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Emily

Daughter, fiancé, adaptive athlete, cake decorator & friend.

“I live by honesty, authenticity & self respect. At 19 I was diagnosed with hip displaysia & a neural tube defect. Waking up from surgery without feeling & movement in my legs was the worst day of my life. But it was also a turning point. It led the universe to bring some of the greatest challenges & life lessons as well as the best days of my life. Through my injury I met a nurse who became my best friend, connected with my soon to be husband, joined an amazing adaptive community, had a cake on the Today Show & got the chance to learn about myself. My greatest struggle is not my disability itself as much as adapting to the world around me – the reactions, the people & the societal barriers. It’s a physical & mental challenge. Some days are easier than others & I’d be lying if I told you there aren’t still very tough ones. I used to live by the story that I am defined by those around me and how they perceive me. But my new story is that differences are nothing but physical descriptions we assign to ourselves. They have no weight on the value of a person, their potential or their soul. Now, I dwell on possibility & adventure. Success is contentment, relaxation and calm. Beauty has everything to do with the soul and what lies within. Happiness comes from allowing yourself to experience the full range of human emotion. I’m excited to marry my best friend and adaptive adventure buddy in August. Erik has never known me walking and he has never placed limitations on me. I feel most alive when I’m on a mountain on my mono ski surrounded my nature and friends. That’s when my soul feels connected as I experience freedom, joy and independence. Regardless of if it’s a day that I’m on crutches or in my wheelchair – I am ME. Full of imperfections, hopes & dreams, sadness & joy, adventure & contentment, fear & confidence. It all makes up my perfectly imperfect soul as I continue to grow throughout this beautiful, heart wrenching, inspiring adventure called life. I am determined, driven and adaptable. I am Emily. I love my eyes and I am proud of my heart.”

Emily

Kristie Dean, Emily, 2019. Digital Photograph. ©Kristie Dean. All rights reserved.

Kristie Dean & Denisha Fisher

artist website

@thesoulprojectstories
@DeFi__Studios

Kristie Dean (Photography)

Kristie is a professional photographer and mom of three from Stoughton, MA. She followed in the footsteps of her father and older brother, both long-time commercial photographers, and established her own photo business after graduating from Suffolk University in 2010. As a busy, working Mom with two-under-two, Kristie found herself feeling disconnected and lost. She found her purpose when she merged her passions for photography and storytelling to address the pressure and expectations placed on women by social media and society at every stage of their lives. Her long running documentary project, Soul Stories, began with the regular sharing of stories and portraits of everyday women as an intentional way to give other women support and hope. She is currently the director of the Soul Project, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which encompasses Soul Stories as well as provides additional services and support to women of all ages in the Massachusetts area. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Positive Psychology and most importantly, raising her three young daughters Sunny, Penelope and Coco.

Denisha Fisher (Graphic Design)

Denisha is the current Graphic Designer for the Massachusetts General Hospital Photography Lab. Born in Boston, MA and raised in Springfield, MA, Denisha considers herself an applied artist, merging aesthetics and commercial practicality to educate her audience. She graduated Lesley University in 2021 with a degree in graphic design and minor in photography. She joined MGH in May 2022, interested in using her skills to communicate complex issues and topics from healthcare workers to the public in a more accessible way. She is currently working to build her social presence to pursue a career in teaching and promoting financial literacy.

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