In a vlog with HuffPost UK for EveryBody, Mik Scarlet discusses celebrating his 52nd birthday after being told aged five he was not going to survive. He explains that being told you will die young and never knowing when you might die has made him seize the day and live his life to the fullest. Ultimately, he suggests that people should stop regarding disability as something negative as being disabled is something to be proud of.
HuffPost UK Lifestyle has launched EveryBody, a new section calling for better equality and inclusivity for people living with disability and invisible illness. The aim is to empower those whose voices are not always heard and redefine attitudes to identity, lifestyle and ability in 2017. We'll be covering all manner of lifestyle topics - from health and fitness to dating, sex and relationships.
We'd love to hear your stories. To blog for the section, please email ukblogteam@huffingtonpost.com with the subject line 'EveryBody'. To flag any issues that are close to your heart, please email natasha.hinde@huffingtonpost.com, again with the subject line 'EveryBody'.
Join in the conversation with #HPEveryBody on Twitter and Instagram.