People of Georgian: Chronic illness leads employee to life’s meaning, connection

What’s your story?

The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series.

People of Georgian: Meet Derek Carbone

I was very involved in athletics from a super young age – snowboarding, wakeboarding, weightlifting, and my true passion was indoor and beach volleyball.

Throughout the years that I was playing sports, I started experiencing these really odd muscle symptoms, like cramps and spasms – especially when I played volleyball, I would get these really bad cramps in my legs.

Those symptoms, along with the recurring symptoms typical of the flu, eventually spread to the rest of my body.

A person sits on a chair in a coffee shop. — *Derek was active in sports at a young age.*

I eventually had to stop playing all sports due to the symptoms, and essentially this led me down a very long chapter of disability, mental health struggles and medical investigations.

Switching from an active lifestyle to a completely sedentary life was probably the most difficult and mentally taxing experience that I had to go through.

My identity was tied to athletics since childhood, so it was devastating to go from an amateur athlete and sports guy to someone who couldn’t walk around a grocery store or complete little tasks without suffering.

I saw over 30 specialists in Ontario, and I even flew to Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. I was finally diagnosed out at McMaster University with an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder.

A person stands outside and looks over to one side. — *Derek was diagnosed with an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder.*

Turning a challenge into connection

We tried multiple medications, and I was on disability for 11 years.

During that time, I wondered how I could use it to help others. A friend of mine, who also has a neuromuscular disorder, and I decided to create a social media account where individuals in the chronic illness community could come together to offer support suggestions and share stories of their struggles and daily triumphs.

The response was immediate and very positive – and actually, we recently hit 76,000 followers. We’ve had the privilege of sharing hundreds of stories from people all around the world.

It’s eye-opening to learn what other people are going through, and it has deepened my empathy. It’s been humbling to create something that connects individuals from opposite sides of the world who are experiencing similar struggles.

Derek explores postsecondary journey

While I was on disability, on my own journey, I also thought of testing the waters of furthering my education.

It was difficult to do any amount of work, like reading, writing, sitting or memorizing, so I contacted the OntarioLearn team at Georgian. I had a great experience with them – non-judgmental, supportive – and was able to complete a course.

Eventually, I was able to return to work. Fast forward to the present and here I am working in that same OntarioLearn department.

A person stands behind a table and in front of a backdrop reading "Experience Georgian. Part-time and online programs. MORE flexibility." — *Derek is an OntarioLearn Support Officer at Georgian.*

This is an opportunity to contribute and help empower students to learn online, regardless of the challenges they face. It’s been extremely heartwarming and meaningful for me.

Since the beginning of my disability journey, I have become a much different person.

But without those many years of disability, I would have never come to where I am now, mentally and spiritually. It’s like that had to happen for me to find who I really am and what I want out of life.

Derek Carbone, an OntarioLearn Support Officer at Georgian College.

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