Summer was so fun because my Jack came, and we went on our family trip to Gulf Shores. Going to the beach is somewhat fun for me because I am with my people, and I can be in the pool all day and eat all the good food. But the ocean is scary for people like me who have no movement in the lower part of my body, so I have to trust my parents and brother to keep me up against the waves, which I do; it’s still scary because I have no control over my body in the ocean like people who can walk do. I love sitting in a chair, feeling the breeze hit my body and listening to the waves crash together; it’s a very pleasant sound to my brain and ears. I loved watching Jesus’ masterpiece sparkle over the ocean in the early mornings while eating my breakfast and planning with my parents and brother what we were going to do, whether it was roll down to the ocean, pool, explore, shop, or sit in the condo and chill for the day. My experience of the ocean is very different; it brings stress in the waves because I have no control over my body there like a walking person does; most people use their legs to hold their body up while people who are handicapped can’t, which does not bother me at all. I love my testimony and would not trade it for the world. My testimony comes with challenges that I choose to face daily because it’s kept me alive and shaped me into the woman of God I am called to be, which is to be strong even with differences, and I love it. Getting into the ocean requires planning about who will carry me out to the waves and who will carry the float, along with my family’s eyes to catch my body if a big wave comes fast. Being disabled does not mean my life has to be small; it does not mean I have to stand on the sidelines. The waves don’t ask me to explain my disability, and they do not ask me to prove what I can and can’t do, and I love feeling the sun hit my face and hearing the sound of the waves. I love getting into my beach wheelchair and rolling down with my family walking beside me; it might take extra time, but it’s the memories that will last forever. Being at the pool while being disabled requires planning because I need help from my parents and brother. My disability does not take away my right to enjoy the water and laugh with my loved ones, enjoy the water, and sit by the pool, taking in the Lord’s masterpiece around me. There is something so beautiful about rolling on the beach with my family, finding our own pathway through the sand; sometimes it takes a little longer. I love looking around at my loved ones enjoying the same moment I am. Rolling around the beach with my family reminds me that I do not have to experience life alone. I have people who will walk beside me; they push me when I need help, and they make sure I don’t miss a moment. I am thankful for my family, who does not see my disability as a reason to keep me from experiencing the world around me. Staying at a beach condo while being disabled can come with some beautiful moments and challenging ones at the same time, but we make do with what we’ve got and still enjoy every moment of the beach trip. Being disabled does not mean you should miss out on the joy of the trip; it means finding ways that work best for me and my special needs. But I am incredibly blessed to have a family who never makes me feel like a burden. For me, being on the streets at the beach, rolling from shops to restaurants, is an adventure altogether with my family, but I know how to embrace the journey of my life, and my wheelchair is not something that keeps me from exploring; it’s one of the reasons I get to do all the cool things in my life. Yes, sometimes accessibility can totally be an issue. I may experience the world around me from a wheelchair view, but I still experience it with a happy heart and smile. My family doesn’t just come with me on the trip; they make the trip possible for me. Sometimes I look at my parents and brother and say, “Wow, they get to be my caregivers,” and how lucky I am to have my parents and brother caregiving for me daily. Thank you, Jesus. They don’t complain that I am taking extra time; they are just there, and they simply step in. When we go from destination to destination, they make sure I can be a part of it all. I will forever remind my mom, dad, and Jack of how much the simple act of running with me across a parking lot while it pours rain so I don’t get wet, or all the carrying in the pool so I can enjoy it with my family, means to me and ensures I never miss a single moment of the family trip. Or the waiting two hours for me to just lay in bed and nap before we head to our night outing. One day, I won’t remember the condo, but I will always remember what we did on the beach trip and that I got to be a part of EVERY moment, no matter the accessibility.
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Having my parents, brother be my everyday caregivers will always be something I will never take for granted any day when I think of the three people that stand up tall everyday and put a smile on their face to show up and make sure I have everything I need its something I will never take for granted having to put my needs before there own is not easy smetimes but they show up everyday. when I hear the word caregivers I hear jon, christen amd jack my people, my family, my safe place, the reason I am still alive today. they know me better than anyone else in this world and they arent just my caregivers. they’re my family, my support system , my safe place. They help me navigate life that might seem simple to people. But thats when christen and jon , jack come into place sometimes its a 5am wake up call to get to the hospial by 5:30 check in time to have surgery while they nevoursly wait in the waiting room while I am having a medical surgery done and they pacing the hall saying to each other you think she’s okay and I wonder how much long she will be in there for or every ding they hear on there phone they wait for the nurse to bring them back to sit in recovery with me. My mom has seen me at my strongest and on my hard days she’s helped me through every medical appintments shes set at my head through every medical test held my hand through every test, appt. Helped cope with this is just my life. she knows when something is off in my body before I even say something. my dad is the same way he can tell when something is off with me and I am so thankful to have loved ones that dont make me feel like a burden they make it feel like its teamwork caregiving for me some days are harder than others. having my brother step in also is a blessing also he’s apart of my every day life and my testimony. wheather hes making me laugh or simply being with me and checking on me. my parents, bro helping me is simply one part of our testimony. They dont just take care of me they help me experience life, they help me go places, they help me make memories. I notice that my momma has a ways of knowing what I Need before I even ask. she has spent countless moments making sure i’m okay, helping me throuh diffcult times in my life and putting my needs before her own. my parents and brother have seen the hardest parts of my journey. They have seen my tears, frustration, my exhaustion, the uncertaintys of my testimony. but they see my happiness , my accomplisments that the docs said I would never do. my dad is always there also carrying the weight that having a specical needs brings the good, the joy and the sorrows along with my mom and brother. theres something so comforting when your family is your caregivers also. having a brother who is whilling to help care for me is something I dont take for granted. there are extra things they have to think about. I notice when my mom makes sure i am comfortable, i notice when my dad steps into help, I notice when my brother is there without even asking. most of all I notice they dont make me feel like a burden. its a gift i could never repay and theres my jess whos a friend thats like a sissy to me she knows me beyond my disabity, she knows my personality also, my sense of humor. she’s always making sure i am taking care of and she always lends a hand when its needed. and sometimes its simple looks like your okay you got it. my sis is not always my caregiver but I know i can lean on 24/7 she loves me and I love my dad, my momma, my jess more than words could say. I am blessed to have them walk beside me through my journey.
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I have been thinking about writing about this topic for a few weeks now because people sometimes just notice the wheelchair challenges that I deal with and think thats it but thats not all. I deal with brain differences from hydrocephalus also which sometimes its hard to process things or emotions in my brain and body which I call spirals . Like sometimes I get really frustrated when I don’t understand what someone is saying to me and I have to slow down and take a min and rethink about what the person is saying to me. I have visual spatial issues which I don’t know when things are to close or far away from me thats why in a public setting I stay very close to who ever I am with or thats why I hold hands with whoever I am with while crossing the street so people will notice me crossing. I repeat what I say when telling someone something because of my hydrocephalus and I repeat things a lot because of this and I repeat music things so I can remember and I am very good at remembering lyrics and songs, I can hear the first few notes to a song and know whats about to be sang and remember when it came out. I struggle remembering peoples names and birthdays, I can remember my phone number [ sometimes] and I can remember sometimes my house address. I can remember peoples names that are very close to me but if I don’t see you on daily base I struggle with remembering who you are to me thats not because I don’t want to remember who you are to me its because my brain forgets. I struggle with remembering time so thats why I have to have someone with me but also for protections reasons and I struggle with numbers, sometimes telling time. you maybe wondering how hydrocephalus affects the brain so let me answer a couple of those question one thing it effects is Balance which means if I am not sitting in my wheelchair I feel like I am on a nonstop roller coaster until i sit in a chair that I feel steady in and safe in. you may also see someone always by me when I am not in my wheelchair holding my back they have to be there incase my back balance gives out to catch me so I don’t fall on the ground and hit my head or brake a bone. It effects my learning level which makes me read on a middle school level and it effects my memory to where I can only remember certain things but thats okay i am still perfect in the image of GOD. I get tired very quickly and I nap everyday depending on how I feel and depending on the activity for the day and it also effect my speech when I was a small child thats why I didn’t start talking until I was 3 years old but now I talk ALL THE TIME which is true blessing to my loved ones because I can tell them what I want, need, if I feel sick or not or if I am happy or sad about something. sometimes its hard for me to regulation my emotion but I have some tools to help me cope with them when I cant control myself its almost like a car that cant stop its brakes until the car in front goes than I can turn on my brakes to allow it to stop with my tools such as deep breathing, working out , worship music and talking my feelings over with my people. Hydrocephalus has been a part of my testimony since the day I was born and while people know it has ‘water on the brain’ for me and my family its more than just a term its shaped me for who i am today and its taught me how to be strong and trust Jesus in ways i never thought would be possible I mean in every medical and daily life I trust his plans are better than mine. I mean its the coolest thing when your mom says lets say prayer before rolling back and the nurses join their faith with yours and pray with your family before they take you back to the OR. my brain may work differently than other peoples BUT that does not mean it works less. and sometimes I need a few extra days to recovery from trips or being things that are going on, surgeries, ETC because of aso much exitctent can lead to tiredness and theres sometimes when my body and brain remind me that hydrocephalus is a part of my testimony and thats OKAY. I love having simple reflections and reminders of why I AM ALIVE AND ROLLING and have air in my lungs. There are also milestones that doctors said she may never accomplish a lot of things doctors never knew were possible but I prove them wrong every time. Living with all my special needs as taught me how to advocate for myself and how to be happy to celebrate small wins even when people overlook them. How to keep moving forward and its Taught me love and gratitude for the people that walk this journey with me because Its not easy at times but if you know CHRISTEN AND JON AND JACK Hulgan you know they will push their limits to make sure i am happy and okay. i am grateful for my people in my corner because they take care of me in ways i am beyond grateful for. sometimes people see my diagnosis before they see me. but what i wish people would understand is that hydrocephalus is only a small portion of who i am . I have dreams and goals, love, worship and make memories just like everyone. My special needs may influence my life but let me tell you it does not define my worth. Theres moments of doctor appts, surgeries they have felt overstressed and challenges that tested my strength. Yet through it all I choose to keep my faith strong and my eyes fixed on the one that wrote my testimony. -
I wanted to talk about how I feel about what the Bible says about special needs people because I think it’s important to have two views: one biblical and one not. We are all made in the image of God, reflecting His image, and it’s such a beautiful thing to be reminded of that daily. Let me tell you, my being disabled is no punishment, and it’s no accident and no sin. My friends and I with special needs have so many miracles. In figures like Paul in the Bible and Jesus, the Bible says He consistently treated people with special needs with respect, giving us a voice and a place in His community. If you see a person with special needs being mistreated, you should speak up and tell someone. I mean, I am completely verbal, so I have no problem telling someone they are hurting my feelings, but some people can’t, so we need to be their voice and do it for them. He says we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, and I am so proud to have special needs; I am so unashamed of it all. Jesus gave us a voice, so I choose to use it LOUD AND PROUD. I mean, King Saul was disabled in BOTH feet; I bet that’s scary, if I had to assume. I mean, I am disabled in both legs and can move them with my tummy muscles only, but that’s why I have my wheelchair to help me move. I wonder if they had wheelchairs back then. My special needs wheelchair does not negate God’s promises for my life; it makes them even stronger and even expands them to big hopes and promises. The promises Jesus gives are TRUE FOR EVERYONE, even people with wheelchairs and special needs; it’s true for everyone. I have had people push me out of my total comfort zone, for which I am so grateful, and I grew up knowing life wasn’t fair and I am okay with that. I choose to push you out of your comfort zone because my friends with special needs build bridges that you may never consider crossing. I will push past my limits to inspire those around me. I’m saying I’m not perfect; I have flaws, but I will never stop sharing what God has done in my life and pulled me through because it all shaped me into who I am today, and I am so blessed to be the strong person I am today. God calls us all to the table, no matter the sin we are sitting in, past, present, or future; we are all children of God, and He loves us all equally so much. In Jesus’s eyes, we are all beautiful and perfect. I will always reflect who God created me to be, and that’s strong, loving, and kind, to show people that the God who created me makes no mistakes. I am by all means not perfect; I mess up all the time and I am still trying to figure out life at the age of 22 years. I let Jesus control the wheel because He’s better at it than I am.
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The Lord put it on my heart to discuss my thoughts about inclusion when it comes to being in a wheelchair full time, and how I feel about it. For me it includes simple actions for example -Hey I really wanna watch this movie with you, come over and lets grab dinner. You could just ask Let’s hang out and sit on my couch or I am really hungry for a burger lets meet up, or lets go shop and eat Mexican. or hey lets go grab coffee and read our bibles together or we really wanna see you at another event so come if you can. Those are some very small moments that make me feel loved, seen, and cared about. Yes being in a wheelchair can be hard and not easy at times but I am grateful for people around me that see past the wheelchair. My people see the real me! Yes it can be difficult when people don’t understand me or don’t get me at all but I always try my best to remind people he created me different. I am still gonna use the purpose that he gave me to live my life to the fullest. The term “special needs” sometimes can be offensive so thats why people like the word disabled better. When you see me or my friends in a wheelchair treat it like personal space -more like a bubble I am very careful who I let into my wheelchair bubble. Please never lean on my wheelchair unless I know you. I only let people that I know lean on my wheelchair because they ask before doing it. Please never touch my wheelchair or hug me unless I know you or you are my family or one of my friends. I only allow hugs from my friends or family, or if you know the person well and I kind of know them I will still allow you to hug me because I trust the person that I know really well and I am earning your trust. Speak directly to me if you want to talk to me when doing that means leaning down so I can lock eyes with what you are trying to tell me even if it takes my brain a minute to process. Now if we are sitting next to each other the leaning down does not matter that only matters if you are standing up so I can read your lips and process what you are telling me. ALWAYS ask me if you can help me before doing it because I am very independent and can do some things on my own. Also ask before assuming things about me and my wheelchair don’t assume my parents caused me to be in a wheelchair or I broke my foot just ask what my story is. When asked with respect, I will happily tell you about all the MIRACLES my God has performed in my life because I love talking about them. I will never stop. DON’T CALL ME WHEELCHAIR BOUND please do not use this term for anyone who uses a wheelchair. Don’t view my wheelchair like its a hinderance or annoyance. It is my personal space and part of my body, my legs on wheels. I truly love my wheelchair and feel it is a part of me.
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Sometimes in public I feel invisible, and I feel like people don’t care or want to say hey. Luckily, I have amazing people in my life that make me feel seen, cared about, and loved. It’s almost like people think I am a shadow; sometimes people will bump into me and not even say “I’m sorry” or look back. People with special needs, we matter too; we are just like you. Even though we were made differently, we still exist in the world. What do we struggle with the most? I struggle with physical barriers, which means I need help with doing certain tasks. When you park in the ramp lines, think about me and my friends who use a wheelchair 24/7 because those are designed for us and our caregivers to safely exit our vans with our caregivers right there helping us. Think about us when you decide to run the stop sign and what that could do to us wheelchair users if we didn’t have our caregivers guiding us to cross the streets. The Bible tells us that Jesus gave people with special needs a voice to use. People like me and my friends with specials were called to demonstrate grace, love, and joy, which are the fruits of the Spirit. We are precious in His eyes, and I am going to throw out a personal thought on the table that I have been taught all my life, and I know this opinion is true because I have lived it out for 22 years and 365 days and seen it in my own life and own story. So here goes the personal opinion: people with special needs have a deeper, closer friendship with Jesus. I know some will disagree with me, but you don’t have to agree with everything I tell you because I have special needs. If you feel like you need to agree with everything a person with special needs says, I am the girl you don’t have to agree with everything I say. It won’t hurt my feelings if you disagree with me; I will still sleep like a baby whether you agree or disagree because I do not care what people think. I AM A survivor, and I am not lost; I am just exploring my life in a different way, in my own beautiful ways. And yes, I feel like a burden all the time with asking for help with different things in my life that I have a hard time doing or need extra help with, and yes, it comes with mood swings like an up and down roller coaster. One minute I can be so happy, and the next minute I can be losing my mind because I have a hard time processing things. Another way my brain works like a car that has no control, and then all of a sudden, once I find myself again, it’s like the brakes park and I am happy again and I can regulate myself.
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2025 recap
What a year to Remember 2026 was so fun and special I got baptized had my most special group of friends walk me down to say yes to Jesus public. I got on an airplane with a group of friends spent 3 days disconnected from the world and my phone in the presences of Jesus and sat in his presences near some waterfalls with some friends while people poured into our hearts and souls. came home to repack to fly to tacoma with my parents to see my brother, sis in law and spent a whole week with them exploring and than came home to rest and than go to Nashville to have open bladder surgery and than came home to rest for 7 days than I went to see my pals in concert and I studied the entire bible with one of my very best friends and I started this blog which has been so fun and I cant wait share more of whats on my brain in the new year. looking forward to 2026
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MUSIC ON MY MIND MONDAY
Today we will be talking about the song “One More Day” by Sons. The band I recently heard this song from got me thinking about my life and how Jesus has brought me through so much in my 22 years of life. Yes, my life can be hard and difficult sometimes, but I am SO grateful for all the hard times in my life because they shape me into who I am, and the hard times have pushed me to look at my life as a true testament to the faithfulness, kindness, and love of my Jesus. When I tell you I have seen Jesus in so many different aspects of my life, I have, and He’s not done writing this testimony for which He gets the praise. I am a fighter, and I am a story. I am all of these things, but mostly I am grateful to say, I LOVE YOU JESUS, THANK YOU JESUS. He’s given me 22 years and 365 days of the kindness and love of Him, and He shows up for me 24/7. I can’t wait for the rest of my life to see what Jesus has for me, and I am so thankful for my life, all the miracles, all the good times, and all the doctors, my people, and surgeries. He shows up 24/7, and I am just grateful to have breath in these lungs, even though the docs said she may not make it through birth. But I did, by the grace of Jesus and so many prayers. I am just grateful to be alive and to have such a beautiful life. Friends, don’t waste your life away because He’s given us one life. Cherish it and live it to the fullest.
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Today we will be talking about the song Better by Pat Barrett the lyrics that stand out are you are better than all theses things and your love is better than life and you are better than all theses things. your love is better than life. Jesus is the well that will never run dry. we are truly Gods people and its the spirit of God that leads our hearts to worship him and thank him for everything he’s doing in each of us and our life. Yes we should make the personal Decision to know him better and we should choose to obey him like he did when he died on the cross during his death. we should ask our hearts and mind theses questions
1, Why is knowing Jesus better than anything else? its because nothing else on earth compares to knowing Jesus christ as lord and savior
2, How do I get know Jesus Better? read your bible, talk to him out loud or whisper
I think we always think about how could or how should we better get to know Jesus more on a deeper level. Let me remind you, if you want to get to know Jesus better, just turn around; He’s right there with arms wide open for you, and He’s saying, “Be mine,” and He’s gonna walk with us through EVERYTHING. His love is so much better than anything you could ask for or think about. I hate when people say it’s a relationship; it’s more than that—it’s a friendship—and we would be lost without His steadfast love and guidance; I know I would. I can’t speak for the rest of you. I am not saying go make a decision right now to be transformed by the love and grace and have a friend to lean on.
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Today will be talking about the song Miracle child by Brandon lake this song holds a very special place in my heart because I am a living testimony of the miracles that my Jesus can do because almost 22 years ago my parents got told I was not gonna make it through birth but by the grace and love of Jesus and my parents, and so many doctors, so many prayers I did and the doctors said if I did i was not gonna be able to do anything but by the grace of Jesus and the help of my parents, doctors I am about to celebrate 22 years and 365 days of those Miracles they said I was not gonna do because I LOVE PROVING THESES DOCS WRONG its one of my favorite thing to do. oh man I can’t wait to celebrate 22 years of ME doing the things that bring the biggest smile to my face with some of the folks that bring the joy to my face and make me feel so special every single day of my life. PARTY TIME food, music, shopping, my people starts October 29th ends when I say it does. I live on cloud 9 24/7 because CHRISTEN AND JON ARE MY PARENTS AND JACK HULGAN IS MY BROTHER, JESSICA OPPENHUIZEN IS MY ‘BIG SIS’ AND KATIE IS MY HONORARY SIS IN LAW.
The joy of the Lord is my strength
I should not be alive
but i am a miracle child
Defied every Diagnoisis
as close as it came
I can stand here and say
I am a miracle child
Annabelle Unbroken 