Samantha Lee

 I continue to be humbled. This is the sixth of a series of articles I am writing for Invisible Warriors. Nancy Becher is on a mission. People with chronic disabilities and illnesses are often ostracized by mainstream society. But no more.

From the website.

Women with non-apparent illnesses often lose their jobs, their income, and their insurance; their spouse often leaves, depression sets in, and 7 out of 10 attempt suicide.

Invisible Warriors is changing that cycle.

The disability community is the largest minority in the world. Yet, instead of feeling inclusive and wrapped in camaraderie, most of us feel alone, unvalued, and unworthy.

Making change happen.

The human race is challenged – we can no longer be ‘us’ versus ‘them’. We have to be a ‘we’ and make change happen together.

A word of thanks.

Thank you, Nancy Becher, for the opportunity to share awareness of those who live and struggle with illness or disability. We need to educate everyone that there is so much to do.   

Please join me as we advocate for those who live with chronic illness or disabilities. These articles are intended to create awareness for the cause and support those in need. Thank you.

The stories continue.

Samantha Lee “Leanna” McFadden was born August 22, 1971. Her parents, Sandra Dee and Michael ‘Jack’ McFadden were overjoyed when their daughter joined them as the youngest part of their family. Unfortunately, Samantha was born underweight and small. The pregnancy was extremely difficult for Sandra Dee. On several occasions, she had to be rushed to the hospital. About half-way through the pregnancy, her doctor asked if Sandra Dee and Jack wanted to carry their baby to full term. The doctor was giving them a way out.

No easy answer.

Sandra was determined to have a child. And despite the continued risks to her, and her baby’s health, she went through to full term.

Given the potential dangers of having a vaginal delivery, Sandra Dee’s doctor performed a C-section a week before the planned delivery date. Although Sandra Dee did not believe much in the stars, she noted that Samantha was a ‘Leo’. She kept this in the back of her mind as she watched her daughter grow up.

Something’s wrong.

Samantha was born underweight with a myriad of medical issues as a result. At the very least, she would be developmentally delayed. To what extent, anyone could guess. Because of this, Sandra Dee developed a keen sense of awareness for her daughter . . . an almost spiritual awareness. Sandra Dee could tell when something was not quite right with 100% accuracy.   

One night, Sandra Dee felt that something was wrong. She double checked the locks on the windows and doors. It was the year 1973, and video surveillance cameras were not common for home use. But it was not her physical safety that concerned her this night. It was something more subconscious, even spiritual. Yet she could not quite put her finger on the problem. She told her husband, and the two prayed about it that night before going to sleep.

At two in the morning, October 11, 1973, Sandra Dee woke up. She was startled from her sleep. Looking around her semi-lit bedroom, she saw nothing out of place. No sounds could be heard down the hall or on the first floor of the house. Still, she was unsettled in an almost life-threatening manner. She nudged her husband awake.

“What?” her husband asked.

“Something’s wrong,” Sandra Dee said. There was worry in her tone. “Can you go downstairs to check.”

Without saying a word, Jack got up, walked down the hall, and then down the stairs. When her husband was no longer in eyesight, she decided to check on her daughter. Within minutes, her screams for Jack could be heard outside.

Samantha.

Sandra Dee found her daughter struggling to breathe. Samantha’s lungs were gasping heavily, and her face was a light shade of blue. Sandra had to do something quick. But what?

When Jack raced back upstairs, he found his wife screaming and crying. Samantha’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled for each breath. That was all he needed to know to jump into action. He quickly changed into jeans, shirt, and threw on a jacket. He grabbed Samantha and placed her in the car while his wife changed. Within minutes, they were racing toward the hospital.

Sandra Dee never forgot that night and was glad that “it was only asthma”, as the doctor had put it. But it was not just asthma, it was something that almost took her daughter’s life away. As a result, she became an overprotective mom. She changed her work schedule . . . even her entire life . . . to always be by her daughter’ side.

Growing up.

When she was younger, Samantha liked the attention her mother gave her. By the time she turned 12, however, the amount of protective shadowing was impeding Samantha’s life. She often argued with her mother. She wanted space. Samantha wanted privacy. But more than that, she wanted freedom. It was not that she wanted to be free of her mom. No, she wanted to be free of her illness.

You see, growing up with a disease impacts how you feel about yourself and how you interact with others. She was often teased for not being able to play with the other girls, especially when they wanted to play chase or some other activity that required running. It was just something she couldn’t do. And she was tired of it.

So she decided to make a change. She wanted to beat that which she felt was beating her down. She wanted to overcome the disease that was taking away her youth. She decided to run. As the weather warmed during the change in seasons, she walked to the park after school. She told her mother than she was only going there to sit by the lake. But Samantha had other plans.

On that day . . . that very special day . . . Samantha ran. She did not run far, or for very long, but she ran. She ran for the first time ever. And it felt good. It felt good to run. It felt good that she took steps . . . both literally and figuratively . . . to take back control over her own life. And she continued to do this several times a week. She went to the park, running for longer periods of time.

And as she did, she found a new sense of confidence and self-awareness that she never had before. This encouraged her to appreciate the things she could do, even in a limited capacity. But she learned to take risks, within reason. And she learned to think positively about life. There were things she could do; she only had to try.   

For people who live with disabilities or illness, life does not have to stop. You just learn to live in the space you are in.       

About the Author

Dr. Keith McNally is host of the Question Guy Podcast! He is also the author of Walking the Path – A Leader’s Journey. Additionally, Dr. McNally is a content creator and ghostwriter. Walking the Path is a guide to impact leadership through a social consciousness model. If you need to step up your leadership impact or are looking for someone to help you write your leadership story (in book format), he’s the guy! In fact, he’s The Question Guy! 

Thanks for reading!

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