STOW, Ohio — As a patient advocate, Sarah Tompkins believes "self-care is health care." It's a message she plans to promote while competing at Ms. Wheelchair USA, the national pageant taking place in northeast Ohio to celebrate the achievements of women with disabilities.

What You Need To Know

  • July is Disability Pride Month
  • Ms. Wheelchair USA is a competition that celebrates women with disabilities

  • Sarah Tompkins is representing Washington state

  • She and her husband ran into car problems in Montana, but arrived in Ohio in time for registration day

“I’m so excited to represent Washington," Tompkins said. "I've been a Washingtonian since I moved down from Canada at six-months-old. Not only is it one of my favorite states, but I'm so privileged to have the health care and the access to different medicine and doctors that I do there."

She has rare syndromes that require daily IV treatments.

“With this Dysautonomia syndrome, I have nervous system dysfunction and my blood pulls a lot, causing fainting,” she explained. Tompkins credits IV treatments for allowing her to be more active. 

“It really, really helps with Dysautonomia, also with just Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, less fainting means less accidents and less joint injuries that cause surgeries,” she said.

Tompkins and her husband drove across the country for the competition. They brought their belongings as well as gifts for the other contestants, because Tompkins said it’s easier for her to drive than fly. At first she said the ride went well, describing the trip as "perfect." Then, day two of the journey came with some challenges.

“We had a hole in our radiator, and a little bit of smoke and I had to stop,” Tompkins said. “But, we were so lucky. We got towed to Butte, Mo., to a Toyota dealership where they replaced our radiator overnight.”

Eventually arriving in Ohio, Tompkins added she’s faced other challenges when it comes to advocacy.

“You know, having an invisible illness and invisible disabilities, I've had to deal with doctors that did not believe me or validate me at times. Even if I was dressed up and explained it was for a special occasion, they'd say, ‘Well, you possibly couldn't be in the pain that you are,’” she recounted.

If Tompkins wins the national title, she said she’s excited to showcase that beauty comes in all forms, despite what others may assume.

“I hope to inspire all women with chronic illnesses, and all the women really, to be able to be their glamorous, confident selves. Because, really, just being yourself is being your most beautiful,” Tompkins said.

If you’re interested in watching Tompkins, and all of the other contestants compete, you can purchase tickets for the pageant on the Ms. Wheelchair USA website. Events kick off on Friday, July 15.