I went on disability and it gave me the freedom to work really hard on my therapy. I also took classes, became a published poet, and out of volunteer work, decided about a new career. It was a productive time. And I'm really glad for it, especially for Medicare, because I had to have some operations that I wouldn't have been able to afford.

It didn't stop my life. In fact, it began my life, in the sense that I really learned what I wanted and was able to bring it into being.