Women Matter April-May 2014 | Page 19

A Role Model To All By Mahri Carmichael Emma Purdie should be a role model to so many people out there. Since birth Emma has battled with anterior horn cell dysplasia: a condition of the cells in the muscles of her legs meaning that she requires additional support to stand and walk. But that hasn’t stopped her from leading a normal life. At 21 Emma is doing everything like anyone else, she attends college and has a social life; nothing seems to be a struggle. Even though this condition causes her inconvenience and most people would struggle under the weight of it all, not Emma. Emma has lived alone since the age of 16. With a loving and supportive nana to help her along the way, she managed to move out and fend for herself. Having this disability as a child was difficult; she was and still is constantly in pain from wearing splints. But she’s never let that stop her from doing the things she wants. She wears layers on top of layers to protect her feet and legs yet still finds her feet bleeding through the 4 layers under her splints. It’s a pain that I can only imagine, but yet she still cares for herself, cooks, cleans, gathers the shopping and looks after her fluffy cat companion. That’s more than what some 21 year olds do who don’t have disabilities! “I’ve grown up with it, I’ve gotten used to it; It’s just my life.” It’s so inspiring to so many people who do have disabilities and think they CAN’T do it. Emma proves that they can. They can lead normal, happy lives just like everyone else.