I'm 24 years old, a sophomore at BCTC-Cooper Campus (Formally known as LCC), a Christian, and a singer/songwriter. My miraculous story began on August 22, 1983. I was born at UK Hospital. I was born three months premature and I weighed only 1 LB and 12 OZ. Nobody could hold me because I had to be immediately hooked up to IV machines, an incubator, a respirator, and a heart monitor. I was born with scoliosis (which I no longer have), Cerebral Palsy in my left leg, and fine motor problems (which I will have both for the rest of my life). When I was 1 month old, I had a hemorrhage on my brain (a hemorrhage is a form of stroke which basically means that my brain was bleeding) and that caused me to have permanent nerve damage in my left hand and arm, walk with a limp, and be limited to what I can and can't do. During that time, I also had to have a shunt put in the right side of my head. A shunt is like a tube that runs from the right side of my head down to my stomach and it takes the access fluid off of my brain. I had to stay in the hospital for 85 days. My doctor feared that I would be blind, confided to a wheelchair, or possibly die. I got made fun of a lot in elementary and middle school (moreso in middle school) by kids and some teachers that I had. One in 3rd grade and another one in 8th grade. Along with being called crippled, retarded, stupid, a snobby little girl, and troublemaker by my 8th grade teacher, I was told by them that they didn't see how I would make it in elementary, middle school, High School, college, or life in general. Kids (and my 8th grade math teacher) mocked me whenever I walked, I got asked all the time why I walk the way I do, why my hand is the way it is, and I was called crippled, retarded, stupid, an idiot, dumb, pathetic, ugly, and worthless. It hasn't been easy living with my disability and there are times when I still struggle with feeling sorry for myself or putting myself down because of it but now, most people don't even know about it unless they ask me or I tell them. I now look at my disability as a blessing for one because since I go to a secular college, I've had several opportunities to share my story in several of my classes and tell of God's faithfulness and love to me Amen? I am a Child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, precious to Him, and He loves me!