Steffni Randle, now 27, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age two after her mother noticed she was constantly falling over, a symptom doctors initially dismissed as normal clumsiness. Told she would not survive past seven, Steffni has defied expectations and now lives with a metal 'Halo' brace anchored to her skull by 15 screws, which supports her severely curved spine.
The Halo was fitted when Steffni was 11 as a temporary measure before planned spinal surgery, but after tests showed the operation was too risky due to weakened breathing muscles, it became permanent. 'It has completely changed my life in positive ways. It's allowed me to be more independent and do things I thought I would never be able to do,' she said.
From Texas, Steffni uses a power wheelchair full-time and a breathing machine at night. Despite the stares she receives, she has grown more confident with age, supported by her mother and brothers. 'You definitely feel different when people are always looking,' she admitted, but now sees the Halo as part of her identity.
With 90,000 social media followers, Steffni shares glimpses of her life to inspire others facing disability or illness. She said: 'There is no cure for my condition, and it is slowly progressive. But I promised myself I'm going to live life to the fullest for as long as I can.'
