At Samford University’s fall 2024 opening convocation, attendees were eager to hear Lauren Bell speak. Invited by Laura Promer, adviser for the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Bell aimed to shed light on the daily struggles faced by individuals with disabilities.
A native of Homewood, Alabama, Bell shared her journey of living with caudal regression, a rare form of spina bifida, and how God granted her the freedom to walk in peace. She emphasized that each person is made uniquely in God's image and created to bring Him glory.
From the outset, Bell recounted her numerous physical, mental and emotional challenges. Born with sacral agenesis, which affected her lower spine and legs, she also navigated a tumultuous home life with a family member battling addiction. This difficult environment led to her parents' divorce. As she moved through high school, feelings of frustration and low self-esteem intensified. Bell candidly shared her struggle with faith, asking, "Why me?"
A pivotal moment in her life occurred during a week-long retreat at the Legacy School of Discipleship at Lake Martin, where she experienced a deep connection with the Holy Spirit. The retreat’s theme of freedom encouraged participants to journal and pray about what they wished to be liberated from. During this time, Bell expressed her longing for “the freedom to walk in peace.” After praying Isaiah 61, she embraced the reality of Christ's mission and the power of the Holy Spirit, returning to Samford with renewed hope and vision.
Kameron Carden, an adjunct professor in the School of Health Professions’ Communication Science & Disorders department, reflected on Bell’s impact, stating, “Her honesty and vulnerability were both informative and inspiring, urging us to embrace our callings as medical providers and affirm our patients' unique journeys.”
In 2022, Bell earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in graphic design and now combines her passion for design with her life experiences to promote hope and inclusivity. As a marketing and digital content creator for a nonprofit, she strives to make a meaningful impact.
Bell concluded her speech by acknowledging the diverse beliefs within the disability community “There are people with disabilities who believe in Him and those who don’t and have a hardness like I did at one point. I fully understand it. It's a tension.” She expressed her excitement for the future, stating, “We'll see where the Lord leads me, and I'm excited for what He's going to do.”
During her time at Samford, students learned that God wants to lead them to a life of freedom—one where they can rest in His plan; that every part of their bodies, even those they might not love, was lovingly knitted together by God; and that He wants to meet them in their frustrations and speak truth to them.
