When she was just seventeen months old, Gianna Jessen was diagnosed with having cerebral palsy, which resulted from a lack of oxygen to her brain during a failed abortion. The doctors gave Gianna’s foster mother the news.

“Penny was told I would never hold my head up, never sit up, never crawl and never walk. She just didn’t believe the doctor. Instead, she worked with me three times a day and I began to slowly start to walk with a walker and leg braces when I was three and a half years old. Today, I am so thankful because I am able to walk with a limp and I fall gracefully. You just learn how to deal with your situation every day.  I am so thankful to be alive. I love life!”

Gianna, who is refreshingly candid, is also a believer in the power of positive thinking in spite of having cerebral palsy.

“You just kind of cut the crap with people. The reason I say that is because you have to be real when you have the disease. You can either feel sorry for yourself or you can be real and mentally concentrate on what you can do. I sincerely believe the disease is a  gift to me because I need God. We can all talk about Him and how great He is. But, I really need him when I fall and as I go through life with people staring at me when I walk. Do you have any idea how much joy I possess because I have cerebral palsy?”

Instead of asking ‘why me?,’ Gianna rejoices in her “disability” which she refers to as her “gift.” One’s outlook, according to the Tennessee woman, is guaranteed to turn adversity into victory.

“If everything was normal and I didn’t have any challenge, then I wouldn’t - as Helen Keller once said - really know the thrill of overcoming. All in all, the disability has become a wonderful blessing.”

Despite the disability and it’s impact in her life, Gianna’s thoughts are focused on the positive things.

“Positive thoughts create positive results. I don’t believe in negativity and in feeling sorry for your self. Sure, a good cry is good and I’m had my share. But, after the tears fall, you’ve got to move on.”

How does Gianna find the positive when negativity darkens her life?

“I just look until I find it. I just know I’m going to win. I know that God is good and He doesn’t mock people. With His help, I’m going to win the race.”

Gianna has lived with cerebral palsy most of her life and knows what it’s like to be overcome with depression and hurt.  She also knows what it takes to recover when the going gets really tough.

“Call out to God even if you haven’t believed in Him up until this point. Say, ‘Lord, I don’t know if I believe in you, but if you can help me, please help me. Have mercy here. He will be there for you. The next thing is and this is really important: don’t give up! When you’ve got the blues really bad, you’ll probably want to throw in the towel. Don’t give up. Listen to what Harriet Stowe has said, “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time the tide will turn.”

Although Martha Washington once wrote about the power of a positive mental attitude, Gianna Jesson practices what the former first lady put into words. Here’s the quote: “I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. For I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions and not upon our circumstances.”

Gianna Jesson is a young woman who takes that message to heart every day of her life!

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