Digital footprints.
We know this. We don't like it, (it scares us, a little) but we're looking towards the greater good. My digital footprints are helping raise awareness.
Here's a little challenge:
Go to google, type in your first name and your surname. Go to images, and see whether your photo comes up.
Did it?
It's fun, right, seeing who comes up, when you type in your name.
When we type in my name..., we get a whole page of my photos.
The same thing happens, with Mum's name. There's a whole page of photos of Mum and me. She has done the interviews and newspaper articles, with me.
When we type in Dad's name, he gets half a page of photos, mostly photos of me.
When we type in my noisy sister's name, she comes up, too. She's only two! There aren't too many photos of her, and only a couple of me. But still... her photo already comes up in a google image search, of her name.
The first photo is me. The first 17 photos are mine. Just 23 of these photos are not mine. We get recognised at the park, on the street and in the shops.
That's not always easy. We don't always enjoy that.
That recognition is because of this website, and my social media accounts.
And sometimes, it's my sister, who is recognised first.
We are recognised, because we share so many stories and photos.
But, we've raised a lot of awareness and understanding. It feels great, knowing people are confident and comfortable enough to say hi to me.
Through my website, we can promote amazing people and wonderful programs. And so, we will keep sharing my stories.
But, we will try to keep my sisters away from the 'spotlight'.
On this website, we usually don't write their names.
There are not that many photos of them, shared on here. (At home, we have thousands of photos of them! They are pretty cute!)
It's not because I don't want to share this website with them... It's because I want to protect them. I want to help them hide. I want to minimise their digital footprint.
They don't have cerebral palsy.
They don't have a vision impairment.
They don't have a history of premature birth or liver cancer.
They don't need to have everything about them splashed on the internet.
As they get older, they will get to choose whether or not their photos are shared.
But for now, we will protect them. We won't use their names, but will use names like the Noisy One and the Louder One.
We have lots of photos of them... heaps! But, we won't always share their photos, on here. They are gorgeous, and they are such characters. They are brave and clever and strong and funny. And, they are mine... so, I will mostly keep them to myself, for now.
Through this website and my social media accounts, I have made so many friends. People everywhere are proud of me, for the little things (which are actually big things for me!) People I've never met, support and encourage me.
It feels like I have an army of people, protecting and supporting me... and that is amazing. I'm very grateful!
Thank you!
As long as we have your support, and we are raising awareness and acceptance of cerebral palsy (and childhood cancer and other disabilities), we will continue to share my progress. My digital footprint will continue to grow.
But, for now, we will keep my sister's lives more private.
We're pretty confident, that if someone ever saw one of my photos being used for the financial, or greater gain, of a stranger... we would be told, quickly.
That's one thing we are afraid of; someone stealing my photos, and using them for any reason.
It's why my photos have Love Dexter written on them.
And, so... my digital footprint will continue to grow.
This website has done many great things. Thank you for your ongoing support.
And, thank you, for helping me protect my sisters.