Anyone who struggles with depression knows how difficult it can be to manage the condition. Simple things like sunlight, warmth, and cold can trigger a bought of the blue spell that is hard to bear. In the case of beautiful Amber Mills, her depression was brought on by a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
While she appears to be fine on the outside, the muscular disorder left her unable to work. The former marine and warrior woman now raises her three children on a fixed income. For people with MS, every day is a challenge as it isn’t possible to know which symptoms will flare up or if new symptoms will arise.
In a bid to find something purposeful with her time, Mrs. Mills came across an annual challenge sponsored by Charmin tissue. The contest pays a $10,000 prize to the person who can design the most beautiful wedding dress using nothing more than Charmin tissue paper, glue, threading, and tape.
The contest is hosted by a website devoted to finding minimalist solutions for weddings. Soon, Mrs. Mills found that she could design beautiful wedding pieces using the simplest ingredients. She has mastered the art of boiling tissue paper, blending it with glue, and fashioning the pâte into a wedding gown.
While she has yet to win the contest, she participates annually. Most recently, she came in third place. However, Mrs. Mills understands that she is already a winner. The activity gives her the sense of personal accomplishment that propels her through a debilitating illness and depression.