Lissa Hayes - Literary Art

Bio

I try to be optimistic and not dwell on my health problems, but often that is hard to do. Sometimes I can relate really well to Philippe in The Man in the Iron Mask.

I have never known what it is like to be completely able-bodied. As far as I know, I was perfectly normal until I was born. There is some debate about that, though. I have been told that I already had lazy eye before I was born. It just wasn't discovered until later.

 

I was born, in Boston, MA, nine weeks prematurely, on July 20, 1974. I was just about to be sent home when I was five weeks old; but I had a grand mal seizure that almost killed me. I was finally discharged when I was eight weeks old. When I was 17 1/2 months old and living in Florida, some of my parents' friends noticed that I was slow for my age and that I was toe-walking. It was then that I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy--a stroke at birth.  The uneven walking caused by the CP later resulted in the development of scoliosis, as a chiropractor told me about a year ago.

 

I lived in Florida until my fifth birthday; and I can still remember some of the after-math of a hurricane that blew through a nearby town. Anyway, the Navy ordered my dad to move to California; so we spent my fifth birthday and the next several days after that driving to San Diego County where I have lived in Chula Vista, National City, Murphy Canyon, Normal Heights, Spring Valley, Poway, and Mira Mesa. Except for about 18 months in Modesto, I lived in the San Diego area until January, 2006, when I moved to Mobile, AL.

 

I just walked through the Miramar College graduation ceremony in June, 1999, and earned my Associate of Arts degree in English in August that year after completing my British Literature class.  In June, 2004, after taking 7 classes per semester for 2 semesters, I earned my Associate of Arts degree in Music (with honors, as a permanent member of Alpha Gamma Sigma), with my voice as my primary instrument. I have also surprised myself and others in other ways, such as running 17 laps around a quarter-mile track in one hour in a yearbook jog-a-thon in middle school, appearing in Who's Who Among American High School Students (1989), receiving the Presidential Academic Fitness Award and graduating from high school with honors in 1992.

I have also been on the Dean's List at two different colleges; and I participated for a short time in Alpha Gamma Sigma--the California community college honor society. I left this group by choice after two semesters when other activities had to take priority. I also participated in re-instating one club at Miramar College. I was asked to help found two other clubs, one at Miramar and one at Mesa; but, due to an already full schedule, I had to turn down these opportunities.  However, I have two Websites:  http://www.savedandsure.zzn.com and http://www.victoriousovercomers.zzn.com. 

I also have three blog sites:  http://www.dablogs.com/?u=777rachel777, a place just to "praise the Lord" or to be encouraged by reading entries that others have made; http://www.dablogs.com/?u=ElizabethRachel, a place to discuss names and their meanings and origins; and http://www.dablogs.com/?u=Rocky777, a place to discuss what "home" means to you.

 

Many people would tell me that my accomplishments are not very impressive because they normally can be so easily achieved. However, I have many disabilities that are not easily visible. These include not only cerebral palsy, lazy eye, and scoliosis, but also diabetes, the resul of an auto-immune disorder.

 

I usually don't tell people about all of my disabilities. But when I see someone who seems discouraged, I talk to them. They usually tell me about their problems and say that they aren't sure if they can go on. When I tell them about my medical conditions alone, they seem awe-struck that I am not suffering depression and other worse mental illnesses. Then they seem to feel better knowing that their "cross" is not as big as mine.

 

I know . . . there I go magnifying my problems. I know that there are people who are worse off than I am. Perhaps others don't have as many disabilities as I do. Perhaps theirs, though fewer, are worse than mine. In any case, I still feel blessed bearing my "cross" because I know that I can help other people carry theirs. In fact, I've challenged myself to find at least one reason to be grateful for each of my disabilities . . . and that has really helped me to cope with my circumstances.

 

I used to believe that my disabilities would prevent me from being a productive member of society--even when I had only been diagnosed with six or seven conditions. Believing that lie, I planned to just stay in school until I died, earning the highest degree I could in at least one subject. However, through many of my classes, I have discovered some "new" talents:  I now write poetry, short stories, and music. I also sing in the choir at one church and on the worship team of another; and I ring handbells in a community handbell choir.  And I have worked as an hourly employee in the San Diego Community College District and a volunteer in some companies that specialize in helping people with disabilities. In addition, I have tutored some of my classmates in various subjects.  And I am learning to play the violin.

 

And now one more thing. In 1994, I really started to let my  "iron mask" wear me. I let it get the best of me, and I suffered from such severe depression that I had to be hospitalized for my own safety.

 

People often wonder why I would share information like this when other people would hesitate to do so. I am happy to report that my mental health is now so much better that I have not had to be hospitalized since May 1995; and I have not had to take medications for mental health since April 1996. The people who knew me back then have been completely amazed at my progress, saying that they didn't think I would ever be able to be taken off of the meds or stop going to counselling sessions. All I can say is, "Praise the Lord!"

 

I don't mean to sound too religious. I know people get turned off by religion. But it wasn't religion that delivered me from suicidal depression and hopelessness. And it isn't religion that gives me joy, hope, freedom and peace of mind. It's Jesus. I probably sound like I'm preaching.  I don't mean to sound that way.  I just wanted to let readers know how I found fulfillment.  If you are struggling with overwhelming problems, trust in Jesus.  Ask Him to save you.  He will--immediately--just as He did with me.  And I promise that you will never regret trusting Him. I hope this information and artwork is encouraging to everyone who sees it.

 

God bless you.

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Copyright © 1996 Adaptive Computer Empowerment Services
Last modified: 05/07/08

Copyright © 1996 Adaptive Computer Empowerment Services

Last Updated: 06/04/2008