Ep. #13: TJ West - Beautiful Things Can Come From Really Dark Places

Timothy (TJ) West was a happy four-year-old who loved cars who one day was rushed to the emergency room for an ear infection. He  was given amoxicillin to cure that ear infection, and it did, but at the same time caused new problems. He developed a condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome which is a high allergic reaction to medication. It made all his skin burn off, hair fall out, and so much more. The one thing he still has from this condition 30 years later is that he is legally blind. He had to navigate this world with very mediocre vision, on top of that being molested in school, bullying, having issues with mental health, and more. He created his own podcast now in his early thirties, called “My Blurred Opinion” to give a safe space to others to be themselves and to share their amazing stories. TJ wants people with disabilities to be proud of who they are, and to be accepted in the world as anyone else would be. Through this journey he has met so many amazing people, and it has been very therapeutic for himself. As this journey is going on he is unlocking new possibilities for himself.  Website to learn about him and his podcast: https://my-blurred-opinion.onpodium.com/ Listen “My Blurred Opinion” on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-blurred-opinion/id1521610750  Connect with TJ West on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tjssafespaceforall/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tj.west.96/  Invite him as a guest on PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/guestdetailpreview/1617307881538x396713921676814700  Resources TJ West mentioned: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFS8SpwioZ4  ✨✨✨✨✨ Music by: Chris Birkett - "5th Dimension" (The theme song for the musical 'The Age Of Awakening' that started in October 2018 in theaters in Canada.) - https://chrisbirkettmusic.ca/