"Life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot. I am learning to live between effort and surrender."
― Danielle Orner
I am an accomplished author, writing instructor and coach, professional speaker, and healthcare advocate. I was diagnosed with SSCD in 2023 after over a decade of searching for answers to my symptoms.
My career in writing began when I won my first poetry contest at six. My poem was about kissing fish. (No, I wasn't kissing the fish; they were kissing each other!) As an adult, I have always worked as a writer in the corporate world or a teacher of writing in higher education. I teach and tutor students in English composition and creative writing at the college level. My academic qualifications include a B.A. in English (1984) and an M.A. in English/Creative Writing (2019), I am currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts.
My life took a significant turn after I survived a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2011. This experience has profoundly influenced my public speaking, and I have given many keynote presentations and workshops on humor and neuroplasticity, as well as two TEDx talks about brain injury.
In 2023, after about a decade of symptoms, I was diagnosed with SSCD (superior semicircular canal dehiscence) at Johns Hopkins. SSCD is a rare disorder, and because it was only named in 1998, there are not many resources available for laypeople. Just as I did after my brain injury, I started a blog about my journey - as a therapeutic tool for myself and (hopefully) as a way to support others who don't know where to turn for help.
My story is not just about academic and professional achievement but also about resilience and empowerment through transforming life-altering events into sources of inspiration and learning for others.
Please check back frequently. I'll be adding more!
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