Page 12 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 1, Issue 3 - August 2023

OVERCOMING DISABILITY
Jhunple’s Story: The TIC Man

Jhunple Guyot
Razon & Fritz
Enjhay Cepe

aturday afternoon on 6 March 1993 is the
exact date when God finally blessed my
Smother with the ability to give birth to a very “
healthy baby (that’s me) via caesarean delivery, PWDs around the world strive for
who would later undergo tubal ligation, after seven success, but their surroundings
years of praying and preparing for the birth of their
second child. There was a chance that I was about are incompassionate. Everything
to die at the hospital because I drank milk so fast is restricted for all of us. That’s
that I got choked. But God is so good that He saved why I did not let my TS and any
me from choking. However, it was also at this time
that I began my journey to experience the life unpleasant circumstances win.
wheel, which encompasses various aspects of life. However, one thing that TS has
Growing up, I lived in a nuclear family with given me is the determination to
my mother and father, both retired government succeed and to help others. ”
workers, my middle-born brother, and the son
of our adopted sister. My eldest brother is now had to consider changing my nursing course to
a missionary priest in The Netherlands, and we psychology in college and selecting schools that
see each other every three years on his vacation. accept PWDs like me. Bullying, being avoided,
Still, we communicate constantly via social media and being subjected to a laughing matter by small
or phone. However, our adopted sister lives minds are just a few of the external challenges that
independently. have pushed me to persevere even more in my
studies. I am proud that I could finish my course
My life with Tourette syndrome (TS) without delay because of the support of my family
I have had TS since I was a second-year college and the grace of the Lord.
student (18), but I’ve always had tics since the Moreover, after college, my employment status
age of 10, which were initially misinterpreted as was not stable. My working experiences were only
mannerisms. I was finally given an explanation contractual, contract of service, or through the
for what I had after the diagnosis. All the noises help of some friends and my parents. Finding a job
I made, and all those uncontrollable movements that suits me is very hard to do on my own. Most,
were given a name. TS is a type of tic disorder. if not all, employers in the Philippines are not that
Having TS in my entire system is physically welcoming or aware of this medical condition and
exhausting, mentally taxing, and emotionally that PWDs are capable of working despite their
draining. It affected my self-concepts, such as self- limitations. No one is perfect in this world. We, the
image, self-esteem, and self-confidence. It is not PWDs, still have the right to work.
easy to have this medical condition, especially I have been unemployed since February 2023,
as a young adult with many dreams. Sadly, it but I am very hopeful that I will be able to find the
really hindered most of my goals. I had so many right opportunity. I believe my disability is not c,
difficulties in school, from elementary to college, but the incapacitating treatment we received from
that I was advised to quit in elementary and later people who prevented us from being productive.

11 Vol. 01, Issue 3 | August 2022