My story on how I became an ambassador for the 22q family foundation!

Hi, my name is Gracie Chavez.

I wanted to tell you my story on how I became an Ambassador for The 22q Family Foundation and why I wanted to be one.

I was diagnosed with 22q at the age of two But I knew it as VCF. I didn't know there was a new name and new symptoms until I was at the age of 20. I started having chest pains so we had to get new doctors since I have a Congenial heart Toledo didn't feel comfortable taking me as a patient. So we were told to go to Cleveland Clinic got recommend to so many awesome doctors. Having doctors working together is a blessing! So during this time one of my doctors who is a Geneticist told us that there is a new name for vcf it's called " 22q deletion syndrome" or also called "22q DiGeorge syndrome". He recommended us to do some research on 22q. So I was looking up what is it and all the symptoms and stared following foundations. I thought to myself maybe I should try and put awareness tell people what 22q is somehow. Because I never heard of it and neither has my mom. All of this stared on December 12th,2018!

December 29th, 2018 I deiced to post about my story and share what is 22q. Then throughout the month just counting to sharing my story and post about it.

I think it was all in God's timing! On 12/16/2019 I saw The 22q Family Foundation had a post about sending your 22q story to be posted on their website. I was interested and emailed Lindsey Garcia who is an Executive Director for The 22q Family Foundation... And asked if I could send my story she said yes. So just send my story and a picture of me!

On Jan 7th, 2019. My story was posted on their website. Never did I thought my life changed after it was posted. The story of my journey was up and I got an amazing response from everyone who has 22q! Like moms who have little ones with 22q or just people who didn't know about it. My blog, Emails, Social media blew up!

That's when I knew I wanted to do this even more!

I talked to my family told them I wanted to do more with the 22q community my mom said why don't you email them since they did your story so I emailed Lindsey Garcia who is an Executive Director and asked her how I can become more involved with the 22q. We set a date & time for a phone call to discuss what I can do and how to I can help!

Jan 15th, 2020 I had a phone call with Lindsey and she told me that they needed help on a Facebook group page called "The 22q Family Foundation young adults hangout" she did also mention it was a volunteer opportunity. That was fine with me because that's what I wanted to do! They were looking for ambassador as well... So I did sign up for that too of course!

So since Jan 28th, 2020, I have been a volunteer/ ambassador. It's been a couple of months now working with them sharing awareness, It has been so crazy but I'm enjoying my new journey I'm on with the 22q Family Foundation! Thank you to Executive Director Linsdey Garcia for letting me join the team!

Feel free to check out everything I mention

⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇

website: https://22qfamilyfoundation.org/

here's the link to the group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373071686418645/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

The 22q family Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/22qfamily/

We also have an Honest Conversations Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/397343464146722/

My Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gracie_reneee/

(feel free to DM me if you have any questions)

My email: gracierenee17@gmail.com