beep to describe to you some of the ideas that I’ve gotten for what I should
ideas that I’ve gotten for what I should
ideas that I’ve gotten for what I should do with my wheelchair for Halloween now
do with my wheelchair for Halloween now
do with my wheelchair for Halloween now this past year the ideas were decorated
this past year the ideas were decorated
this past year the ideas were decorated as a tank with a turret and all along
as a tank with a turret and all along
as a tank with a turret and all along with put a horse onto the front and
with put a horse onto the front and
with put a horse onto the front and pretend to be a chariot racer and then
pretend to be a chariot racer and then
pretend to be a chariot racer and then my personal favorite put a seat on to
my personal favorite put a seat on to
my personal favorite put a seat on to the side and you and I can pretend to be
the side and you and I can pretend to be
the side and you and I can pretend to be in a biker gang I can’t help but say
in a biker gang I can’t help but say
in a biker gang I can’t help but say though the best ideas have come from my
though the best ideas have come from my
though the best ideas have come from my closest friends when they say that
closest friends when they say that
closest friends when they say that they’re going to buy me a pair of
they’re going to buy me a pair of
they’re going to buy me a pair of goggles strap a v8 to my wheelchair and
goggles strap a v8 to my wheelchair and
goggles strap a v8 to my wheelchair and allow me to drive myself to school you
allow me to drive myself to school you
allow me to drive myself to school you know as one does but joking aside the
know as one does but joking aside the
know as one does but joking aside the people in my life even those whom I hold
people in my life even those whom I hold
people in my life even those whom I hold most dear see me as different different
most dear see me as different different
most dear see me as different different in a good way or a bad way more likely
in a good way or a bad way more likely
in a good way or a bad way more likely the former but that separation is still
the former but that separation is still
the former but that separation is still there I actually hear most from children
there I actually hear most from children
there I actually hear most from children whenever I’m in line at the grocery
whenever I’m in line at the grocery
whenever I’m in line at the grocery store and I hear the child behind me
store and I hear the child behind me
store and I hear the child behind me whisper to his mother why is he like
whisper to his mother why is he like
whisper to his mother why is he like that and I can hear the hesitation in
that and I can hear the hesitation in
that and I can hear the hesitation in her voice when she responds with
her voice when she responds with
her voice when she responds with something along the lines of because
something along the lines of because
something along the lines of because he’s special so even though children are
he’s special so even though children are
he’s special so even though children are the only ones who are so blatant about
the only ones who are so blatant about
the only ones who are so blatant about it I know that everyone’s curious but
it I know that everyone’s curious but
it I know that everyone’s curious but the fact of the matter is I really don’t
the fact of the matter is I really don’t
the fact of the matter is I really don’t mind I’m perfectly fine with telling
mind I’m perfectly fine with telling
mind I’m perfectly fine with telling people why I’m like this how I got to be
people why I’m like this how I got to be
people why I’m like this how I got to be like this so let me start off with a
like this so let me start off with a
like this so let me start off with a show of hands raise your hand if you’ve
show of hands raise your hand if you’ve
show of hands raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of a group it defuses known
ever heard of a group it defuses known
ever heard of a group it defuses known as muscular dystrophy alright so a lot
as muscular dystrophy alright so a lot
as muscular dystrophy alright so a lot of you and that’s quite common almost as
of you and that’s quite common almost as
of you and that’s quite common almost as common as the diseases one in every 40
common as the diseases one in every 40
common as the diseases one in every 40 people it’s a silent carrier of the SMA
people it’s a silent carrier of the SMA
people it’s a silent carrier of the SMA gene spinal muscular atrophy or SMA is
gene spinal muscular atrophy or SMA is
gene spinal muscular atrophy or SMA is what I have and it’s very unique in
what I have and it’s very unique in
what I have and it’s very unique in terms of when it starts to affect the
terms of when it starts to affect the
terms of when it starts to affect the patient the worst form is SMA type 1 and
patient the worst form is SMA type 1 and
patient the worst form is SMA type 1 and that is when an infant can make it no
that is when an infant can make it no
that is when an infant can make it no past 12 months of age or 12 months of
past 12 months of age or 12 months of
past 12 months of age or 12 months of life before their respiratory system
life before their respiratory system
life before their respiratory system just gives up the most benign form would
just gives up the most benign form would
just gives up the most benign form would be SMA type 4 in which a patient won’t
be SMA type 4 in which a patient won’t
be SMA type 4 in which a patient won’t even know they have it or won’t see any
even know they have it or won’t see any
even know they have it or won’t see any symptoms that is until 30 or 40 years of
symptoms that is until 30 or 40 years of
symptoms that is until 30 or 40 years of age and their life expectancy is
age and their life expectancy is
age and their life expectancy is unaffected I fall right in the middle
unaffected I fall right in the middle
unaffected I fall right in the middle with SMA type 2 that basically means
with SMA type 2 that basically means
with SMA type 2 that basically means I’ve never been able to walk I have
I’ve never been able to walk I have
I’ve never been able to walk I have difficulty swallowing effectively and my
difficulty swallowing effectively and my
difficulty swallowing effectively and my respiratory system has been affected as
respiratory system has been affected as
respiratory system has been affected as for my life expectancy that can fall
for my life expectancy that can fall
for my life expectancy that can fall anywhere between 15 years of age all the
anywhere between 15 years of age all the
anywhere between 15 years of age all the way up until 46 years of age the longest
way up until 46 years of age the longest
way up until 46 years of age the longest reported case SMA type 2 so
reported case SMA type 2 so
reported case SMA type 2 so unfortunately that means I’m going to
unfortunately that means I’m going to
unfortunately that means I’m going to have to get that bucket list sooner I
have to get that bucket list sooner I
have to get that bucket list sooner I mean doing a wheelie on top of Mount
mean doing a wheelie on top of Mount
mean doing a wheelie on top of Mount Everest just might have to wait for next
Everest just might have to wait for next
Everest just might have to wait for next life man and we know my respiratory
life man and we know my respiratory
life man and we know my respiratory system has been affected by this disease
system has been affected by this disease
system has been affected by this disease in fact I try to counter it all I can
in fact I try to counter it all I can
in fact I try to counter it all I can for example I’ve been singing all my
for example I’ve been singing all my
for example I’ve been singing all my life most of my high school career has
life most of my high school career has
life most of my high school career has been spent in very room learning music
been spent in very room learning music
been spent in very room learning music rehearsing it and performing it and that
rehearsing it and performing it and that
rehearsing it and performing it and that has tremendously increased my breathing
has tremendously increased my breathing
has tremendously increased my breathing control more recently I’ve been pushing
control more recently I’ve been pushing
control more recently I’ve been pushing myself towards doing a lot of public
myself towards doing a lot of public
myself towards doing a lot of public speaking because it’s not only good for
speaking because it’s not only good for
speaking because it’s not only good for your self-confidence but breathing
your self-confidence but breathing
your self-confidence but breathing control as well who knew but whatever I
control as well who knew but whatever I
control as well who knew but whatever I try to do to counteract it I just can’t
try to do to counteract it I just can’t
try to do to counteract it I just can’t shake the fact that my life will be cut
shake the fact that my life will be cut
shake the fact that my life will be cut short and I know what you’re thinking
short and I know what you’re thinking
short and I know what you’re thinking God Peter wait a hit in the face of
God Peter wait a hit in the face of
God Peter wait a hit in the face of sadness and you’re right it’s grim
sadness and you’re right it’s grim
sadness and you’re right it’s grim talking about your own mortality and
talking about your own mortality and
talking about your own mortality and that’s
that’s
that’s I find it so easy to talk about though
I find it so easy to talk about though
I find it so easy to talk about though because I don’t ever let it stop me a
because I don’t ever let it stop me a
because I don’t ever let it stop me a lot of people would think because their
lot of people would think because their
lot of people would think because their life is so different from my own that
life is so different from my own that
life is so different from my own that would be enough for me to just spiral
would be enough for me to just spiral
would be enough for me to just spiral into depression but that’s never been
into depression but that’s never been
into depression but that’s never been the case let me give you an example so
the case let me give you an example so
the case let me give you an example so for my fine arts credit this year I’m
for my fine arts credit this year I’m
for my fine arts credit this year I’m taking a film class and the very first
taking a film class and the very first
taking a film class and the very first films we watched were silent
films we watched were silent
films we watched were silent black-and-white films and the first film
black-and-white films and the first film
black-and-white films and the first film I was watching and I remember thinking
I was watching and I remember thinking
I was watching and I remember thinking to myself man I was sitting here in the
to myself man I was sitting here in the
to myself man I was sitting here in the theater in 1900
theater in 1900
theater in 1900 I would totally ask for my money back
I would totally ask for my money back
I would totally ask for my money back this is so boring without sound the only
this is so boring without sound the only
this is so boring without sound the only reason I can think that is because
reason I can think that is because
reason I can think that is because having sound in my movies is all I’ve
having sound in my movies is all I’ve
having sound in my movies is all I’ve ever known
ever known
ever known take this example and apply it to my
take this example and apply it to my
take this example and apply it to my life
life
life a lot of people mention how they would
a lot of people mention how they would
a lot of people mention how they would never even think of being in my
never even think of being in my
never even think of being in my situation they wouldn’t be able to cope
situation they wouldn’t be able to cope
situation they wouldn’t be able to cope and they think the same or they think
and they think the same or they think
and they think the same or they think that I believe the same but that’s never
that I believe the same but that’s never
that I believe the same but that’s never been the case I’ve never felt bad for
been the case I’ve never felt bad for
been the case I’ve never felt bad for myself because this is all I’ve ever
myself because this is all I’ve ever
myself because this is all I’ve ever known to be life to me this is life but
known to be life to me this is life but
known to be life to me this is life but that doesn’t mean I never ignore that
that doesn’t mean I never ignore that
that doesn’t mean I never ignore that doesn’t mean I don’t ever acknowledge my
doesn’t mean I don’t ever acknowledge my
doesn’t mean I don’t ever acknowledge my disability being humble is one thing
disability being humble is one thing
disability being humble is one thing being ignorant is another for example
being ignorant is another for example
being ignorant is another for example every time I try to make plans with
every time I try to make plans with
every time I try to make plans with friends it always starts out the same
friends it always starts out the same
friends it always starts out the same with will I be able to get around your
with will I be able to get around your
with will I be able to get around your house or if they’re a step to get into
house or if they’re a step to get into
house or if they’re a step to get into your door more importantly in my
your door more importantly in my
your door more importantly in my educational career every year starts out
educational career every year starts out
educational career every year starts out with me asking and emailing all of my
with me asking and emailing all of my
with me asking and emailing all of my teacher is saying is it okay if I type
teacher is saying is it okay if I type
teacher is saying is it okay if I type all of my assignments simply because of
all of my assignments simply because of
all of my assignments simply because of my inability to write more than half of
my inability to write more than half of
my inability to write more than half of a page for my hand goes limp so I know
a page for my hand goes limp so I know
a page for my hand goes limp so I know how big of a burden I have in my life
how big of a burden I have in my life
how big of a burden I have in my life I know how big the crosses that I have
I know how big the crosses that I have
I know how big the crosses that I have to carry with me every day and yet I
to carry with me every day and yet I
to carry with me every day and yet I can’t help but think that this burden
can’t help but think that this burden
can’t help but think that this burden has only made me stronger in how I walk
has only made me stronger in how I walk
has only made me stronger in how I walk with my friend
with my friend
with my friend during their darkest days just a few
during their darkest days just a few
during their darkest days just a few years ago I was speaking to one of my
years ago I was speaking to one of my
years ago I was speaking to one of my closest friends and she was just having
closest friends and she was just having
closest friends and she was just having an awful day and I told her the truth
an awful day and I told her the truth
an awful day and I told her the truth I said people look up to you you mean a
I said people look up to you you mean a
I said people look up to you you mean a lot to so many people and someone needs
lot to so many people and someone needs
lot to so many people and someone needs to be the lighthouse brightly shining
to be the lighthouse brightly shining
to be the lighthouse brightly shining for all to see even during the darkest
for all to see even during the darkest
for all to see even during the darkest of storms she took this in mind and felt
of storms she took this in mind and felt
of storms she took this in mind and felt tremendously better after I had said
tremendously better after I had said
tremendously better after I had said this and this ability of mine this
this and this ability of mine this
this and this ability of mine this ability to inspire I don’t think it
ability to inspire I don’t think it
ability to inspire I don’t think it comes to motivation I think it comes
comes to motivation I think it comes
comes to motivation I think it comes from love and that’s something the world
from love and that’s something the world
from love and that’s something the world is really running well on these days I
is really running well on these days I
is really running well on these days I am always I’m almost always seeing with
am always I’m almost always seeing with
am always I’m almost always seeing with a smile on my face in fact just the
a smile on my face in fact just the
a smile on my face in fact just the other day one of my closest friends
other day one of my closest friends
other day one of my closest friends Chris asked me Peter how do you stay so
Chris asked me Peter how do you stay so
Chris asked me Peter how do you stay so positive every day and I told me the
positive every day and I told me the
positive every day and I told me the truth I said I’ve always taken life
truth I said I’ve always taken life
truth I said I’ve always taken life head-on with a smile on my face
head-on with a smile on my face
head-on with a smile on my face and laughter in my back pocket and he
and laughter in my back pocket and he
and laughter in my back pocket and he told me that’s a really rewarding way to
told me that’s a really rewarding way to
told me that’s a really rewarding way to look at life and going a little off
look at life and going a little off
look at life and going a little off script here before today before giving
script here before today before giving
script here before today before giving this speech I gave it to a smaller
this speech I gave it to a smaller
this speech I gave it to a smaller audience and after I had given it this
audience and after I had given it this
audience and after I had given it this person came up to me and told me you
person came up to me and told me you
person came up to me and told me you know Peter that really really spoke to
know Peter that really really spoke to
know Peter that really really spoke to me and I just want to thank you for that
me and I just want to thank you for that
me and I just want to thank you for that because every once in a while you know I
because every once in a while you know I
because every once in a while you know I lose hope in the positivity of the world
lose hope in the positivity of the world
lose hope in the positivity of the world and I feel like I’m the only one it’s
and I feel like I’m the only one it’s
and I feel like I’m the only one it’s always positive so thank you for
always positive so thank you for
always positive so thank you for providing me and I just don’t know what
providing me and I just don’t know what
providing me and I just don’t know what else to describe it as other than the
else to describe it as other than the
else to describe it as other than the power of love because I think that’s the
power of love because I think that’s the
power of love because I think that’s the best way to deal with fear you know just
best way to deal with fear you know just
best way to deal with fear you know just laugh in the face of it and it can’t do
laugh in the face of it and it can’t do
laugh in the face of it and it can’t do anything to you it shows you the pout it
anything to you it shows you the pout it
anything to you it shows you the pout it shows you the power of a laugh the power
shows you the power of a laugh the power
shows you the power of a laugh the power of a smile the power of love
of a smile the power of love
of a smile the power of love and I’ve been so blessed to have had the
and I’ve been so blessed to have had the
and I’ve been so blessed to have had the same group of tightly knit friends stick
same group of tightly knit friends stick
same group of tightly knit friends stick with me all the way from freshman year
with me all the way from freshman year
with me all the way from freshman year until today my junior year so that’s the
until today my junior year so that’s the
until today my junior year so that’s the reason that I am the way that I am the
reason that I am the way that I am the
reason that I am the way that I am the people in my life my family my friends
people in my life my family my friends
people in my life my family my friends my teachers everyone they are the reason
my teachers everyone they are the reason
my teachers everyone they are the reason that I get up every single morning with
that I get up every single morning with
that I get up every single morning with a grin on my face so to answer the
a grin on my face so to answer the
a grin on my face so to answer the question being in a wheelchair has
question being in a wheelchair has
question being in a wheelchair has affected my life and so many ways that I
affected my life and so many ways that I
affected my life and so many ways that I am so blessed to have had this
am so blessed to have had this
am so blessed to have had this opportunity to connect with so many
opportunity to connect with so many
opportunity to connect with so many different people now in closing what’s
different people now in closing what’s
different people now in closing what’s the difference between each and every
the difference between each and every
the difference between each and every one of your lives
one of your lives
one of your lives when compared to mine well depending on
when compared to mine well depending on
when compared to mine well depending on how you look at it I think you’ve been
how you look at it I think you’ve been
how you look at it I think you’ve been wonderful thank you
wonderful thank you
wonderful thank you [Applause]
”
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