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Have you ever had one of those rare conversations where you really connect with the other person and it just sort of, transforms you? That was the kind of talk I had with Wendi Umali 10 years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since.

 

Wendi was speaking with her family at an event that I was attending and something drew me to her. I ended up approaching them after the event was over and we talked for almost 2 hours. She remains someone who inspires me greatly.

 

We’ve kept in touch on social media over the years, and I had the opportunity to sit down with Wendi to talk about her journey as a mom of a child with a disability. Wendi’s daughter Abbey has a form of Muscular Dystrophy which results in smaller, weaker muscles.  It presented Abbey with challenges from her early childhood, but that didn’t stop her or her family.

 

Wendi talks about her perspective on Abbey’s diagnosis, and shows us what it looks like to turn something that could have been devastating and painful into something powerful and amazing.

 

Abbey became the National Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association - an organization that’s dear to my heart, and where I worked for almost 10 years.  Through this volunteer position she has rubbed elbows, sang with, and appeared on television with the likes of Kevin Bacon, LeeAnn Rhimes, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, and the one and only, Jerry Lewis.

 

Wendi shares what it was like to go through this incredible ride as Abbey’s mom.  Her words and her perspective once again inspired and encouraged me, and even if you aren’t working through the same struggles that she did, I really think you’ll find joy and peace in hearing Wendi’s words.