Meet Essie!

Meet Essie! 

Or, for those of you who have seen Netflix's Say I Do, you may already be familiar with her and her story.

Essie and her now-husband Bruce appeared on episode seven of the Netflix TV show about surprise weddings. Bruce shared the story of how he and Essie met and their life together, including an accident that left him unable to walk for many months. 

Though the beautiful fairytale-inspired wedding was the centerpiece of the show, Essie also made discoveries about herself. Bruce mentioned that for Essie, "reading and writing...have always been tough," and that he's seen her contend with that since their relationship began. 

Essie mentioned that in school, she got a very vague diagnosis and was sent to special education classes. However, she wasn't given exactly what she needed to succeed. Other children made fun of her and called her names. The impact on her self-esteem was evident. The hosts of the show saw the wedding as a chance for a new chapter in Essie's life. Testing was a great place to start.

In the episode, Essie met with a psychologist near Fishers, Indiana for her assessment.  Afterwards, she got some much needed information. "You have dyslexia," the psychologist told her. And Essie suddenly had the language for the struggle she'd been experiencing her whole life. 

As members of our community know, having specific words and diagnosis to talk about dyslexia makes a big difference in learning how to advocate for loved ones or for themselves. After her appearance on the show, Essie has been so excited to embrace this part of her identity. At Dii, we've been lucky to get to know her and her family. Essie met with CEO Bill Herman and Director of Programs, Lynn Leonard, who recently went to visit their family farm to learn more about Essie's journey with dyslexia. 

Essie has begun tutoring with Lynn, and though it's a lot to balance her young family, her farm, her volunteer activities and her tutoring, the tutoring is a great opportunity for Essie to invest in herself. It's also an opportunity to share how important learning can be, and that it's never too late to start. 

"It's been life-changing," Essie says of her diagnosis. "It's like the world has opened up for me. I'm super happy I have it." 

Understanding dyslexia has even helped Essie sort out other things. She found out that often, dyslexia goes along with anxiety, but those are two challenges that require different intervention. Now that she knows, she can be better for herself and for her family, especially her daughter, Vera. "I want to be the best me, so I can help her. I can be her champion." 

Have you seen Essie's episode? Did it change the way you think about dyslexia? Do you know someone in a similar situation? Leave us a comment and let us know!