Joyce was diagnosed with CMT at age six, at the urging of a very astute kindergarten teacher, who recognized her poor balance, timid nature, and general clumsiness. Her parents were advised not to tell her of the diagnosis in order that she not "short-change" her abilities, even as she had her first orthopedic foot surgery at age nine. Despite learning of CMT at age 14 and many subsequent foot surgeries, Joyce believes she has not short-changed her abilities, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and working as a perfusionist in the medical field for 15 years. When the symptoms of CMT interfered with her career in open-heart surgery, she decided to use her medical background experience with CMT and the internet to form a CMTA branch for others with this oftentimes isolating disease. Joyce believes the things that make each of us the most different are our gifts to be shared with the world. As Ghandi once stated,  “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” Her involvement with the CMTA aligns well with these beliefs as she tries to share her experience with CMT until one day CMT is eliminated much like many other debilitating diseases.