Jimmy Curran was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is a very rare neuromuscular disorder that affects motor neurons in the spinal cord causing progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Although His genetic disorder has held him back physically, his ability to persevere using his brainpower is unreal. While working full time in the insurance industry, Jimmy has written a children’s book on perseverance- Will the One Winged Eagle! He has also created Disable the Brand, which is a clothing line designed to change the typical stereotypes of individuals with disabilities. Perseverance 101 is available on all platforms.
Please visit disablethebrand.com to join the movement!
*Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TZKRUMT4aEA
Jimmy Curran was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is a very rare neuromuscular disorder that affects motor neurons in the spinal cord causing progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Although His genetic disorder has held him back physically, his ability to persevere using his brainpower is unreal. While working full time in the insurance industry, Jimmy has written a children’s book on perseverance- Will the One Winged Eagle! He has also created Disable the Brand, which is a clothing line designed to change the typical stereotypes of individuals with disabilities. Perseverance 101 is available on all platforms.
Please visit disablethebrand.com to join the movement!
*Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TZKRUMT4aEA
[inaudible] you are listening to the daily American. Now here's your host, Dan, the man.
Speaker 2:All right. We're back with the daily American and today it's nice. Actually we're down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We have a special guest with us.
Speaker 3:Welcome Mr. Jimmy Curr. My man, Dan, thanks for having me here. We're down here at Jimmy's apartment hanging out. We've got the skyline behind us, beautiful Philadelphia, and we've got a super exciting, you know, story of a story of perseverance tonight. Um, give me, want to kick us off with a little bit about yourself. So Jimmy[inaudible], uh, the living with the antifreeze, so visibility, and this is the advocate. Um, so I, uh, uh, so my plan is to the section of this children's book children, uh, self-acceptance inclusion, as well as painting in the face of that grace. Um, and then full-time analyst. Um, so that's in a nutshell, right. Have accomplished like, uh, yeah, I mean, I think that, I'm just saying that just like, uh, of, you know, it, so you don't let any of your, you don't like your, your disability let's, let's touch on that a little bit. We got spinal muscular dystrophy, acid astrophysics. Okay. So it's similar to, yes, it's a form of muscular dystrophy, so, uh, yeah. Punches in a tight, like I gotcha. SMA. Yup. Okay. Now, currently to treat this, what, what, what do you got going on? I mean, you're taking some medicine, right. So it's very exciting. Um, yeah, yeah. And treatments available that isn't there and they like my, to my disease. Like we never had any, uh, or, uh, medicines help manage my disease. So I noticed in my decisions as well as two different occasions that I'm supposed to stop the progression of the disease. So I'm correct. Okay. So the per so, so it's kind of has it at a stagnant point. However, if, um, that if you're born with it today, you have a high chance of being cleared from it completely due to the new, um, medication that that's available. Yes. It's very nosy. I don't know the long term impacts of a light phone. They cannot say that yet, but the babies are with[inaudible] on that.[inaudible] would do that. Yeah. It's great of the symptoms. Okay. Are there any, um, I mean, obviously you can't remember when you were a baby, but were, are there any symptoms or any key? I don't even know the word I'm trying to put to, to, I guess, help diagnose it or, or at least help bring attention to it at a very young age. I mean, I imagine it's very difficult because most babies, you know, all are similar. Right. So I had very little net control. Um, I was never able to make signs that my mom picked up on and then took me to several different games and, uh, eventually was nine months. Um, so it was everything. And my wife picked up on that. Gotcha. In, in basic terminology, just so the audience can, can understand what is SM da or SMA, like, are, are the differences or so it's a high level. I would just generalized weakness on my muscles voluntary. So like my organs are not affected, uh, my heart and my lungs[inaudible] but online muscles that we use, um, understood now, you know, your muscles may or may not be equal to every 32 year old male. However your brain power has, has clearly have, has gotten you pretty far so far in your life. Yeah. I think that, um, yeah, being able to Excel in academics and then, um, you know, social context as well, I've been able to sit there and make friends with people that, um, need some where I am today. Uh, I'll tell a cool example. So when I was in college, uh, I was on exam and I must've went on views and all things currently. Um, so like they actually won't act simple. So one day I was doing those actual house, but I hadn't found one. And then, um, and then I ended up with the C F um, this is not, no, it's easier, uh, NC level, but, uh, I'm very grateful that we found that position and it opened 10 years. Wow. 10 years a decade. What do you do for them? Jimmy? I am a senior contaminant analyst. So all of my work is almost complete here, please. Uh, no I say that I do competitive intelligence to help inform business decisions. Wow. That's phenomenal. That's pretty, that's pretty high level. Um, like I said, your, your ability to use your, your, your brain to Excel is something to be said, Jimmy. I mean, it's a story of perseverance in itself. However, Dick Cheney, he was the one who saw him is that, is that Trey, who did Dick Cheney coach now
Speaker 4:John[inaudible] John Chaney.
Speaker 3:So he was, yeah, yeah,
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I was going to say. Yeah. Yeah. I think we had was that comes in and can
Speaker 3:The temple, was it coach? Gotcha. What a schmuck comment that it was fine. So let's, let's, let's talk about disabled. Yeah. So the Sable is, uh, clothing it's mindset, it's resection of disability. Um, this class that the funding emphasis on people with disabilities, uh, I saw[inaudible] and then I send it the Joseph, uh, under that plan. And I mentioned samples, uh, to help spread that message and promote the book. Uh, so that, uh, what this April includes, uh, this is what has, I think that stereotypes about people with disabilities. Sure. I can agree with that. There's definitely some stereotypes, um, with disability in general, whether they're physical disabilities, uh, diseases of disability or mental disability. Um, I think the general perception with somebody with a disability is naturally if they're disabled and you to cross out that dis and make it able, I mean, that's, yeah, definitely it doesn't really do something. And that's a life lesson that I know, uh, from care is that there's a long way to that.[inaudible] wherever those points with the individual, but, uh, yeah, this is really doesn't need to stop you from doing that. That's, that's phenomenal, Jimmy. I mean, there's, you know, for you to take your, your circumstances and the, and the hand you were dealt and, and figured out a way to, to play those cards and, and turn it into, you know, a positive journey you're on, in regards to disabled the brain and the book that you wrote, the children's book one life to live. So, uh, yeah, and I'm so grateful that I have an amazing system that has enabled it's victim most and, uh, you know, not, I mean, people down, both invested so much in my family. Yeah. That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that you have just, you know, you found, you, you found almost your purpose and, and you're running, you're running with it, you're taking off. And, you know, you were traveling across the nation with the disabled, the brand, and how many schools as has your book. It is it just in the Philadelphia area and this book is called God, I'll let you say to him, well that one, uh, in schools, I have not traveled extensively, but when I was selling, when I came to Sydney, uh, and, uh, it's been a great experience and I'm always glad that support that I receive via the grant and all of those shared that, that people with disabilities. I'm not,[inaudible] definitely, I agree with that 100%. I mean, I'm sure a lot of the audience that, that will listen will, will agree with those words as well. Um, how many copies of the book have, have been distributed? So it's somewhere a little noisy, but, um, so as gone well, and then a self published author, it's been a way to make people aware. So I have it online is Amazon ads on my website and I do this to help promote[inaudible] well, hopefully the daily American can help get the word out a little bit more. And I hope so. Um, how many, so, so the book is a children's book, correct? Yes. Okay. What's the, I mean, I don't want to give any, I don't want to give any spoilers spoilers out there, but give us a quick, uh, summary, obviously it's called will the one winter Eagle. Yes. Somewhat of a mother for my own life. Well, each time to learn to catch them, but the lady day is textbook. It's like why I, and coming down and, and, but since Lael is equal to five, yes. You're find another lens to face and you'll have to read the book to find out you guys should definitely check out will the one way Eagle, obviously I consider it a metaphor for, for your life, Jimmy. I'm not sure if that's the premise beyond the book or for other disabled folks, but I think it's, it's, it's a pretty awesome concept that, you know, most, most birds or, you know, any, anything that really flies to catch food. If you don't have your Wayne, you can't fly. You got to find other means to get that food just like you said. And I feel like you found other means, um, to get after it as well, whether that is, you know, financially with, with working for independence, blue cross, um, disabled, the brand that would be www dot disabled, the brand.com. Forgive me if I'm wrong. Awesome. He's got the disabled clothing line. You guys should definitely check that out. He's got some sweet time tops, um, hoodies. I saw a sweet, uh, and also had on there. Um, it's all price, very competitively. So it's, it's definitely something you guys could, should check out. I know a few people that have, um, that have bought some items and, you know, they rave about them and I see wearing them to the gym or, you know, it's, it's out there and it's something Jimmy created and it's, he, he found a way to get the food. Yes, yes, exactly. Um, one thing that I would love to share with the obstacles that like people with disabilities, when, and say, see home care, come and visit me. It helped me to navigate, uh, services cost in excess of a hundred thousand dollars a year. But I'm very fortunate there now as a result, like one oh$6,000, and last year, two years ago, I had to share there's a Monday on the I'm now that you see how that could be. And for that class people with disabilities, they find that everyone's like, eh, over 6,000 hours, I don't know, they pay a hundred dollars. So there's that kind of stifles like myself in there because I'm there too for him. Yeah. I agree with that, Jimmy. I do it now, you know, you're kind of trapped. You're, you've kind of hit that, you know, a even if you make, even if you make$150,000 a year and a hundred of it had to go towards your care, then realistically, you're still down$13,000 for the year. So that doesn't seem too fair. Now, I don't know too much about the insurance industry. I know it's, you know, corrupt, um, with that being said, two things, if you were to move to private insurance, would, would that work or would that just be way too expensive? No primary insurance policies yet. However, on an indefinite basis, like they'll cover you in the hospital and come home[inaudible] house where you lose that hybrid type of scenario that I receive. I don't think that the issue is letting insurance with the pay into the, uh, cost of the services. So it's sounding like income after this amount. You go home. Got it. Essentially. You think you should pay? Yeah. Uh, yeah, I do pay a little bit, but after a certain amount, they don't Kobe, they just take off, uh, Allen is a villain. Unreal. It sounds like, you know, this certainly isn't just affecting you. No, it[inaudible] to those. I don't mind exactly guys, no services and every now and then if that check cost them more than one, I tease them that this a disability yet now income, but then they have that. So you're doing the right thing by not sitting back and collecting a disability check when you, you know, you, you could, so you're going out there and full-time every day and the government, rather than saying, you know, Jimmy, we appreciate what you're doing. You know, you're, you're, you're actually giving back to the system in a way by going out there and working full-time, but we're going to stick it to you anyway, because usually that's how the government works and it presents a challenging situation because, uh, there is also when you had one presence,$1,000 in liquid assets, uh, to have like fun in order to qualify for Medicaid, very unfair because someone who has a disability, like tell him how long I'll be able to do well right now. And then I'm not able to prepare myself for that. I'm not able to be on that around on it. It leads you to be at some point. Yeah. And that's certainly, you know, not fair considering that, that you're busting your writing books, startup companies, which I wouldn't consider a booking company anymore. Disable the brands out there. You get some traveling around the nation for that. And you're working full-time for independence blue cross, right? Like you mentioned that I started my rounds at home in my own[inaudible] so you're S you're essentially operating out of a straight jacket. I mean, you can't, you can't do anything. Right. It's just, this sounds like it's, you know, it, that the system, um, has got you strapped down and, and, you know, hopefully this, this video can reach somebody. And in this podcast, somebody, somebody will hear it of some sort of importance and possibly, you know, I don't even know where, where to start in regards to that. Possibly contact the Senator. Yeah. Well, one, I know there is legislation and the house, the Senate and the house for those of us with disabilities. So I have the names, but these are challenges that people like myself and have. Yeah. And then nobody, um, you know, I haven't heard it. I don't watch the news too much anymore, but I haven't heard any, any, anybody else talking about any issues like this? So this is where the daily American come into play and bring these issues to the forefront. Yeah, no, my preaching is that people with disabilities are capable to do all these amazing things. Like a lot of times it will be the person with the disability, Chile reaching it's axial. So I, uh, I'm the send around for myself to contribute and let people see how, yeah, absolutely. How do you know how high the threshold is being proposed to go? Uh[inaudible] I don't know that it's double what it is now, but I understood. Yeah. It's you'd still be considered middle-class, but the middle-class is so high at this point. I mean, the, the, the margin from, from what's considered middle-class is so high right now that 63,000 being double blue, almost 126 or 120,000, that's significantly more. And it gives you, you know, exactly a lot more room and that's what we're looking. Yep. One piece of advice, um, for anybody listening, what do you, what do you think it would be right off the top is daily Americans always non-scripted some roles, but sometimes they ignore, make sense. And when they don't make sense,[inaudible] then
Speaker 2:That's awesome. Jimmy, the daily American Elise forever will welcome you back and we appreciate your time.[inaudible].