About

GREETINGS!!
Thank you for wanting to get to know a little about me. I am Lisa Hazell, a 28-year-old disabled, military wife, who has been creating since I was a child. Over the past few years I have had to overcome many obstacles just to start crafting again.

MEDICAL HURDLES
Since the age of 8 I have suffered from severe migraine-like headaches and other strange, unexplainable symptoms. My husband and I were stationed in New Orleans when Katrina hit, but only received minor damage.

During the following year, my symptoms progressed to a fully disabling level. Unfortunately, the New Orleans doctors could not explain the worst of the symptoms, but were able to diagnose a portion of the problem; I had Dysautonomia, an autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Thankfully soon thereafter the U.S. Navy transferred us to Maryland where I would be able to be seen by numerous specialists at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Centers. This is where I was finally diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (E.D.S.).

Prior to treatment I was confined to a wheelchair, mostly bedridden, and used very few words to communicate. I endured over 100 emergency room visits within 19 months due to extreme bouts of pain in my head and joints.

In April 2008j, a medication delivery pump was implanted in my side and now delivers my medication directly into spinal cord and therefore throughout my body.

Soon after, I began taking small steps back to a better quality of life. As of November 2008, I began to walk on my own and even happily do some chores around our home. Everyone was thrilled to see me walking, including several of my doctors who had never seen me out of my wheelchair.

MY CRAFTS
Craftiness is in my blood; my grandmother loved crafts of all kinds, as do I. I learned from watching her at an early age. That love of all things handmade continued to be fostered by my stepmother, also an amazing artisan.

Since becoming disabled, making jewelry and accessories has helped me pass many painful hours by refocusing my energy onto something enjoyable. Learning the latest techniques and creating new designs not only further enhances my enthusiasm, but adds to my shear delight in crafting.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope to get to know you as well in the near future.

Best regards!