I have a knack for organization (okay, I'm obsessive-compulsive), and worked in real estate and administration for several years. But my real passion - the job I couldn't seem to live without - was teaching fitness. I was an aerobic instructor for nearly 15 years, and had just become a certified personal trainer, when in December 2003 I was involved in a very bad car accident. 

I came out of a coma nearly a week later and learned that I'd suffered a severe spinal cord injury; my level of injury was C6/C7, and most of the doctors who treated me were fairly

Hours before the accident...  
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certain I'd be completely paralyzed, and possibly dependent on a ventilator, for the remainder of my life.  My family and I were devastated by this news.  Given how active I had always been, I couldn't imagine never moving again. 

I had two things going for me. My spinal cord wasn't severed; it had been twisted and compressed, causing extensive nerve damage, but it was still intact. Most importantly, however, was my faith in God.  I'm not exaggerating when I say He saved my life the night of the accident, and I believe He has guided my recovery every day since.  I AM walking again, and continue to make progress each day.

When I was still in rehab, about 8 months after the accident, one of my therapists showed me a little cartoon she'd found.  I don't remember the drawing - some little doodle - but I do remember those words.  "Move Without Fear."  Really seemed appropriate!  I loved those words, put 'em everywhere I could!  Tried to use them as an email address, but there were too many characters.  So, movefearlessly was the natural progression.  When I discovered the world of digital scrapbooking and began posting in various forums, movefearlessly became my user name, and when I began designing - well, you can figure that out! 

I see this name every day, and it reminds me to keep moving, in spite of all the pain and frustration.  It reminds me that, as long as I rely on God, there's nothing for me to fear.