Real stories, told by real people.
[This is part 2 of an hour long conversation]
Today, we pick up where we left off on our part 1 with Mindy. She shares words of encouragement to those who are also dealing with Shaken Baby Syndrome. Mindy speaks about how the support from loved ones helped with stepping out her comfort zone to become more self sufficient. She's now employed fulltime, and no longer reliant on SSI, providing financial wellness to those in and around her area. A GIANT AMONGST US.
‘Til next time,
and very soon,
PEACE!!
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FIND OUT WHAT'S ON DECK, UPCOMING STORIES, AND ANYTHING NEW WITH GIANTS AMONGST US :
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Giantsamongstus
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Mindy's come a long way, and she's working towards building a community to help prevent, support, educate and provide treatment for those affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome. You can contact and connect with Mindy at https://www.unbreakableunshakeable.com/
"I believe that every child deserves a life free from violence. This is why I created Unshakeable Unbreakable. I want to educate new parents about how fragile their babies are and spread the word about the dangers of shaking a child."
- Mindy Li
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Background music by : @bnoizemusic
00:00:00
This is Giants Amongst Us.
00:00:05
Now, here's a little story I got to tell.
00:00:19
Welcome to the show.
00:00:23
We're gonna pick it up right where we left off.
00:00:26
This is the second part of an hour-long conversation that we had with Mindy Lee,
00:00:32
who was kind enough to sit down with us and share her story.
00:00:37
The Unbreakable and Unshakable.
00:00:41
Mindy Lee.
00:00:43
I mean, just anything you can offer to someone who would be in similar shoes?
00:00:48
I mean, I would say, look, I know that it's hard right now and I know that you're struggling
00:00:52
and you're trying to understand why it's happened or how it's happened,
00:00:56
but it will get better.
00:00:58
And as long as you believe in yourself, as long as you have people who believe in you,
00:01:03
you can get through it.
00:01:05
And it will be the hardest thing that you could do is getting through that, huh?
00:01:09
But like I said, you've got people behind you.
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And, you know, it's what I'm trying to do right now is just built the support group with Unbreakable and Shakable.
00:01:18
And if you need to reach out to anybody, you know, I'll be there.
00:01:22
I'll be there for you at least.
00:01:24
I know it's going to be really hard, but just keep going day by day.
00:01:27
All you have to do is make it day by day.
00:01:29
There is light at the end of the tunnel.
00:01:32
Absolutely.
00:01:33
And I am loving proof of that.
00:01:37
A quick story.
00:01:39
I actually, this is really random, but it ties in with everything.
00:01:44
I go to the dentist a lot, so the hygienist, you know, you do your, you know, six months cleaning or whatever.
00:01:51
My hygienist, pre-pandemic, she doesn't work there anymore because of the pandemic,
00:01:56
but she looked at my medical history because I think they have to.
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She's like, oh, you know, you had a brain injury.
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You had, you know, all this stuff happened to you.
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Do you mind telling me a little bit about that?
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And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I was shaken up for my told, you know, struggled through a lot
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and was able to, you know, make it out.
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And, you know, I'm fairly successful.
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You know, I'm working now.
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I'm going to school.
00:02:20
I'm doing all these great things.
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And she's like, that's amazing.
00:02:23
The only reason I was asking is because my son is a year old or like, you know, a few years old at this point.
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And he had a very similar situation that he wasn't exactly shaken, but he had a traumatic brain injury.
00:02:41
And we're trying to find all this information online on how to combat it, on how to like support him.
00:02:48
And like, how did you get through that?
00:02:51
How do you like, because he's feeling like sad and like depressed and he's like, okay, you know what?
00:02:57
Like, I'm never going to be anything.
00:02:58
And like, so I was able to be like kind of her crutch and her support system and be like, hey, like, I know this sucks.
00:03:07
I know this happened to you, but like, you can get through it.
00:03:10
And I actually met her son not too long after that.
00:03:14
And he is like the cutest kid in the world.
00:03:16
How does he?
00:03:17
Yeah, he was, he's like a few years old, maybe like three or four.
00:03:21
And being able to meet him and like seeing his face light up and be like, hey, like, you know, there are people like me who, you know, are doing good and doing fine.
00:03:31
And like, I think I was able to give his mom a little bit of hope as well, being like, hey, like there are people out there who have struggled with this.
00:03:39
And I, you know, and have made it out the other side and she's doing really great.
00:03:43
So yeah, I could imagine that's something that the mother like as well as your mother to hear that from a doctor to hear that from medical, you know, the medical staff, like, there's really not much that hope for the best, but it doesn't really look too good.
00:03:56
And so there's really nothing to hold on to as far as is there something we can do?
00:04:01
Can it get a little better for my child?
00:04:03
And seeing somebody who has gone through a very similar experience and then made it out on the others, not only survive but is doing an amazing job at it, you know, it gives hope.
00:04:17
And that's what I actually asked what I want to do is build relationships like the ones that I built with her, and not only like loved ones and educators and things like that, but like people like survivors, people who have had this happen because I know exactly
00:04:32
how it feels to struggle.
00:04:36
Now, could I ask you, you mentioned a little earlier about you were on disabilities now, when when you picked up this job and you started working, did that really help out with a change in your confidence and in an attitude maybe and as far as you feeling like now I'm a bit more self sufficient and I don't have to depend on.
00:04:55
Yeah.
00:04:57
So I was on SSDI for a very long time and if people don't know what that means it's just supplemental I think it's like social supplemental like disability insurance it's like a special insurance for people who are disabled who aren't able to sustain and you know support themselves with the job and I was put on it as a very young age because you know of my disability.
00:05:25
And it was something that we went back and forth about my family and I when I first got this job is because with this with SSDI there are a lot of restrictions, you know, you can't make a certain amount of money per you have to make like under a certain amount of money a year.
00:05:43
You know you can't own a certain amount of money and assets.
00:05:48
And like you could never get married you can never get married.
00:05:56
Yeah, because you're because when you're getting because when you're married, your spouse's income because this year becomes your income.
00:06:04
So there were a lot of issues with that because I I would love to get married one day. I would love to have kids on my own and being a but also like on the other side of that SSDI gives amazing benefits.
00:06:18
So it was like kind of like a juggle and being like hey I'm comfortable now with where I am and all these benefits and I'm getting all this stuff without having to work or do I want to work be self sufficient make more money and then also be able to have more than $2 in a bank account and be able to get married.
00:06:36
And so at the end of the day and with my mentor like helping me because she she helped me make this decision really is just you know it's I no longer need this crunch because I am self sufficient I can do really I'm doing really well at my job actually.
00:06:52
You feel like you're doing for yourself.
00:06:54
Yeah, I can support myself and I can do all of these great things. So at the end I decided you know, I no longer I no longer need it so I got the job I have now been working full time for just about two years.
00:07:09
And a few months ago I got a I got a letter from SSDI my insurance company and they're like hey you know we've noticed a change in your and I had to report like my earnings or whatever. And like they sent me a letter and they're like hey we've we've noticed a change in your wages.
00:07:28
We unfortunately you are no longer you know eligible for this insurance or whatever so being able to get that letter and be like holy crap like I'm free almost. But then like also like contacting my employer and be like hey like I need to be put on like my employers insurance
00:07:45
now but being able to like essentially be free from you know I'm no longer getting those amazing benefits but I'm no longer like being restricted to like doing things as well it was just really nice.
00:08:00
So it's like the help but it of course there's strings attached to it.
00:08:05
Yes.
00:08:06
I mean it's there for people that needed it but I had no idea.
00:08:16
And I'm sure you know I know people who are on SSDI who really do need it because they were able to work and feel great for those guys because they're getting the help that they really need but for someone like me who's able to be self sufficient and do what I need to do and
00:08:28
at first I was scared because I wasn't confident in myself like I didn't think I was going to be good at my job I didn't think I was going to be staying there for a full time.
00:08:36
I didn't know if it was going to work out and I'm like okay well what if something happens and I'm working and then I get fired or like I'm not good at my job or if I get cold feet and I go backwards and I now I have no insurance and no job what do I do now.
00:08:51
And so it was like an internal battle with me trying to figure out okay do I kick this insurance and risk it or do I stay in my comfort zone and then have all of these restrictions.
00:09:05
So.
00:09:07
Step down and jumped into the water.
00:09:09
And you know I have to say it was worth it.
00:09:14
So that's another piece of advice you know if you're struggling with something.
00:09:19
And you're like I don't know whether to do this or not hey take the risk you know I would say just take the risk.
00:09:25
That's another just example of you wanting to change your situation because like you said you could have probably sat on that for the rest of your life.
00:09:35
Yeah I would have been comfortable to.
00:09:38
Right.
00:09:39
Yeah.
00:09:40
I mean I don't mean to brag or anything but I would never be able to do a lot of the things that I wanted to do.
00:09:49
I would have never learned the skills and this job has also given me this job has also given me so much confidence in what I could do and in my brain before I got this job it was like.
00:10:03
You know what if it really works out what if I'm doing so well like what if like something happens and I'm like really really great but then I'll never know it because I never you know like you said jump into the water.
00:10:14
And now that I have it's like I'm bleeding people like I am in charge of people in my office like I am now like you know training people and like.
00:10:23
I've learned all these skills and I've like learned skills that I never knew that I had as well.
00:10:28
Oh that's great.
00:10:29
It's nice.
00:10:30
Open up a whole treasure box you had no idea of.
00:10:34
Yeah.
00:10:35
Yeah that's like that's also another thing we can just overwhelm ourselves with all of the what ifs but it's always on the negative side now if you turn around but what if it actually works what if this is actually a good move what if this is something that I need to do.
00:10:53
A lot of times it's the what if what if it goes wrong what if what if I fail what if I trip up what if I make a fool out of myself.
00:11:00
Yeah.
00:11:01
But there's always the other side of it.
00:11:03
And that that's something that we found out first hand.
00:11:06
Making that decision was I think that was one of the hardest decisions of my life.
00:11:13
Trying to decide whether to be comfortable with where I am or leave the nest essentially.
00:11:23
So you left the nest and flying high.
00:11:26
And yeah.
00:11:28
And just yeah I'm really thankful if that was the first job that you applied for but I could imagine there's some jobs that'll say you know what it's not going to.
00:11:37
I don't know if you're the right fit.
00:11:39
And just based off of your disabilities even though a lot of important things.
00:11:42
Even though a lot of employers say that they're not supposed to discriminate for that reason but right.
00:11:47
So funny you bring that up actually because PNC bank where I work is actually the first place that I applied to.
00:11:55
So with the training program that I was in called Bank Works.
00:12:00
So what they do is eight weeks of training.
00:12:03
And at the end the last week like right before you graduate and get your certificate they sit you down with all these banks in the city.
00:12:11
And you basically do like a test run.
00:12:13
You do like an interview system you have your resume and like you get to meet the people that you could potentially be working for.
00:12:19
And they actually place you with an employer and they help you find a job which is an amazing thing.
00:12:27
Okay.
00:12:28
And so when I when I was at Bank Works pre you know graduation or whatever we started to apply it like you know we were encouraged to start looking for the jobs that we would be applying for.
00:12:43
And I applied to I think three or four different banks.
00:12:47
But PNC banks the first the first bank that I applied for.
00:12:53
They were able to they basically were really impressed with my resume and things like that.
00:12:59
And they offered me a job even before I graduated and I think I was the first person in my cohort to find you know to already have you know a job offer and already know what I wanted to do before I even got on stage and got a certificate.
00:13:17
So that was also something that was like holy moly like maybe I can do this.
00:13:22
You know.
00:13:23
Yeah.
00:13:24
That's a confidence booster.
00:13:26
Yeah.
00:13:27
They were my first choice and I was able to work for them and I've been like I said I've been working there ever since and I'm looking at better opportunities now but they were they the two years that I've been there have been what I needed to basically grow and find the confidence that I needed.
00:13:46
That was the reassurance that you did the right thing.
00:13:49
That was the right move.
00:13:51
Yeah.
00:13:52
And it was like I said it was a hard decision not knowing because you know it's not like I could like try it and then go back you know it's that's not how that works.
00:14:02
Yeah I was going to ask you that now what happens if something you know things happen if something were to just not work out and you would have to reapply for us like how does that work out.
00:14:12
Yeah I was going to say yeah so if you get kicked off.
00:14:17
I think you have to wait a certain amount of time to reapply.
00:14:22
Oh and it probably could be years.
00:14:24
Yeah and like well it would I think it's like six months to wait to reapply but then it would take like years to be able to like.
00:14:32
Approved.
00:14:33
Yeah because they the government's always so slow about everything but.
00:14:38
Yeah basically you would reapply and then you would have to go through this process you have to get a doctor's note you have to like they have to basically examine you and be like does this person have a disability or do they not.
00:14:50
And so like it would have it would have taken years.
00:14:54
She looks good to me.
00:14:55
Yeah and it's like well regardless it would have taken years for me to be able to get back accepted and like so.
00:15:04
Oh wow.
00:15:05
So that was really that was shaking the dice.
00:15:08
No it really was.
00:15:10
And then did you have a you said you had to talk with your your family also like this is something that I'm thinking of doing.
00:15:17
What do you guys think about it.
00:15:19
Yeah I mean they were the ones who you know encouraged me to step out of my government's own because I'm like I don't know what to do like I don't know what do I do in this case and they're like hey you know you're comfortable we know you get money we know you get your debt benefits but.
00:15:32
Think about what it's like to be at work every day and be needed somewhere and be useful and now I help a lot of people with their finances.
00:15:44
But now I'm able to sit down and like look at people at the council and be like hey like and I provide financial wellness to a lot of people and I have my regulars like at the branch you know I've got people who literally won't sit with anybody but me like you know because I've built this relationship with them.
00:16:01
And they're poor and being like they know you know many knows my story they know my financial situation and I'm able to you know problem solve and things like that so it was definitely rolling the dice.
00:16:14
For sure but I can say that it was definitely worth it it gave me the confidence and the motivation and now I know you know if and when I look for a new position that I'm you know that I'm desirable I'm not going to be struggling so.
00:16:28
You have something to bring to the table.
00:16:30
Absolutely and also you're free to do what you want to do in your personal life say get married something like that.
00:16:38
And it was nice because I'm also I'm also bilingual I speak fluent Mandarin.
00:16:44
Okay.
00:16:45
Well so being able to because my mom and I was younger at school and you know outside the house I would take English of course and then at home I would basically all all I do is speak Mandarin with her so whatever I'm at home with my family we just speak Chinese and it's able and I'm able to you know brush up on that skill as well.
00:17:08
I think that's one of the languages besides Spanish that is in high demand isn't it like as far as translation and just people are able to.
00:17:17
Yeah.
00:17:18
Well especially in the in the areas that I'm working because I'm working right near downtown Pittsburgh and we're sandwiched in between two big universities.
00:17:28
And these universities have a lot of international students and the majority of their students actually come from China so the fact that I'm able to you know bridge that gap to say between like English and Chinese it's it's very nice.
00:17:43
Now when you were just just to go back real quick when you were on disability and you weren't working was there anything that you were doing as far as like hobbies just to kind of buy time or anything that you were involved with.
00:17:55
Job wise I worked a lot of retail like I worked in malls and like retail shops.
00:18:00
Okay you were still working.
00:18:01
Yeah I work I mean but I could only work part time and I only I had to make sure that I got a certain amount of hours and I only made a certain amount of money per you know the week or whatever it was because I had to report all my wages to SSCI and if they you know they were like oh you're making more money than you're supposed to you know.
00:18:19
So I had to be I'd be really careful with how like I think I only I could only do like 20 hours a week and it couldn't be more than like 10 hours 10 bucks an hour.
00:18:29
As for hobbies I do a lot of art.
00:18:33
I draw a lot.
00:18:34
So I started off on pencil and paper and I would do a lot of sketches and drawings and then I slowly moved into like digital art and having a drawing tablet and doing all that and I do a lot of commissions for my friends.
00:18:51
Oh, I should honestly I should get back into it I haven't done it in a while but I am.
00:18:59
Yeah I used to do a lot of art painting things like that.
00:19:06
Okay yeah.
00:19:08
That's pretty cool I didn't I didn't know.
00:19:10
Well I know that they have you under a certain amount of hours I didn't 10 you can't even really make a comfortable living if you're.
00:19:17
I couldn't tell you the exact parameters but I know that I like I couldn't work like less I couldn't work more than 25 hours a week I think.
00:19:28
And it was really difficult because you know if someone calls off or if someone's needed or if I'm needed and it's like oh well I can't work because I've already you know exceeded the amount of hours I can work this week so it was like really frustrating to work with my bosses.
00:19:44
While I was on insurance because you know I can't just like pick up an extra shift and it'd be fine.
00:19:49
Would you feel like they'd get I have a you know bit of a problem with that or they'd wish you'd be able to do more they were pretty fine with.
00:19:55
Yeah absolutely I remember working at one place and like they basically told me that I had to work.
00:20:01
Oh regardless.
00:20:02
Yeah and so I had to give up that job like I couldn't I couldn't work there and it sucked like there are so many situations where like you know I could have gone something or I could have started working but they just weren't able to meet my situation.
00:20:17
I thought I mean I would think some of them they have as far as like employing people with disabilities like there's some kind of subsidy from the government and it kind of covers them and compensates them for what that employer can't do if they can't work a maximum of 40 hours if they're doing 20 that they get.
00:20:35
But I guess every every state is probably different when it comes to that.
00:20:39
Yeah I'm not too like familiar with the exact like I said the exact stuff but I just know from my insurance they gave me a certain amount of restrictions and I had to meet those.
00:20:52
So that the move to get on do your own and be your own as far as self sufficient in a way where you kind of had a lot of doubts I mean I could imagine everything going through your head the internal struggles should I do it should I not but that turned out.
00:21:08
Very well for you and also with your website that you have going on.
00:21:12
You're going to leave the link and I can leave that information so people can reach out and link up with you and connect and build a nice community over there with people that are helping each other supporting each other going through the same thing similar situations.
00:21:26
Thank you so much again for sharing your story and to be open up yourself to this but if you have any other any words or any any things that you'd like to leave off with.
00:21:37
No I think we've covered everything mostly it's just hey like if you're interested check out the website reach out you know if you have any questions concerns or just honestly want someone to talk to you and be like hey you know I've had this problem or I've had this issue and I really just need someone to talk to you know shoot me an e-mail and you know I'll reach out to you.
00:21:59
Thank you so much Mindy Lee appreciate it.
00:22:01
Absolutely thanks so much for having me on.
00:22:09
Thank you for tuning in.
00:22:12
It truly was a pleasure to be able to meet.
00:22:15
Speak and listen to Mindy share her story.
00:22:19
It was honest sincere and genuine.
00:22:23
And I'm sure like myself those of you listening couldn't help but be inspired and encouraged by her attitude and choice to want to make things better.
00:22:34
It's also worth noting there was a time in her life when she was ashamed.
00:22:39
But now she wants to be that voice.
00:22:43
She is that voice and she's building a community to help educate and support family members and those that have been directly affected by shaking baby syndrome.
00:22:56
If you'd like to be a part of that community to help grow and build together with Mindy you can find her and contact her at unbreakableunshakable.com.
00:23:07
I'm sure she'd be happy to hear from you.
00:23:11
A little side note despite her disabilities and being partly paralyzed.
00:23:17
Did you know when she was in high school she competed at the varsity level running cross country.
00:23:24
That's the power of what one can do if they really get after it.
00:23:29
In Mindy's story the obstacles the struggles the adversity that challenges everything that she's had to face and overcome but despite all of it still smiling persevering pushing forward and not just that but she's thriving she's happy she's successful.
00:23:54
And that in my eyes makes her a giant amongst us.
00:24:01
If you find value in what we're doing over here and any of this resonates with you leave a review rating and be sure to share this with a friend a family member a neighbor help get the word out.
00:24:16
And if you're looking to share your story you can always reach out to me via email I'd be happy to connect.
00:24:23
I also want to give a shout out to all the listeners everybody that is checked in from across the globe.
00:24:30
I'm seeing people from Malaysia Japan Australia Canada the US Germany Kuwait.
00:24:39
It truly is something special to see people tuned in from all over.
00:24:44
Thank you.
00:24:46
Until next time and very soon peace.