Jennifer's Story
There has got to be something more!
That is what I told myself often as I balanced motherhood, blogging, network sales, myofascial release therapy work, and life as a caregiver of my son.
But, before we go there, let me start with an introduction!
Hey, I’m Jennifer Thayer. I have lived a lifetime of experiences and love to share my life philosophy with others. A former Special Education Teacher of twelve years with my master’s degree in Educational Leadership, I became a Stay-home mother to my two boys, Roa and Gunnar. Roa is 12 and has quadraspastic cerebral palsy. Gunnar is 9.
Caring for Roa has been a full-time job in itself. Yet, I continued to work from home as much as I could blogging and doing network sales. When a certain alternative therapy called Myofascial Release helped Roa immensely, I became a certified therapist, focusing on kids with special needs.
So many hats, so little time!
Yet, I still felt I could be doing more especially for my fellow moms and dads who feel lost after a life altering diagnosis hits them.
That’s where Liz Venendaal comes in! Liz helped me identify that “something more”.
She told me about Life Coaching. We Live Without Limits was her dream to help people realize their abilities past those disabilities placed upon them. I loved the mission she promised. So I joined it!
Now here I am! Master Trainer and Life Coach for the Fowler International: We Live Without Limits program. Finally, my heart and plate is full in a place where I can share this crazy life philosophy of mine with others.
To learn more about Jennifer, visit: https://www.thayercoaching.com/
Neha's Story
I am one of 17 million people across the world living with CP (cerebral palsy). CP is the most common physical disability in childhood.
I wanted to share what CP is to me and then bring a little light to what life is like for me with CP. When I was growing up, I couldn’t walk. My parents said I would also try to crawl with little success. My muscles were much weaker than “normal.” But the word different was never used in our household… because the only thing different about me is how I see the world. Even on my worst days, it has still been my main source of hope. I have been blessed with a sharp mind, which has helped me to keep a “can-do” attitude. I hope my hard work is an inspiration to others.
I have loving parents and a caring big sister who have supported me through it all. I would not be where I am today without their encouragement, care, and allowing me access to resources that will help me achieve my goals.
I am also blessed to live in a country that has respect for individuals with disabilities and gives us extra access to resources. I am currently working towards obtaining a college degree. I am also an advocate for CP awareness year-round. I am planning on opening an online adaptive clothing line soon in Minnesota in hopes of enriching the lives of those around me with disabilities.
My desire is that my life story will bring hope and encouragement to others.
CP does not define me; I define me. I am a strong, intelligent, and beautiful human being.
Heaven's Story
My name is Heaven Ramsey and I am 17 years old and I am the current US Miss Pageantry's Miss Tennessee Helping Hearts. I also have mild spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. I started my Facebook awareness page A Stairway To The Stars Heaven's Journey With CP on May 30, 2013. The decision to share my story has changed my life and allowed me to help others.
I made the decision to go back to pageants in 2014 when I realized I cannot encourage others to follow their dreams if I do not follow my own. I had done pageants from infancy to age 5 but stopped when an imperfect walk became an issue. Since then I have held the titles Little Miss Shining Star 2015, Junior Miss Knox County TN MARS 2017, and Jefferson County Fair's Fairest of the Fair Miss Beautifully Made 2019, Beautiful Miss Teen Miss Knox County 2020, and Miss US Pageantry's Miss Tennessee Helping Hearts 2020
I also recently acheived my dream of doing a professional modeling shoot and my first fashion show I am a brand ambassador to several companies. With all this I am most proud to be the cofounder of the #CPDreamTeam t-shirts for National and World CP Day each year.
We have had 9 successful campaigns with these shirts and are working on the tenth for National CP Day 2021. It has been an honor and a blessing to watch these t-shirts become much more than just a shirt and we were so blessed to have this opportunity.
In conclusion I hope you will get from my story that no matter your struggle you should never let anyone or anything hold you back from reaching for the stars and following your dreams.
Gary's Story
I was born with cerebral palsy and I am in a wheelchair with limited mobility. I have never let my disability define me, it actually has strengthened me to not let it stand in my way of doing and accomplishing anything. Throughout the years I encouraged others to get out and be a part of the community and do things they enjoy. I did not hesitate to contact our Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to help recognize World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6, 2020. The Mayor agreed and Houston City Hall along with our bridges were lit up in green which is the color for Cerebral Palsy on October 6th.
Being an avid sports fan I have had the good fortune to represent two of our major professional sports teams, the Astros and the Rockets. In 2009, I was chosen by MLB and People Magazine to represent the Astros at the MLB All Star Game in St Louis as a People All Star Among Us winner due to The Gary J. Lynn Foundation, a 501c3 which now raises money for TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital, robotics floor to help immobile people become mobile. I was chosen to be on a film with the five past living Presidents in 2009. That film was being shown in the Presidential Libraries for many years. In 2010, the Astros chose me as their Hometown Hero and I threw out the first pitch. The same year I was chosen to be on CBS The Early Show as the first Early’s Angel for my foundation.
My segment was chosen highlight of the year. I was also honored at the Plaza Hotel in New York City with the honorable Paul Volker for the awareness I brought to Cerebral Palsy and the research which needs to be done. In 2017, the Houston Rockets chose me as their Super Fan. The NBA came to Houston and filmed a commercial with me which was seen all over the world. I was the first disabled Red Rowdy with the Rockets. A Red Rowdy has to try out and do their best to attract the judges. I have been a Red Rowdy for seven years. We get season tickets to home games. I am very active and involved in the community and attend wheelchair dancing and power soccer classes at West Gray along with adaptive art lessons. My foundation holds many fundraisers throughout the year including a golf tournament. I have raised and donated $15,000.00 for Cerebral Palsy Research and $40,000.00 to TIRR Memorial Hermann’s new Neuroscience Institute, robotics floor to help immobile people become mobile including those with cerebral palsy.
I am in college and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society with plans to receive a Political Science degree in order to help those with disabilities. I have faced many challenges which has never stopped me.
I have won the Mayor’s Disability Advocate of the Year Award twice under Mayor White and Mayor Turner. In 2019, I won the Humanitarian of the Year Award along with the mother of James Harden and Tilman Fertitta for all the fundraising and volunteer work I do in the community. Mayor Turner honored me with a proclamation and declared December 10th, Gary J. Lynn Day in Houston. Thanksgiving and Christmas my family and I along with my foundation sponsor, Chris Alan, owner of Christian’s Tailgate volunteer at George R. Brown Convention Center helping to feed the poor and homeless.
My website is: The Gary J. Lynn Foundation (Home)
