50: Episode 49 - Navigating Romance with MDA Ambassadors

In this episode of Quest Podcast, we chat with three of our MDA Ambassadors. Nora is a passionate animal advocate and lives with Selenon (SEPN1)-related myopathy (RM). Justin is a disability advocate and an Operations Manager and lives with Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy and K.L. is an entrepreneur, poker professional, and influencer living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. They have each devoted themselves to finding their path in life and advocating and teaching others about their respective neuromuscular disease. While offering unique perspectives on dating and marriage, they join us to share their experiences, expertise and advice when it comes to navigating romance and finding love.

Transcript

Guests:

Nora Ramirez lives in California and was diagnosed with Selenon (SEPN1)-related myopathy (RM) at the age of 9 years old. She is one of four siblings with SEPN1-RM; the other three siblings have passed away, which is one of the reasons why advocacy is such an important topic for her. Nora is a dog mom of two, one of which was a foster, and the other found through a rescue organization. She is also a wife, daughter, and aunt. During her free time, she loves to volunteer for nonprofit organizations, and also help friends, family, and strangers with anything they allow. Helping and creating connections with others is what keeps her grounded, motivated, and provides energy for the days ahead. When she is not volunteering, she enjoys playing video games, drawing, painting, writing, reading, or researching.

Connect with Nora:

• Instagram: thatchickwithmd
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-r-946219302

Justin Lopez is a 30-year-old disability advocate and the Operations Manager at CASE FMS. Originally from Farmington Hills, Michigan, he now resides in Toledo, Ohio. Diagnosed with Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD 2B) at 13, Justin has dedicated much of his life to advocating for disability rights and promoting inclusivity in both personal and professional spaces. As a son, brother, husband, and father, Justin understands the importance of community and support. With over six years of experience in operations management, he leads his team with a focus on efficiency and collaboration. 

In addition to his professional work, Justin is an active speaker and recently served as the keynote speaker for an IT company’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), where he highlighted the importance of accessibility and flexibility in fostering inclusive work environments. Outside of work, he enjoys sports—especially basketball and football—and values quality time with his family.

Connect with Justin:

• Tik Tok: @justinjaylopez24
• Facebook: Justin Jay Lopez
• X/Twitter: @justinjaylo24

K.L. Cleeton is an entrepreneur, poker professional, and influencer committed to empowering individuals to realize their potential. He focuses on startup development and motivates others to overcome their limitations, achieving more than they imagined. He is currently an advisor to Vendoor, an app that enhances efficiency and streamlines operations in the construction and retail sectors.

Connect with K.L.:

• Website: klcleeton.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realhighhands89/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/highhands89.bsky.social
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/highhands89

Host:

Mindy Henderson is MDA’s Vice President of Disability Outreach & Empowerment, Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck.

Connect with Mindy:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhen