that I can no longer button shirts or
write with a pen.
“It is not easy to put myself out
there like this,” her Facebook post
continued. “I’m slightly perfection-
istic as many of you know and rarely
allow myself to feel vulnerable.”
The responses she’s received so
far have been overwhelmingly sup-
portive. Aside from the friends who
called to say, “I never knew,” dozens
of strangers reached out to praise
Ishbia for her helpful tips as well
as for having the courage to share
her story. And, it didn’t take long
for organizations to contact her
about speaking at upcoming dis-
ability-related events. For example,
in the fall she will be speaking at a
Washington, D.C., conference hosted
by the Hereditary Neuropathy
Foundation.
One of her biggest fans was her
mother, Marlene Goodman, who
passed away Jan. 31.
“My mom really inspired me to do
this project,” said Ishbia, who previ-
ously worked as a social worker.
“Her CMT was much worse than
mine. A big part of Trend-able was
seeing how much she struggled and
trying to help her find an easier way
of doing things.
“Despite her disability, my mom
was always active. She didn’t let
her disability stop her,” she says.
“Through Trend-able, I have already
helped a lot of people like us and I
know she was super proud of this.”
Ishbia’s other cheerleader, hus-
band Howard, praised his wife
for her dedication to her current
venture. He credits her not only for
filling a niche where there were no
resources but also making sure that
Trend-able isn’t about her and her
struggles. As a blended family, the

Ishbias have five children between
the ages of 14 and 24.
So far on her website, Ishbia has
delved into a range of topics includ-
ing a tweak of the week (such as
a sturdy countertop stand for a
hair dryer) and stylish shoes that
work with leg braces and orthotics.
One post featured a bunch of cute
shoes (a reader liked her advice and
bought 10 pairs of shoes). Another
talked about ways to navigate a
fancy party when “the classic cock-
tail party little black dress isn’t an
option.” The post also talked about
ways to make it through a cocktail
hour when standing and/or holding
food and drinks are a challenge.
Ishbia, who holds an under-
graduate degree in English and a
master’s degree in social work from
the University of Michigan, was not
always accepting of her condition.
“Growing up, I didn’t want to
talk about having a neuromuscular
disorder, especially not my feel-
ings about it,” she says. If someone
asked her why she couldn’t run or
jump, she told them she had a ski-
ing accident or made up a story
about another sports injury, recalled
Ishbia, who currently exercises, or at
least tries to workout, daily.
“My mom put people at ease with
her disability whereas I used to get
defensive when someone asked why
I was limping. I reacted negatively. I
wanted to be seen as someone who
was pretty and thin,” she recalled.
Ishbia’s later-in-life, positive out-
look comes from the way her mom
always lived her life. “I have tried to
follow her positive example by not
complaining about the things I can-
not change,” she says. “Each one of us
has ‘something’ and we all deal with
our somethings the best we can.” •

ad deadline
March 10, 2018
Issue date
March 22, 2018

passover

ad deadline is
March 23, 2018
Issue date
March 29, 2018

CAP

& GOWN

Ad deadline is
May 10, 2018
Issue date May 24, 2018

Call Keith for advertising 248-351-5107

Meet The Detroit Jewish News Account Executives...

Wendy has been in advertising since the beginning of her
career after graduating from Boston University with a degree in
communications. Moving from the agency side to sales ten years ago,
she views herself as an advertising pro who can share her many years
of knowledge and experience with her clients. She feels privileged to
represent the Jewish News because this is a community that she has
always been a part of. She says, “Detroit’s Jewish community is loyal and
when businesses do a great job for them, the community is eager
to reward them with referrals and repeat business.”

Wendy Flusty

Account Executive
Phone: 248-351-5135
Email: wfl usty@renmedia.us
Fax: 248-595-0226

Follow us online

Detroit Jewish News

@JewishNewsDet

Get the JN
delivered
to your door
every week!

Call 248-351-5120 or visit
www.thejewishnews.com/
subscribe

@detroitjewishnews

jn

March 1 • 2018

43