About Lynn

I first met Lynn a few years ago while working with another NGO. She immediately stood out to me because of her beautiful smile and warm demeanour. But I also noticed a few things: she often nodded off during Zoom workshops, her speech was soft and slurred, and her movements were unsteady. At the time, I didn’t understand what she was going through—and unfortunately, neither did many others. Some assumed she was being disinterested or inattentive, when in truth, her body was carrying more than most of us could ever imagine. That didn’t sit right with me.

So I started researching. That’s when I discovered Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a rare genetic neurological disorder that affects how the brain communicates with the body. It causes severe muscle weakness, involuntary movements, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and developmental delays. To date, there are only an estimated 350 cases reported WORLDWIDE.

To the untrained eye, the symptoms might look like laziness, but they’re not. This is a lifelong condition that touches every part of her daily life.

Fast forward to 2025 — I finally had the chance to work with Lynn through Soul HeARTful. And what I discovered broke my heart and inspired me all at once. Because her condition is so rare, Lynn has been misunderstood for most of her life. She’s lost jobs for being “too slow,” been unfairly judged, and constantly underestimated.

But what I also found was incredible resilience.

🌟 Lynn has a true gift with words. 🫶 Beneath the exhaustion is a powerful voice that wants to be heard.

She told me that not long ago, she struggled with suicidal thoughts. Since starting art therapy, she has found something to hold onto—a safe space to express herself, reflect, and rediscover her sense of self-worth.

That was when a quiet idea began to grow in my heart:

What if I could help Lynn not just heal but thrive? What if we could create something meaningful together—a project that gives her purpose, a sense of ownership, and a platform to share her story with the world?

✨ That’s how The HeART Diaries was born.

💖 Why I Started This Blog with Lynn

This journal project came from something I truly believe: Healing doesn’t stop when the session ends. It continues when we share, connect, and create beyond the therapy room.

💞 1. To Give Lynn a Sense of Purpose

Lynn has so much to offer. This blog gives her something to be proud of—a place where her words, her thoughts, and her truth matter.

🫶 2. To Raise Awareness About AADC Deficiency

Most people have never heard of AADC. Through her weekly posts, Lynn offers a glimpse into what life with this condition is really like—the fatigue, the fears, the little joys. It’s not just awareness; it’s understanding.

🎯 3. To Show That Art Therapy Goes Beyond the Session

Lynn’s journey doesn’t stop at the end of each session. It continues when she writes, reflects, and shares. This blog is a living testament to how creativity can empower and heal.

📝 Lynn’s Role

After each art therapy session, Lynn will write a short blog post—a reflection, a memory, or a piece of her story. With guidance and support, she’ll shape her words into something powerful and real. Writing is an essential part of her healing process and contributes to her strength.

🫶 How You Can Walk This Journey With Her

Lynn isn’t asking for pity. She’s offering her honesty, creativity, and courage.

Through The HeART Diaries, she’s choosing to turn pain into purpose, silence into story, and limitation into light.

If her journey touches your heart, we invite you to walk alongside her.

🌟 Your support—no matter how big or small—means

• A safe space for healing and self-expression

• A modest income that brings dignity and independence

• A powerful message to others with rare conditions: You are not alone

  
  

❤️ Donate, share, and cheer Lynn on.

Together, we can create a world where every HeART is seen, heard, and celebrated.

Because when we lift one HeART, we lift many.

And every HeART matters.

Lynn is with her boyfriend, Tony.