Award-winner an inspiration through illness
Advertiser Staff
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MDA telethon It's Labor Day weekend, and that means it's time for the 38th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, which airs for more than 21 hours on CBS and some 200 "Love Network" stations nationwide. (It begins at 9 p.m. EDT today) The broadcast, also on the Web at www.mdausa.org, raises money and awareness to support MDA's research and services benefiting people with neuromuscular diseases. |
At times, it made her unable to even smile. But Ijacic, now 34, had surgery, takes medicine daily, and says she is an example of how the Muscular Dystrophy Association's research into neuromuscular disease can pay off.
As this year's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon airs today and tomorrow, Ijacic has reason to smile even bigger. The Hawai'i chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association has given her this year's personal achievement award.
In the worst of times, the disease made Ijacic struggle to breathe and need help walking. In the best of times, she served as the organization's spokeswoman.
"Most people when they see me can't believe that I'm inflicted with such an illness," said Ijacic, who has earned first runner-up honors in the Mrs. Hawaii Pageant and was crowned Mrs. Oahu in 2001.
The MDA says her achievements demonstrate the vital community contributions being made by people with neuromuscular diseases nationwide.
"My main message is for me to give hope to other children and people who have Muscular Dystrophy," and related diseases, she said, "and look at me as an inspiration and that one day research will benefit them as well."
