MY STORY IS ONE OF HOPE

She was born with a rare condition that affects her muscles but it hasn't stopped Kerry from getting a degree or writing a book

-  MELON RADEBE

WHENEVER it's her birthday her family pull out all the stops to celebrate and sometimes the fuss they make is a bit much, even for her.

But she knows where it comes from. When she was a baby, doctors predicted she wouldn't live beyond the age of five - so the fact that she's now 26 is a miracle her family want to shout about from the rooftops.

Kerry Walsh was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes severe weakness in the muscles.

Kerry has never walked and her parents have to help her dress, take her to the bathroom, cut up her food and put her to bed. But her challenges and restrictions haven't stopped her from living her life. She has an honour's degree in corporate communications from Varsity College, is a sought-after motivational speaker and continues to go out of her way to defy anyone who underestimates her.

Her latest achievement is bringing out her book, Finding My Feet, which details what it's like living with a rare disease. But it's also filled with joy and positivity and tells of the support she receives from her parents, Peter (61) and Lindsay (60), her twin sister Jade, and elder siblings Michelle Pitt (40) and Trevor (37). "I've always enjoyed writing and I have a blog on my website," she says. "The idea was to accumulate all the blogs and experiences and stories I've had and put them into one piece."

She's hoping the book will also help curb the curiosity she's often faced with when she's out in public. People assume because she's physically challenged she must be mentally challenged too – now when they ask questions she can tell them “go buy my book”.

Still, she doesn’t mind the questions that much, Kerry admits. “I’ve always been open and I’d rather someone ask me something than make an assumption.”