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.