In fact she set a new world record on her way to winning her second consecutive gold medal last month in the Para-Archery World Championships last month in the Czech Republic.

Danielle was a teenager when she was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy RSD or as it is also know complex regional pain syndrome CRPS.  In Danielle’s case the RSD affects her legs and feet to the extent that she cannot remain standing for very long.

Prior to developing RSD Danielle was an active athlete in many sports.  She won her first Paralympics World Championship in Korea in 2007.  She went on to win the Gold Medal in the Bejing Paralympics.

In addition to being a World and Olympic Champion, Danielle Brown is a law student at the University of Leicester.  She has earned a number of sporting awards including  Sports England Awards senior athlete with disabilities and Disability Sport Events Yorkshire Regional Sports Person Award 2007.

Check out this BBC article about Danielle Brown’s win at the recent World Championships.

Alessea is a truly inspiring third year student in Physiotherapy school who has been writing about her experience with RSD/CRPS since July of 2007 in her blog Smiles, Butterflies and Happiness.  But she doesn’t just write about having RSD, she writes about her life in a way that makes you forget that she’s in almost constant pain.

In her profile, Alessea says, “Some days it’s hard to remember why I push myself when it would be so much easier to admit defeat, but I’m determined not to let it rule my life. I am a fighter and a survivor!”

Alessea, you’re not just a survivor, you are a true hero who inspires all those with CRPS that not only can they survive, they can thrive and achieve great things.

Please check out Alessea’s blog and wish her the best of luck as she begins her third year of physio school!

Her story is typical of many who have developed CRPS.  She developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy over two years ago after injuring her ankle.  Her ankle injury actually healed but then the pain came back worse than ever.

Since then she has devoted herself to promoting the awareness of RSD through her awesome blog Rellacafa.  Caf is an excellent writer and artist and she tells much of her story with the use of video.

Caf’s positive outlook and her sense of humor gives hope to all those suffering from RSD / CRPS.

Caf thank you for being such an inspiration and for promoting the awareness of RSD!

By the way, you can follow Caf on Twitter too.