MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Built to Rise – Strength Forged Through Every Challenge

Darlene, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 3 at age 19, just turned 55 years old. She has spent her life proving that challenges do not define her, but that perseverance does. Darlene has been blessed with 32 years of marriage, two amazing daughters, a wonderful son-in-law, and a thriving 20+ year career as a Realtor in North Carolina. Everyday she chooses to live with purpose, gratitude and determination.

Darlene and her family on a Hilton Head beach trip in 2025

I just turned 55. That milestone alone feels surreal — not because of the number, but because of the path it took to get here. My life has been a journey marked by challenges most people never see or experience, yet filled with a joy and purpose that I never take for granted.

At 19, I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 3 — a progressive neuromuscular condition that changed the course of my life.  Living with SMA profoundly impacts my daily life, even though I manage most activities without significant issues. The constant threat of falling heavily influences my health and well-being. I must always be vigilant, whether it’s navigating uneven terrain or simply walking down a sidewalk. A loss of balance inevitably leads to a fall. I’m unable to run or walk quickly because it instantly destabilizes me. Since age 35, I’ve broken both kneecaps and both ankles in separate incidents. Thankfully, I’ve avoided surgery each time, but every injury required a cast and months of physical therapy.

In recent years, steps have become my biggest adversary. I struggle immensely with both ascending and descending them, and I’ve fallen numerous times. The strength in my legs is consistently lacking, regardless of how much I exercise. In fact, sometimes exercise seems to weaken me further, highlighting a delicate balance between beneficial activity and over-exertion. I began taking Evrysdi a couple of years ago, and thankfully, I’ve seen some improvement. However, as I age, the weakness is becoming more pronounced—likely a combination of SMA and the natural aging process.

SMA affects me not just physically, but mentally as well. While I consider myself mentally strong, the limitations can sometimes overwhelm me, especially when I dwell on what I can’t do instead of what I can. This feeling intensifies after a fall and subsequent injury. I’ve often found myself asking, “Why me?” or “Why again?” Even writing about it now brings tears to my eyes. While I know I’m no better than anyone else, some days it simply feels like too much.

Despite these challenges, I strive daily to rise above it, though it’s not always easy. I’m incredibly grateful for all I have, yet I sometimes feel I’ve paid a significant price for it.

When I was 46 years old, I was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and in 2022, I faced breast cancer head-on. Each of these moments could have broken me — but they didn’t. They built me. They revealed a strength I didn’t know I had, and taught me how to fight with grace, live with intention, and find joy even when the odds seemed stacked against me.

Some people see obstacles and stop. I see them and RISE.

Darlene at her daughter’s wedding

I’ve been married for 32 years to a man who’s stood beside me through every diagnosis, every doctor visit, and every triumph. Together, we’ve raised two incredible daughters — strong, compassionate, and brilliant women — and gained a son-in-law who feels like he’s always been part of the family. They are my heart and my greatest source of joy. Watching them grow, achieve, and live with their own purpose fills me with pride and hope.

Professionally, I’ve built a successful career as a Realtor in North Carolina for over 20 years. Real estate is more than just a job for me — it’s a way to connect with people, to help them find not just houses, but homes, security, and new beginnings. Being part of those moments in others’ lives has always felt like a privilege. My work grounds me. It keeps me moving forward, even when my body tries to slow me down.

Living with SMA and MS is not easy. There are days when the fatigue is overwhelming, when mobility is limited, and when the simple things others take for granted feel monumental. And yet, somehow, joy finds a way in. Sometimes it’s in the quiet of a morning coffee, the laughter around a dinner table, or the feeling of handing house keys to a first-time buyer. Other times, joy is found in the hard places — in the resilience built through pain, the strength forged in uncertainty, and the fierce decision to keep going, no matter what.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, it felt like one hit too many. I’d already overcome so much — wasn’t it enough? But life doesn’t ask what we’re ready for. It just shows up, and we decide who we’ll be in the face of it. I chose to fight. I chose to believe that I wasn’t done yet — not by a long shot. I am now considered to be in remission for my breast cancer.

There is something powerful about reclaiming your life, again and again, with every setback. I’ve learned that joy is not the absence of struggle — it’s the presence of gratitude, even when things are hard. It’s the courage to keep showing up. It’s the fire that says, “I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Darlene is employed as a realtor

For anyone reading this who feels buried under the weight of a diagnosis, a loss, or a season of uncertainty, hear this: You are stronger than you think. You are more capable than you realize. And even in the darkest chapters, there is light to be found — sometimes you just have to dig for it.

I don’t write this from a place of perfection or ease. I write it from a place of deep joy, fierce love, and unshakable purpose — with a body that’s endured, a spirit that won’t quit, and a life I’m proud to claim as my own.

This life is mine. Hard and beautiful, broken and bold. And every day, I choose to rise. And so should you…