We talk to Deborah Raymond on today's BHP. Follow Deborah https://twitter.com/deb1rayAbout Deborah in her own words:"Deformed but Dynamic. That's how many people view me and, more importantly, that's how i like to think of myself as. I was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome. Back in 1964, people had no idea of what that was. They had no clue as to why i had short fingers, facial deformities, cleft palette, hare lip and club feet. Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children's Hospital were my second homes, as i went through repeated (last count was 40) corrective surgeries. I spent the first 20 years of my life not knowing why I was so different than everyone else. I was bullied in school, passed over for jobs and promotions, and yet, because of my loving and supportive family and friends, refused to let that define me. But it was so difficult not to. There were many times that I suffered from low self-esteem. I would NEVER take my own life but I sometimes wished some car would hit me, or that my car would slip on an icy patch and take my life. At the age of 20, during my first serious relationship, I decided to search diligently for some answers. Concerned that i might pass this on to my future children, I went from doctor to doctor until I finally got referred to a geneticist at the University of British Columbia. It was then explained to me what happened in utero. My mom broke down and cried as she, for the first time, realized it had nothing to do with her or anything she did. After all the descriptions and diagrams, medical terms and 'statistics' one point I heard loud and clear was ""this is one of the leading causes of still births and miscarriages"". Wow, what a life changing comment that was. I AM SO FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE. That was a major turning point for me. i felt better about myself and it showed in the way i carried myself and enjoyed life all that much more. I became, even more so, a person that people respected and admired. I had a bounce in my step and became a confident woman. I am now a happily married woman with a 17 year old BEAUTIFUL daughter, living in Maple Ridge BC. I have a successful career in Financial Services and I facilitate two networking / support groups. One such group is called 'Langley Support for Parents of Children with Disabilities'. My goal in life is to transform people's futures, making them feel great about themselves; physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. I want to reach out to as many people as i can and give them hope. Regardless of their abilities or disabilities, born with a birth difference or not, i believe we can all be Dynamic.Don't forget to donate to The Podcast and check out our sponsor:http://www.bhmode.comhttps://www.facebook.com/libelulalifeFacebook: facebook.com/blindhourpodcastTwitter: twitter.com/tbhpodofficialContact: (781)922-8507 / [email protected]