It’s kind of funny really. Of all the articles and encouraging stories I’ve written throughout the years, I never got the chance to share my own story.

My mother always told me when I was a child that I could be whatever I wanted, or do whatever I set my mind to regardless of the odds. “If only you just believe,” she often said.

Believing for me was a natural way of life, and it still is today.
Considering my difficult life?s journey to what we all consider normal, it
can only be defined as nothing short of a miracle. Like most average, plump,
wide-eyed New Born?s brought into this world daily, they usually share at
least one thing in common.

That one thing, is a future filled with love, possibility and happiness, but
for me, that vision was so unclear. As early as I entered this world, I was
that much closer to leaving it. I was what many called a lost cause, but not
for the reasons one would think. Doctors were almost at the point of giving
up a losing battle for my young life. I was born merely, two pound, one
ounces, incapable of being held and unable to breathe or eat without medical
assistance.

I was expected by doctors, to be blind, mentally challenged and unable to
speak, but to everyone?s surprise, I made it through. The conditions after
my early birth, which was  considered as premature, were still
life-threatening. One of my lungs was underdeveloped, along with many other
medical issues. My fragile little body couldn?t even be held by my own
mother.

The treatments went on throughout the first year of my life and after that
point, I was allowed to leave the critical medical treatment center. With
lots of prayer and hope for a brighter tomorrow, I pulled through, despite
the overwhelming odds. The way was beginning to even out, but I still
struggled throughout my youth to learn, due to my former condition.

It?s extremely aggravating, when your told, you wont be like other kids your
age. You wont be able to accomplish what they can, do what they do? you are
limited only to ordinary tasks and practically remain a spectator in your
own life.

This haunted me so, growing up, other kids teasing me because of my
uncontrollable existence being unable to learn on level. I felt alone for
many years, especially in Middle School, wanting to excel academically, but
couldn?t. It wasn?t until a teacher of mine told me something that I held on
to, using it to push me to where, I so often dreamed of being.

She said, ?a lot of kids like you, never make it to college.? Sure, this was
a bit of a set back and a major discouragement, but about a few months
later, something amazing happened.

It was graduation, and students were assigned a three page, single space
term paper on material oriented around science. This was impossible for me,
I thought? I couldn?t even read at the time on a 3rd grad level, being an
8th grader. It was amazing that I had made it this far, let alone, write
complete sentences spanning three pages long.

I pushed myself to write the story and even though it wasn?t perfect, I did
learn, but ultimately something turned on inside. I did something, that
people said I couldn?t. I didn?t even know that I could. From that moment, I
tried harder, and harder until I seen great results. I had found my calling,
and beaten the statistics for children born as I was.

I later developed a passion for helping people in whatever way I could. I
found by writing, I could reached individuals who needed a little help along
the way, as I once did. I decided to become a columnist and developed into
an author. My book titled, ?Life As We Know It, or Not? is scheduled to be
hitting the book shelves in February, 2011.

The road I traveled in life, started out a little bumpy, and even though I
was slowed down more than a few times, I still ended up where I wanted to be
and graduating with a 4.0. Nothing in life is easy, nor comes for free. It?s
what one learns when in transition, that paves the path to an individuals
ultimate destination.

None of our lives stories are written in stone, regardless the
circumstances. My life is an example of  that very fact. I never would have
thought looking back at that, struggling and alone little boy, that he would
grow up and accomplish so much in so little time. I have now, written for
magazines and newspapers across the United States, and I am a national
Christian columnist, who writes a every week about inspiration and
discovering God.

I think of my past, not as a hindrance, but as a reason to help others. If I
could, I would go through it again?. If it meant touching and inspiring more
lives than I already have. Until now, my determination has remained a
secret, but now, everyone who reads my collective works, knows where the
passion comes from. Anyone can accomplish their most unrealistic goals,
regardless how far they are to reach. Take it from someone who knows; the
boy who beat the odds.