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Overcoming Challenges
In life, each of us is faced with different challenges that make us stronger. Throughout my life I have had to deal with some unique challenges. My first eighteen years of life have not been easy. The one lesson that I learned is that family and friends were always there for me in these hard times when I needed them most. If anyone thinks that life is going to be easy, it’s not. There are always those bumps in the road. There are always going to hard things to deal with, but together, we can get through them.
I was born week earlier then I was supposed to be, which is not too much out of the norm. I looked a little different than most babies and didn’t cry much. I had trouble eating and keeping down any formula so I had to eat a special kind. The doctors began to worry because I was not gaining weight. After seeing several specialists, they began to think that I had some type of genetic disorder that was adding to my complications. My parents spent a lot of money having different genetic tests done to see if they could determine what it was without success. I was almost two years old before I crawled. I would roll across the floor to get where I wanted to be, or one of my siblings would carry me. I had very low muscle tone and my parents tried everything to get me to crawl, but I would just cry.
One of my biggest challenges was food, I wouldn’t eat anything. I was what they call tactile defensive. Every time that my mom would feed me a spoonful of baby food I would spit it out. My pediatrician was very concerned about my eating problems and sent me to a feeding clinic. I hated it and would cry every time I had to go. I remember going there and sitting with a bunch of other kids and parents trying to get them to eat different kinds of food. They would always tell me to just smell it but I never would. The only things that I would eat were ramen noodles, and mac and cheese, squishy fries, from McDonalds, and a hamburger without the burger. This was very hard for my parents when traveling because there was never any way to make me something I would eat. One time at Disneyland, my dad said he would me any princess dress I if I would try some new food, but I still would not eat anything!
This went on until I was about twelve years old. While on a cruise, I tried a steak for the very first time. I really liked it. Slowly, I began trying new foods. Now I really like food and I will eat just about anything. Food is a wonderful thing and I love having made the decision to try new foods.
One of the hardest things for me in my life is school. The one thing that you have to learn is that you just have to keep at it and try hard. I have been on an IEP (Individual Education Plan) all my life. I have been challenged with even the basic skills of reading, writing, and math. Specialists would take me out of class and give me the give help that needed. I always hated this because I would never get to spend time with my classmates. I felt growing up that they all just kind of had to push me along. I was not really learning things that I needed to and there were many gaps. I think one of biggest helpers in school was Mrs. Park, my 4th and 6th grade teacher. She was always there for me when I did not understand something that she was teaching. She always went the extra mile to encourage me and help me try to understand. I thought that I was never going to graduate but last year they told me that I was going to be able to receive a real diploma. This was the happiest feeling.
When I was 12 years old I found out that I have scoliosis. This is when you’re your spine is curved. This can cause it to look like a c or an s shape. They do not really know what causes this to happen to the spine, but it is most dramatic during your growing years. You cannot get rid of scoliosis, but in extreme cases they can make the curve in your back straighter. I was blessed with the referral that I received from my doctor to go to Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City. For 4 years I had to go every six months for a checkup as they watched my spine. I had to where a body cast at night to help slow the process but at 16 years old, my back had curved to nearly 50%. This was extreme enough that they recommended surgery. I was terrified.
On July 3, 2013 I had back surgery to fuse 2 rods to my spine and straighten me out. The surgery took 13 hours with some of the most amazing doctors I could ever be blessed with. They were incredible! The first night was hard and I was screaming in pain. I was at Shiners Hospital for about a week. For the first couple of days I felt like I was a kid learning how to walk again. Day by day I had to walk, sit, and stand to strengthen my back. A week went by and I got to go home. I had to stay on bed rest for 2 weeks. It was hard not being able to do things that I wanted to do, but I knew that it was best for me to stay home. Here I am a year later doing great and I’m so glad that I got the surgery! I don’t think that I could not have done this without the support of friends, family, and the wonderful doctors and staff at Shiners Hospital.
I have had some serious challenges in my life but I have been blessed with a great family and doctors to help me. My challenges could be much worse, like cancer or other physical or mental issues, but I have learned how to conquer my challenges and am a much stronger person because of the help and support from teachers, family, friends, and doctors. We can overcome our challenges together.

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I wrote this for all the people who are going their own challanges and to let them know that they are not alone. Life is not easy but these expericanes are life lessons. I would like to dedicate this to my family, teachers. parents, and doctors.