World Mitochondrial Disease Week and My Uphill Battle With a Ramp

This week, Sept 14-20, is World Mitochondrial Disease Week!

In both my Speaker Slam speeches, I say that I was born with Central Core Disease, a rare disorder where some of the mitochondria in my muscle cells is missing.

CCD is actually considered a neuromuscular disorder and not a mitochondrial disease, but considering I use the "the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell" reference in all my speeches, this week still feels so relevant! 🧬

Because of my muscle cells having areas where the mitochondria is missing, I have about 33% of the physical strength of the average person, and a lot of things are harder for me than average.

Like for example, this ramp. I always say stairs are my non-mortal enemy, but apparently there are ramps out to get you too.

This one was at an indoor obstacle course, where I went a few years ago for my work holiday party, hoping (but not asking if) there would be more accessible ways to skip certain obstacles if I couldn't do them (there weren't 😩)

Most people were climbing up on their hands and knees (literally idk how peoples' bodies work that way?!?!), but that wasn't working for me, so I resorted to whatever this is, while squealing with half regret, half determination and full body pain 80% of the time (while my boyfriend brandished his phone at me and LAUGHED 😂)

I was dying of shame but also hilarity after getting myself up the ramp and having to be literally picked up off the floor to continue (Thanks Dan 🥲)

My mitochondria might be depleted, but I'm my own powerhouse. It was an uphill battle (do ramps count as uphill?), but I made it to the top. ✨