Stories of Potential

For those who wonder if childhood adversity really can inspire remarkable achievements, look no further than Tatyana McFadden. Born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect that prevents the spinal column from closing completely, Tatyana spent the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage.

The day Colleen Watson delivered her son Kyle was one of the happiest days of her life.

When you first look at Brianna Robinson, you might not realize that she has cerebral palsy. She does a lot of the same things most other 2 1/2-year-old girls do: she walks and runs, plays with dolls and eagerly reaches for favorite treats. But look closer and you notice that while Brianna enjoys a lot of the same games and activities as other kids her age, she tends to do them with just one hand. The type of cerebral palsy Brianna has causes hemiplegia, in which one side of the body is weaker and less coordinated than the other.

A Mother’s Story

It’s 1976 and flash bulbs pop as eager relatives urge seven-year-old Lilleen Walters to smile for the camera. Feeling fancy in her flower girl dress, she fights to curve her lips into a smile to please the wedding guests, but her muscles won’t obey. Days and months go by, and Lilleen still can’t smile. Doctors believe she is depressed, and recommend counseling and antidepressants. They don’t help.

Cerebral Palsy

Jordan Miller is seated alone at a long table in a Baltimore County elementary school. He's a quiet boy of 10 amidst a room of rowdier children playing together, and at first glance looks just like your typical third grader. But he's not.

When Jordan notices his mother, Leah, he smiles widely, happy to see her. When he waves, his hand is clenched awkwardly. The arm that propels it is strangely crooked at the wrist. Both are indications he has cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy

If one were to choose the qualities that a young woman might best rely upon for the journey into adulthood, those qualities might be self assurance, polish and grace - comprising the definition of "poise." Liza Patchel exudes poise in all she does - at home, in college and in her community where she works as a Red Cross volunteer.

Traumatic Brain Injury

For many 12-year-olds, meeting a room full of strangers is intimidating. But not for Mark, who sees such occasions as new opportunities to win over a crowd. Once a promising young performer, Mark hasn't been able to sing, dance, or act since last summer, when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Jet-Ski accident. But true charisma knows no physical limitations. When Mark enters a room, he shines.

Down syndrome

Melissa is completely at home under the bright lights of a stage, and that's a good thing since she's a professional magician. She and her father Jay perform side by side across the country, and one of their favorite acts tells a story of transformation and compassion.

Special Education

This summer, I accomplished a dream that few people thought was possible. I was able to walk across the stage to get my high school diploma and then walk down the aisle with my graduating class at Kennedy Krieger High School. Looking out in the crowd to see my mom and friends and teachers standing and clapping for me--it was a moment I'll never forget.

Spinal Cord Injury

Erin and Jade sit across from one another in their bedroom, giggling and playing. Dressed in bright pinks and yellows, they look like little mirror images of one another, with one exception. While Jade perches on the bed, Erin sits in a tiny pink wheelchair because she is paralyzed from the chest down.