Challenges That Change Us

111 {Rhiannon Anderson} Doctors say wheelchair bound by 10, dead by 18

Listen on

Episode notes

Trigger warning: this episode discusses the topic of suicide

Muscular Dystrophy is something that has really only started to become more commonly known in the past decade or so. But even now most people might have a rough general idea of it, but not actually know the details of just how varied and complicated it can be.

Rhiannon Anderson was diagnosed at 3 and her parents were told she would not live past her 18th birthday. This was compounded by her need for scoliosis surgery in 2012.

Since then she has graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with honours and a Bachelor of Law in 2023. She has worked as a paralegal and now as a Life Coach, runs a successful blog and lives her life with her two dogs, Lexi and Levi, goes on day trips to the Gold Coast with her family, and enjoys watching Aussie Rules Football, and working with horses.  


In this episode Rhiannon shares:


  • What it was like being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy
  • Why it took so long to be diagnosed
  • What it was like growing up as a kid with Muscular Dystrophy
  • How her MD progressed as she hit puberty and how this affected her
  • What her condition is like now
  • The challenge of being diagnosed with scoliosis as a kid as well
  • What the journey to recover from scoliosis was like
  • The mantras and inspiration her grandpa gave her that helped her through her recovery
  • How she lives knowing she has a terminal condition
  • The ways she lives her life despite her condition
  • Her remarkable big goal to achieve despite her condition
  • Why working with horses has helped her as a form of therapy
  • Her thoughts on how going through the mental challenges helps develop her into the person she is


Key Quotes

“I had to walk the entire hallway unassisted. And it took me 12 minutes to walk a 50 metre corridor.”

“I went from being able to sit on the floor and pull myself up to having to only sit on a chair, in the space of a couple of months


More about Rhiannon


You can find her via her website: https://livingabled.com.au/

Or on socials.

Instagram: Living_abled

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingabledcoaching


You can get involved with the podcast online

 

To try out our resilience course: https://www.challengesthatchangeus.com/surviving-2-thriving-course1

On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus

Or on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus

If you want to contact the podcast, email us here: [email protected]

Or check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.com

If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:

http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au

For her other business you can find it through the websites: www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.