MEET CHRISTOPHER – I am passionate about music: creating, discovering and sharing the positive benefits it has for people with developmental disabilities, especially those with an FASD diagnosis. I am fascinated with the brain, how it works and how music effects it. I love animals, museums, go karts, theatrical epicness.

 MY STORY:

There I was
Standing there.
No fear.
No nervousness.
I remember…I could see everything
Then..

I jumped

I was six years old when I picked myself up off the ground. I had hurt my ankle, nothing more. Nobody had noticed I had jumped off the roof of the mobile home I lived in. The very place of which I had already been exposed to things no six year old (or any child) should know, see and experience. I learned fear, cowardice, abandonment and how to run. I failed to thrive and lived in the foster care system from…

We are doing this Vicky and TODAY is your day — You are runner number 30 – Thank you so much for sharing your story and stepping out to run with Mac!

MEET VICKY – I grew up in the foster care system and no one talked about FASD openly so I did not get much intervention until I was an adult. That is very sad as so often I did not know what was going on and became angry. As I grew older I found people who wanted to learn about my challenges and help me. I’m so grateful for that.

MY STORY – I am not sure when I was diagnosed but I was in foster care from when I was 18 months old till I was 18. Back then FASD wasn’t something anyone openly spoke about so I didn’t get much intervention. I grew up being a…

My name is Chanel Torres. I was born with FAS.

My mission is to help those who are living and dealing with FAS and to stop FAS in unborn babies.

To do this, I spend my free time giving presentations at local schools, hospitals, Juvenile Detention Centers, nursing programs and many other facilities. I educate as many people as I can on FAS and to give them a chance to get to know me and my struggles and to help spread the word about FAS. I have received many awards and certificates of appreciation for my hard work in delivering my message. These awards are great, but the biggest award I can get is to know my message is being delivered and helping many people and unborn babies out there.

When I made the decision to talk about FAS I was so excited because my goal in life is to…

Day Five of our 90 Day Count Down to September 9 – And Mac has been busy collecting friends and sharing them. We are so appreciative of each of you! We’re loving the action. People are out strutting and jumping and rolling and climbing with their RedShoesRock.

MEET TOYA – Hi, I’m Toya and I was born in Sacramento California on July 4th 1995. I was 1 pound and 10 ounces at birth and I was born to an alcoholic. I am now 20 about to be 21 in just under 3 weeks from now and I have an FASD diagnosis of ARND (alcohol related neuro-developmental disorder). I have a learning disability in math but my IQ is well into the gifted range (above 140).

MY STORY – I was born prematurely, went through many foster homes, experienced abuse and neglect prior to age 5, I also had 3…

MEET EMILY — Emily possesses a passion for sharing her personal story, the story of so many, a story worth being told. She travels internationally educating and advocating on behalf this 100 percent preventable pandemic.

She has served as a member for SAMHSA’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Center for Excellence Expert Panel. Currently, along with two other individuals with a diagnosis along the spectrum, Emily is conducting research collecting data on the physical ailments that arise in adults with an FASD diagnosis, a lifelong, full-body diagnosis.

Emily is a founding member of the first national self-advocacy network, Self-Advocates with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Action (SAFA). Though she was born addicted to alcohol and cocaine and had marijuana in her system, and though doctors told her adoptive parents she likely would never make it through school,

Emily graduated Summa Cum Laude, ranking number one of her graduating class…

90 Real People. Real Lives – Red Shoes Rock International Relay
Guest Blogger Ann Yurcek
Visit her blog at Parenting Complex Children

Day 10 Ten Things You Need to Know
About FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders)

1. People with FASD have challenges due to no fault of their own.  They are innocent victims of Prenatal Alcohol exposure.
2. FASD is complicated and no two people are alike. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause damage to any system of the body.  In recent medical literature there were found to be over 400 different diagnoses and problems are associated with FAS.
3. Most of the time FASD is invisible.   People with FASD can look normal, but struggle with normal. Only 1 out of 10 will have the visible physical characteristics associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
4. Most people with FASD will have a normal intelligence.  Some will have high intellect and still struggle.  The majority will need…

It’s Day 4 of our countdown to 90 days before International FASDay… Need some ideas for an event visit 60 Days of FASDay Countdown or go check our www.FASworld.com.

Today we have Andrew running as Mac’s friend.

Meet Andrew – He is a champion on the track and an inspiration at the podium. Having competed in running circles for 12 years, Andrew is competitive at every distance from the 400M to half-marathons. Over the past three years, he’s spoken from memory about his challenges from FASD but also his triumphs.

MY STORY – At three weeks of age, Andrew was found alone with his two-year-old sister. His birthmother was self-medicating with alcohol throughout the pregnancy. .

STRENGTHS – Although not a talker until age 6, he is gregarious and loves being around people. He’s always wanted to be included with his peers – willing to learn by watching.

STRUGGLES