Meet Inspirational Katie, 26, and Her Story of Resilience and Advocacy
Special Feature by Ellise Hollie-Hayward, Jill Dando News Disabilities Correspondent
Meet Katie Krzyanowski, 26 and from the UK!
She loves make-up, books and just being creative.
Katie was born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and was typically healthy until she was 4 when they discovered she had Scoliosis which was quickly turned into Kyphosis.
Katie’s first surgery was when she was 5 and they fitted lengthening rods that required her to be operated on every six months.
When she was 10, she had her first fusion, a few months later the rods buckled which meant she needed another fusion - that was when it was meant to be “it” for her, her last surgery but that wasn’t the case.
When Katie was 12, the pressure of her curve crushed her spinal cord, she was paralysed from T5/6 and spent four months in hospital.
She was never supposed to walk again after that but despite the odds, she's able to walk short distances!
She has practically spent her life in and out of hospital, which has been really difficult, not just for her but her loved ones too.
She started posting on social media as she knew what it was like to grow up with no representation and how damaging that is.
She knows the toll it can take on a persons mental health and self worth, it’s something she will continue to struggle with.
Katie wants to make a difference, she wants those with a visible difference to know they’re not alone, their feelings are valid and that they’re beautiful as they are.
They do not need to change, society does.
