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Jessica Long’s story begins in Russia, where her 16-year-old mother placed her for adoption when she couldn’t manage her medical needs. Jessica was born with fibular hemimelia, meaning she was born without one of the lower bones of her legs. Meanwhile, in the US, the Long family had tried for 11 years for another baby and knew that God had called Jessica to be that member of her family.
Jessica grew up with a loving Christian family, going to church and hearing the word of God. However, the juxtaposition of loving her adopted family, pain from her disease and subsequent surgeries, and feeling abandoned by her birth mother made it hard for her to understand God’s love and “plan for her life.”
And then she found swimming. As her success grew, her identity began to be based on her ability to perform in the pool. At the age of 15, just five years after she started swimming, she won her first of many Paralympic gold medals. This began her journey of sponsors, success, and fame. But none of that filled her the way that she hoped, she continued to feel empty. Until the age of 21, where God finally got a hold of her heart, showed her what it truly meant to be adopted into His family, and the peace and safety she can find there.
Psalm 46:5 – God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Resources:
Jessica’s Team USA page: https://www.teamusa.org/usparaswimming/athletes/Jessica-Long
Instagram: @jessicatatianalong
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