Hello, I'm karen, I am 20 years old, also in wheelchair. The reason why I am in a wheelchair is because when I was born, I mutated a disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as the brittle bone disease. I was born with 2 broken legs and one arm. This disorder isn't curable in fact, its absolutely rare. Where I live, Doctors weren't educated they found nothing wrong with me even the finest hospital such as "children hospital" weren't knowledge about my disorder. My mother searched in 4 hospital but neither of them had any answer. Until one day my mom took me to Mexico she asked the dr over there to have a look, and the dr said that I had broken bones. Doctor suggested to take me back to Los Angeles and keep looking for a doctor because he didn't have the right supplies to wrap me in . if any more time passes by your daughter might lose her legs and arm he said. My legs and arm were swollen and I knew my mother was losing hope but then, she saw a hospital on Flower St. in Downtown Los Angeles she rushed me in took a couple of x-rays and dr immediately cast me and as my mom tears runner down her face she was relieved that someone was able to attend me. Doctor the. Spoke with my mom and told her I had OI type 4 he explained that it was rare and I will have many other breaks in life my mom was relieved to found out what I had, but she wasn't ready to take part of the journey I was going to lead her. It took 6months for someone to diagnose me. I've had many broken bones lost count of it, and many rodding surgery. Until now I still break I recently am recovering from a surgery I had months ago but I'm smiling. The wheelchair heart symbol means everything to me because it encourages me to never give up it reminds me that no matter what life has brought me I should have "hope, love and believe,". I love 3E love because it embraces who we are, it educates people to be aware of who we are also that we are proud to be who we are, and it empowers people to accept us for who we are . It is important for to have a positive social image of disability because people already don't really accept us and for 3E love to be embracing disability has made people realize that we are the same as them. I embrace who I am by wearing t-shirts sweat shirts and buttons to educate my community that just because I am in a wheelchair doesn't mean I should be treated differently . I have hope believe and love towards life I am never giving up on my self. I'm elated to have found 3E love.