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Man Suffering From Brittle Bone Disease Marries Love of His Life

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At birth, Sean Stephenson’s body was so traumatized, he wasn’t expected to survive. Most of his bones were broken during delivery, and doctors soon determined that the baby had a rare condition called brittle bone disease.

By the time he was 18, Stephenson had endured over 200 fractures in his body. The disease stunted Stephenson’s growth, leaving him at an adult height of 2 feet 8 inches tall.

Though he lives with physical challenges, Stephenson is determined to live his best life. He learned the art of public speaking, delivering powerful motivational messages to audiences worldwide.

In 2009, Stephenson met Mindie Kniss through a mutual friend. The pair hit it off and began dating.

In 2012, Stephenson watched his bride walk down the aisle to take her place by his side, as his wife. The couple was surrounded by family and friends who wished them all the best.

“It’s a joy to be married to this woman,” Stephenson said. “Not a day goes by when I don’t tell her I love her like 8,000 times.”



Though Stephenson and Kniss are very happily married, they have received plenty of unsolicited opinions and cruel scoffing about their relationship. Complete strangers would insist that Kniss could never really be happy being married to a man with a physical disability.

Kniss was in it for the money, people said. Kniss was taking advantage of her husband’s condition, people said.

But Kniss and Stephenson know the truth about their marriage, and that is all that matters. The pair resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, working as life coaches and motivational speakers.

The couple wrestled with the idea of having biological children, but soon found a path that might be a perfect fit. After meeting orphaned children living in Africa, the couple’s hearts were touched with the idea of one day, perhaps, adopting a child of their own.

The couple firmly believes there is no perfect marriage, theirs included. But unconditional love is a choice, and these two are committed to loving one another through the messy times, a true example of love that is faithful, loyal, and self-sacrificing.

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A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Kim Davis has been writing for The Western Journal since 2015, focusing on lifestyle stories.
Kim Davis began writing for The Western Journal in 2015. Her primary topics cover family, faith, and women. She has experience as a copy editor for the online publication Thoughtful Women. Kim worked as an arts administrator for The Phoenix Symphony, writing music education curriculum and leading community engagement programs throughout the region. She holds a degree in music education from Grand Canyon University with a minor in eating tacos.
Birthplace
Page, Arizona
Education
Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Lifestyle & Human Interest




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