Living with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism or skeletal dysplasia, can be a “brutiful” thing. I’ve been an advocate for myself and other people living with skeletal dysplasia since I was eight years old – starting when my best friend and I gave a presentation to our third-grade class about what it was like as a little girl living with achondroplasia.
It was the first time I spoke in front of a large audience and it was so exciting. I don’t know that little Kristen exactly understood the impact her words would have, but something about giving that presentation clicked with me.
That was the first step on my lifelong advocacy journey. Advocating for myself has become a tool for navigating my health, but finding the strength to speak up can be difficult when you’re grappling with pain and uncertainty.
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