Life & Work with Kelly J. Mendenhall of Ann Arbor/Saline Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly J. Mendenhall

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a self-proclaimed recovering nonprofit professional, which is my way of having a sense of humor about a career that kicked the proverbial crap out of me.

I earned my Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Pre-disability, I dedicated my career to the service of under-resourced youth and communities. In June of 2017, I
suddenly became medically disabled and lost my mobility nearly entirely. The cause of my pain and immobility remained a mystery for more than two years, though.

I made a name for myself on the digital scene as a medical journalist and blogger, writing for BlastingNews.com in 2018, Spine Nation.com from 2019-2021, and my blog, Nerdzilla Lives! from 2017-2020. On June 1, 2019, I released my first book, a memoir, Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell, and received rave reviews from readers. I also co-hosted a successful indie podcast from 2018 to 2020. All these accomplishments were achieved while mostly restricted to life on a couch, on my back, with minimal mobility.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Beginning in 2017, I endured years Medical Gaslighting. Simply put, I was told time and again by specialists and medical professionals that there was no way I was experiencing pain, loss of feeling and control of extremities, and other symptoms I reported. It took 2.5 years of fighting against these biases to discover a rare, centralized disc rupture at the junction of my thoracic and lumbar spines that had grown into a calcified mass, crushing my spinal cord. There were a myriad of other medical issues as well.

I survived four neurosurgeries and two major abdominal surgeries between December 2018 and October 2020 and hundreds of tests, procedures, and diagnostic labs.

I have not allowed my disabilities to rob me of my self-worth, which is incredibly challenging in our society and culture. Productivity is often used as a barometer of human value and worth in our society, making it difficult for those of us living with disabilities that impede our ability to work traditional jobs, to feel that we are valued for what we *can offer the world.

I’m known for saying that my work is my way of turning my mess into a message.

I’m passionate about guiding others, especially spine patients and women with chronic pain, to be their best advocates in healthcare, life, and careers.

After a two-year virtual hiatus from late 2020 to December 2022, I re-introduced myself to the digital scene and announced a new website, and ideas, including the Affordable Art Revolution. I was the keynote speaker for Disability Awareness Day in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2023. My best friend Noelle and I are about to launch a new podcast this year, “You Make Me Sick: A conversational comedy podcast about things that shouldn’t be funny.” We use humor to cope with the complexities of Spoonie Life, surviving against medical gaslighting, and celebrate the friendships that keep us alive, including our own. Keep an ear out for us!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The mission of the Affordable Art Revolution is to spread love and joy to Spoonies everywhere through art and the written word. We are determined to make artisan and handmade crafts and goods more accessible to those living with disabilities in all ways.

Everything in the store that is not a custom commission or personalized item is Pay-What-You-Can or Name-Your-Price. There are no wrong answers.

I am a once bio-typical and non-disabled person who is now physically and psychologically disabled permanently as a result of a little bit of crappy genetics and years of medical gaslighting and lack of access to care. I have deep empathy for how alienated and left out the world can make a Spoonie or other disabled person feel at times.

Non-disabled people may not understand the feelings of embarrassment that come with not having the money for non-essentials, not being able to attend public events and concerts safely and comfortably, not feeling safe to participate without the company of friends, and not knowing where to begin when the one-millionth person tells you that “perhaps picking up a hobby would help you pass the time.” I deeply understand this type of existence, which makes me a safe space for my target audience.

By making these hand-sewn and crafted pieces of art more accessible financially, I believe more disabled persons like me will gravitate to handicrafts for creative expression and therapeutic coping mechanisms for chronic pain and invisible illness; this is why I am also recording video content for virtual tutorials and classes to offer affordable learning opportunities for newbies.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I was lucky. I grew up with a super creative, artistic, multi-talented mother who constantly immersed us in creative pursuits. So, I’ve always leaned on the creative arts for self-expression and to express love and appreciation for others in good times and bad. But most of my friends grew up entirely unexposed to these things. My mom is also a fantastic artist and Jill of All Trades. She inspires me constantly.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been raised by her. My father was also creative; he was a leather artist but passed away when I was just four. Clearly, Art is in my DNA, but without the proper parental guidance to nurture my creative passions, I don’t think I would be doing what I am today. When we were doing all those arts and crafts projects as kids, I had no idea that my mom was gifting me such (literally) life-saving and -enriching skills.

My friend and business and marketing coach, Brittany Budd, has been integral to my launching and growing Affordable Art Revolution. She has been one of my loudest supporters since we met in 2016, and she waited for years for me to say, “I’m ready. Let’s go!” The moment I did, she answered the call! I’m grateful for all I learned from her and for her ability to push me outside my comfort zone while honoring and understanding my health limitations and challenges.

The truth is, I have a hell of a lot of support from around the country and the world, and I feel incredibly fortunate. So many people cheer me on, and some days, I feel unworthy.

Pricing:

• Everything in the store that is not a custom commission or personalized item is Pay-What-You-Can or Name-Your-Price. There are no wrong answers.

Contact Info:

• Website: kellyjmendenhall.com.
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyjmendenhall/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/affordableartrevolution