Introduction

Karyn Buxman (Host): We have Amy Van Dyken-Rouen. She’s been selected to be the recipient of the 2017 Invisible No More – Perseverance Award. Amy was chosen based upon her amazing perseverance. Since childhood, she’s lived with life-threatening asthma, and in 2014 she was involved in a very serious accident that left her with a spinal cord injury, excruciating pain, and subsequent paralysis. In spite of her circumstances, Amy shares her story, all of the struggles and triumphs in order to encourage others on their personal journey of loss, illness, pain, and disability. Due to travel commitments, Amy was unable to join us this evening, so she joins us via video.

Amy Van Dyken-Rouen’s Acceptance Speech

Hey there everybody in Colorado, it’s me, Amy Van Dyken-Rouen! I just wanted to say I’m so sorry that I cannot be there in person. I would’ve done anything to be there, but sadly my schedule wouldn’t allow it. But I just wanted to give a quick thank you to you guys and everybody over there at the Invisible Disabilities Association.

This award is so special to me because obviously I have an obvious disability with my spinal cord injury and being a paraplegic ever since June 6th, 2014. But of course, there are things that go with that that a lot of people don’t know and a lot of people don’t see—and for me, that’s neuropathic pain. So I guess we congratulate neuropathic pain. Yay!

Living with the Invisible Battle

For me, from my belly button down, I literally just feel like I’m in a fire constantly. I take a lot of meds for it, and sadly, sometimes they don’t work. And sometimes the only thing that works is sitting on the sofa and Netflixing and chilling by yourself, maybe with a dog, who knows? But it really is tough, and there are certain days where you just sit there and think, “Am I ever gonna be normal again?”

I want to thank you guys for having this award and letting us with those invisible disabilities get the word out and let people know that they are not alone. That there are people out there that are going through the exact same thing that they are.

Raising Awareness and Seeking Solutions

Through this award, I hope that I’ll be able to get out the word—not only about spinal cord injuries and hopefully finding a cure for that, but also for neuropathic pain. Hopefully, we can find something for that, too.

Obviously, some people with spinal cord injuries do get full paralysis where they just don’t feel anything. Some of us get cold, and some of us lucky ones like myself—who don’t do anything halfway, ever in their entire lifetime—have severe neuropathic pain. You can also get that from nerve damage and you can get it from diabetes as well. So thank you for allowing me to get the word out.

A Message of Community and Hope

People, you’re not alone. There are people out there who are there for you, who are there to help you, and those are the people that are sitting right in this room right now. And me!

You guys, thank you so, so much for thinking of me for this. It truly is an honor. I am so bummed out again that I cannot be there. But I just shout out to all of you guys, please enjoy your evening, have a toast on me. And I just want to say thank you so much and remember that you guys with invisible disabilities like myself—we’re not alone.

And you know what? Sad I can’t be in Colorado because as you guys know, in the Rouen household, it is absolutely a religion to say: “Go Broncos!” Alright, you guys, have an awesome night. Love you all!