Courage To Come Back: Youth recipient wants to make a difference at home and abroad

MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – She has dealt with complex medical and mental health challenges since she was a child, yet through it all, Miranda Tymoschuk still manages to give back to others. The 25-year-old from Maple Ridge is the recipient of the Coast Mental Health Courage To Come Back award in the Youth category.

Tymoschuk was born with a rare condition, posteromedial tibial bowing, the start of a lifetime spent in hospital or in treatment.

“My left leg grew slower than my right leg and was bowed outwards,” she explains.

Eventually, the difference between the two would be at least three inches. Through a number of surgeries and adjustments, she would have to learn how to walk again multiple times.

Then, at the age of five, she lost her dad. He died of a sudden heart attack while playing hockey.

“I just remember my mom sitting us all down and what made it even harder was to see my [two] younger siblings, they didn’t understand why we were both crying, they were still quite young. And it really changed our lives a lot after that.”

Many more medical and mental health issues would follow, including Crohn’s disease, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Honestly, sometimes I look back and I don’t know how got through all of that. It kind of felt like one thing after another.”

However, from a very young age, Tymoschuk also had the courage to give back.

“The first time I did fundraising was when I was eight years old,” she explains. “I learned about a fundraiser for the Canadian Orthopedic Foundation.

“So I started by going door-to-door and sharing my story and asking for donations. It really felt good to use my difficult experiences for something that helps others.”

Today on @NEWS1130: She has dealt with complex medical and mental health challenges since childhood, yet still manages to give back. We close out our series with Miranda Tymoschuk, the recipient of the 2021 @CoastMH #CourageToComeBack Award in the Youth category. pic.twitter.com/9SeWJMXgrB

— John Ackermann ???? (@jackermann) June 4, 2021

Her charity work has since taken her to Uganda.

“From there I just kept looking for more opportunities to get involved in different projects and it led me to visiting developing countries and helping with sustainable development projects there. And yeah, I’ve just had some really amazing experiences that have come out of something really difficult.”

Now, her goal is to make a difference here at home.

“I’d really like to be a person that people can go to and to help navigate the healthcare system.”

Tymoschuk is studying at SFU with the goal of getting into medical school someday. She’s excited about what her future holds and how she can use her story to help others.

“I want other people to know that it’s possible to heal and to enjoy life and to achieve their goals.”

---

Read more:

• Courage To Come Back: Mental Health award recipient helps LGBTQ youth find their place in the world

• Courage To Come Back: Medical award recipient survived multiple near-death experiences 

• Courage To Come Back: Addiction award recipient would have nothing if he couldn’t give back

• Courage To Come Back: Physical Rehabilitation award recipient give others wings

---

NEWS 1130 is a proud sponsor of the Coast Mental Health Courage To Come Back Awards, which raises critical funds for people living with mental illness right here in B.C. You can make a difference by donating today. Visit couragetocomeback.ca to learn more.

Watch the full show below: