts.
She sounds like an inspiration.
We are having a truth telling session at my place. Come on over to weigh in.
Off to read the feature:-)
I have followed Amanda for quite some time and we’ve become fantastic blogging buds this past year! She is so kind, generous, and al all-around total sweetheart! She also introduced me to the world of Scentsy… now I am obsessed!