Keep Dreaming! - by Kristy McDonald

My name is Kristy McDonald, and I was born with a cleft palate and was hearing impaired. I was always small for my age. Then, the night of my nephew’s birth when I was 14, my aunt noticed me shifting on my feet. One of my legs is shorter than the other.

So, my mom took me to a new pediatrician who diagnosed me with Turner syndrome (TS). It was overwhelming and scary having to do all sorts of tests, but at the same time, it was a relief to know why I was always different.

I eventually graduated as a registered nurse (RN) in 2013 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree 2 years later while working full time. I’m currently a nurse in a busy rehabilitation center caring for elderly patients and people recovering from surgery or illness. I wear glasses, BAHA hearing aids, and I still have a cleft palate. I struggle with nonverbal learning disorder (NLD), but I still get to follow my dream of caring for others even when negative people tried to convince me that I wouldn’t make it. Keep dreaming!