Who am I?

My name is Val Smyth, a Gen-X living with an incurable rare genetic disease called MELAS (Mitochondral Encephalomyopathy Lactic-Acidosis Stroke-like symptoms). While there are potential treatments in phase 3 of human trials, the closest thing to a “treament” available to me involve over-the-counter vitamins and a major change in lifestyle to prevent further decline in my physical health. So I made the decision to go to school, and properly develop my pre-existing skills with a computer, to drasticall change my career path. I am a 4th term Web Design and Deveopment student at NAIT, set to graduate with a diploma in May 2025.

Why the blog?

My biggest goal in life was to become the person I needed when I was growing up. While I still have plenty to learn in life, I have learned some incredibly valuable lessons over the years and I love to share my mistakes and sucesses with others, in the hopes they can avoid some of the more difficult situations I’ve experienced. Maybe it’ll help? Maybe it won’t. I can’t guarantee anything, but I can share what I’ve learned and you can take it with a grain of salt from there. I aim to point you in the right direction, towards resoures created by experts in their fields. Chances are, you are not alone in whatever your struggles are.

We all begin learning our lifeskills from our parents and that is where the disconnect begins. If they don’t know anything about a situation, or are too embarrased by the stigma surrounding a situation, they cannot teach you how to navigate it. If they are never around for you (working too much, consumed by any number of addictions etc.), they aren’t available to teach you.