Mother of SGA President Jason Palmer tells her chilling life story filled with pain, anguish, yet plenty of hope.
By Sarah Carillo
Assistant News Editor
“It’s not what happens in this life that matters, it’s what you do about it.”
This was the closing statement of France Palmer’s emotional Convocation speech in Firestone Fieldhouse Wednesday. Palmer spoke about her life and the hardships she has faced, including her diagnosis of Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome.
France Palmer, mother of SGA President Jason Palmer, said RSDS is called the suicide disease because of the end many sufferers take due to the pain. Palmer admitted that she had contemplated suicide after her diagnosis because the pain was so terrible.
“The love of my family and my faith in God are the only reasons I’m still here, talking to you,” Palmer said.
Palmer said the disease is like having an excruciating headache and having no way to get rid of it. The pain never stops.
RSDS is a disease of the nervous system and currently has no cure. Some of the proceeds from this Saturday’s “Waves of Mercy” concert will go toward research for RSDS.
Few people are aware of this disease, which effects 2 to 3 million people in America. Palmer showed several news segments about RSDS and all of them mentioned how few people know about the disease.
Many RSDS sufferers are misdiagnosed or are told the pain is psychological. It took six months for doctors to diagnose Palmer with RSDS after she slipped on a patch of ice, hurt her shoulder and could not get the pain to lessen, despite numerous surgeries.
Palmer’s battle with RSDS is not the only challenge she has faced in her life. Palmer also told the audience about her abusive childhood, being beaten and raped when she was 21, and her three separate battles with cancer. Palmer said, however, that she was most scared when her husband walked out on her. She was a stay-at-home mom and unsure how she would support herself and her two children.
“Sometimes I didn’t eat so that the kids could,” Palmer said. “We joke about it now and say it was the best diet I was ever on.”
Palmer was able to support her family and later re-married.
Palmer said that she does not consider herself an especially strong person and encouraged the audience to realize that if she can overcome her obstacles in life, they can too.
“I’m here in hopes that my words will inspire,” Palmer said. “No matter what happens to you … please, please remember that God never gives us more than we can handle. I have no doubt you can do it as well as me, if not better.”
After her speech, Palmer received a standing ovation from the crowd and a hug from her son Jason.
September 11, 2003