Michaela Healy On Hydrocephalus Awareness Month
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Jillian Curwin: Hi everyone. Welcome to always looking up, the podcast where no one is overlooked and height is only a number, never a limit, hosted by me, Jillian Curwin. Each week, I will be having a conversation about what it is like to live in a world that is not necessarily designed for you.
In this week’s episode, in honor of September being Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, I welcomed back Michaela Healy. Michaela is one of my best friends, practically my little sister, and has been living with hydrocephalus, water on the brain, since being diagnosed when she was one year old. We discuss what hydrocephalus awareness month means to her, why she does or does not see herself as an inspiration, and how she is always the first to make fun of herself with a smile on her face and middle finger in the air.
Let's get into it. Hi, Michaela.
Michaela Healy: Hey, Jill.
Jillian Curwin: How are you?
Michaela Healy: Good, thank you. How are you?
Jillian Curwin: I'm good. I am so excited to have you back on the podcast. It's been a minute since you've been here, but I wanted to have you on because it is September and September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month.
Michaela Healy: Mm hmm.
Jillian Curwin: So I want to start by first asking you to define, in your own words, what is hydrocephalus?
Michaela Healy: To define hydro is water on the brain. A shunt is needed or is placed in my head to drain the water into my lungs. I have six of them in my head as of right now.
Jillian Curwin: You have six shunts?
Michaela Healy: Yupp. I feel like Kate Gosselin with kids. Cam would always say “That she has eight.” Oh, excuse me.
Jillian Curwin: Well, she is like six, like sextuplets. So you're just missing the twins.
Michaela Healy: Yeah. Really.
Jillian Curwin: We’re going to get into your humor in a bit, which is one thing I love about you. But I want to first kind of tell… get a little bit more of your story, including some things that maybe I don't know, as your best friend.
Michaela Healy: Okay.
Jillian Curwin: So, like, when were you diagnosed?
Michaela Healy: I was diagnosed at a year and five days, on October 10th, 1997.
Jillian Curwin: Oh, wow. So we're almost at the anniversary.
Michaela Healy: Yes, we are.
Jillian Curwin: Okay. I did…I, I knew it was October. I thought…okay.
Michaela Healy: Yes..
Jillian Curwin: So when you were diagnosed, like how did the doctors find out? What did they say? Like, what was that?
Michaela Healy: It was crazy because I was born with an enlarged head and luckily my mom works as an X-ray [tech] and does CAT scans. So she took me to work, gave me a CAT scan, and she showed the radiologist. The radiologist asked, “Is this a morbidity case?” And my mom said, “Is this a morbidity case? Uh no. This is my daughter.” He said, “Oh my gosh, get her to a hospital and fast.” And ever since then, here I am today.
Jillian Curwin: Here you are today- That's… the fact that they saw the scans, and without knowing who you are, they thought it was a morbidity case. And this is…you’re a year old, and now you’re here almost…almost 26 years later.
Michaela Healy: Yep. How crazy is that?
Jillian Curwin: Oh my goodness. That is crazy. So, are you comfortable with saying how many surgeries you've had?
Michaela Healy: Yes, I've had 300….Hold on. Yeah, 318.
Jillian Curwin: 318 surgeries?!
Michaela Healy: Whoops.
Jillian Curwin (laughing): Whoops.
Michaela Healy: And…and Jill. It was so cute. I met…I met the radiologist who read my first CAT scan from my last hospital site. It was so cute. And my mom was like, “Michaela, come here.” And I’m like, “Hey, what’s up?” She was like, “I want you to meet this radiologist that I know.” I’m like, “Okay.” So I, ummm…I talk to him and I’m like, “Hey. I’m Michaela.” And he was like, “Oh my gosh, babe, you look amazing,” and gave me a big hug. I was like, “Oh, thank you so much.” I’m like, “No offense but, what is this all for?” My mom was like, “That’s the guy who diagnosed you back in the day.” I was like, “Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!”
Jillian Curwin: Oh my gosh, that's amazing.
Michaela Healy: It was so cute Jill. I love him so much.
Jillian Curwin: Awww, I love that.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: So…so then what was it like? Because I mean…318, you said?
Michaela Healy: Mm hmm.
Jillian Curwin: 318 surgeries. I would imagine that's a lot of time back and forth in the hospital. Like, what was that like for you?
Michaela Healy: I'm not going to lie, it is tiring. But I always say I have to make it a fun time because how does a heart beat look? It has ups and downs, right? Well, so does life. Sorry.
Jillian Curwin: Exactly.
Michaela Healy: Wait, I told my nurse last admissions and she fell to the floor, crying. [I was] like, “Why are you crying? You're going to make me cry.” She was like, “Michaela, that is the most beautiful response I've ever heard.” I was like, “Well, thank you.”
Jillian Curwin: Awww.
Michaela Healy: I was like, “But, you know the floors are kinda dirty.” She was like, “I’m sorry!”
Jillian Curwin: I mean, it is. But, I mean, that's you. That's your sense of humor. I think that, I think that like, when you first meet, you and, like, share your story, the one thing that always resonates with me is that you have such an amazing sense of humor and such a positive outlook, even when you're cursing someone out, like it's always… there's a positive spin on it.
Michaela Healy: Whoops.
Jillian Curwin: Exactly. You go “whoops”.
Michaela Healy: I always say…As long as… I always say, as long as I can lift my middle fingers, I'm absolutely fine.
Jillian Curwin: Well, okay. So speaking of you lifting the middle finger, I think, I mean, we have to talk about this moment where I mean, I know in the past couple of years, couple of years ago it got really scary.
Michaela Healy: Yeah, unfortunately.
Jillian Curwin: Unfortunately. And do you want to talk about… are you comfortable talking about that? If not, we can just kind of talk about the middle finger moment, which I thought was fantastic.
Michaela Healy: No, I want to…I can always talk about it. [unintelligible]
Jillian Curwin: Okay. So, what happened a few years ago?
Michaela Healy: A few years ago, unfortunately, I had a tiny hole in my head, and I got in the shower and I'm washing my hair, and I start screaming bloody murder. I’m like, “Mom?! Did you just pour acid on my head? What the hell?” So she comes in the bathroom, she’s like, “Sorry, I didn’t want to come in on you naked. But, oh my gosh! Kayla get dressed and get in the car. I said, “The car, why? Where the hell are we going?” She goes, “To the ER.” I say, “To the ER?! Mom, why?” She was like, “You gotta get…you got a hole in your head. We gotta go get it closed.” I asked, “Can’t we just pop a bottle of wine and stick a cork in it?” She was like, “No Michaela. We gotta go get surgery.” I was like, “Are you kidding me?” Jill, I was so mad.
Jillian Curwin: Of course. But then this is… So this is also during COVID when this happened.
Michaela Healy: Absolutely, yeah.
Jillian Curwin: Yes, so it was just you and your mom.
Michaela Healy: Yupp. So then…
Jillian Curwin: So then…
Michaela Healy: We went to the hospital, I got a 22 hour surgery, woke up with absolutely no hair on my head at all. But it was so cool cause, like, I had no fat on my legs anymore, or my butt, or my boobs. Because they took the fat muscle out of my stomach and put it in my head, which was really upsetting because I have no hair my head no more. Well, I do, but not real hair.
Jillian Curwin: Okay. One, you can pull off any hair look, and I’ve said that's since the moment I met you. And…
Michaela Healy: Aww, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: What’s so incredible, and I remember your mom saying this, and she can come on later and correct me if I'm wrong, which I'm wrong a lot so… But I remember they were saying, like, you got to the point where it was really scary - where they took everything out, essentially, that was in your head. And they had never done that before and they didn’t know what would happen. Were you aware of this?
Michaela Healy: I was, but like, and… like I always say, I always pray before my surgery, like G-d, please watch over me. And Jill, I’m not trying to be funny when I say this, but I pray to your dad like, “Listen Mr. Curwin, your daughter’s been taking care of me for the past six years? Can you please just take care of me for one surgery?” I’m like, “That’s all I’m asking.”
Jillian Curwin: Awwww.
Michaela Healy: It was so funny. And when I woke up, when I started crying, and I looked at Healbone and was like I was like, “Dad, Mr. Curwin listened to me.” And he’s like, “Awww Kayla, that’s awesome.” I’m like, “Well, thank you.”
Jillian Curwin: You’re going to make me cry.
Michaela Healy: Stop. Don’t cry. You can’t cry if I’m not…
Jillian Curwin: My dad… at that time.
Michaela Healy: If I'm not crying, you can't cry.
Jillian Curwin: Fair enough. My dad loved you…
Michaela Healy: And I loved him too.
Jillian Curwin: I'm putting that out there. Umm, but I just remember seeing your mom make the videos of you recovering because it was a very long recovery. And that at one point, going back to the original point with the middle finger, you're raising that. Like, that worked.
Michaela Healy: This finer? Oh, oh yeah.
Jillian Curwin: You’re like, let me test this out and let me flip everybody off. And normally…go ahead.
Michaela Healy: I'm sorry. It was so funny. I like… I was going like this [raising her middle finger] and she [her mom] was like, “Michaela! You’re in a children’s hospital.” I’m like, “Okay. I’m a grown child. Sorry.”
Jillian Curwin: Exactly.
Michaela Healy: She was like, “You’re so annoying.”
Jillian Curwin: But… Exactly. But what was it like for you, you know, because, like, we both have a similar situation where we went to the same high school, we went to the same… we grew up in the same town, but we were the only ones - you were the only one, as far as I know, with hydro in Township, I was the only one with…that was a little person. So like, what was that like for you being the only one?
Michaela Healy: I mean it was annoying at times, I’m not going to lie. But it was so fun because I like, got to walk around with my nose in the air like, “Ha, ha. I’m a water head, you’re not.” Everyone’s like, “Well, why do you joke about it?” I said, “Because if I can’t joke about it then I’m going to get my feelings hurt. I’m going to start crying.” Because I…I’ve had how many hits to the brain and I cry so easily. It’s so annoying.
Jillian Curwin: Exactly.
Michaela Healy: So, I have to make fun of myself.
Jillian Curwin: You have to! And I think that's such a pos-, positive way to look at things - is to just take it with a sense of humor. You know, it's your life, it’s, you know, it's the hand you were dealt. There's nothing you can do to necessarily change it. You can beat it, which I think you've been doing for the past 26 years.
Michaela Healy: Well, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: And you've been driving us all crazy while doing it.
Michaela Healy: That’s the only kind of driving I’ll ever do. Sorry.
Jillian Curwin: Did you say that’s the only kind of driving you’ll ever do?
Michaela Healy: Whoops.
[Laughter]
Wait, I told my grandmom that a couple weeks ago and she was like, “Michaela?!” I’m like, “What?” She’s like, “You don’t drive us crazy all the time.” I was like, “Yeah, all the time.”
Jillian Curwin: All the time. All the time.
Michaela Healy: Thank g-d.
Jillian Curwin: So but, [laughter] I can’t with you. This is so chaotic and I love every second of it. Ummm…
Michaela Healy: Well, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: So then like, what was it like…? Cause I feel like you having hydro definitely made an impact, you know, on you for… but like, specifically, you know, and also, like, your sisters. Like I know both of your…correct… I know Meg is a nurse now, your older sister and, correct me if I’m wrong, Cam’s going to school for nursing too now, right?
Michaela Healy: Yeah. I’m like, “Guys, you would get…you were in the hospital like, at least once a month or once a year. Why the hell would you want to go back? They’re like, “We want to help people. I’m like, “Get someone a bandaid. That's helping someone.” Like…
Jill I can't stand blood. It's ridiculous. Like, I saw a drop of blood this big [holding up her fingers] on my pillow when I woke up from the last surgery, I threw up. My mom was like, “What was that for?” I’m like,“Sorry. I hate blood.” She was like, “Michaela, are you kidding me? You’re on one.” I’m like, “Thank you.” I’m like, “Well I lost my boobs. Anything else you would like to point out?” [laughter] That is so funny.
Jillian Curwin: It's like…I think it's just like and it's like…oh my, what, okay. Sorry Ben. He’s going to be editing this episode. It's going to be very chaotic. Umm…
Michaela Healy: Hey Ben.
[laughter]
Jillian Curwin: But, I mean like, the fact that like, again like you… all took, like, found some positivity in it and now you're like, you're giving back because obv-, you know, hospitals have… It's because of doctors that you're here today. And the incredible nurses, I'd say probably and you might… you would probably say more, in some cases, more so than the doctors, the nurses are really who… the ones who, like, helped you and your family every step of the way.
Michaela Healy: Yeah. And no offense but Meg was like, “That’s why I’m going to school for nursing.” I’m like, “Why?” She’s like, “Because I want to make an impact on the kids like your nurses made an impact on me.” I’m like, “Awwww, well thank you Meg. But I’m not getting in the medical field.”
Jillian Curwin: Well, you don't have to. You can be whoever you want to be.
Michaela Healy: Thank you. Ummm, you know, my mom and I was talking about it, it was so cute, because summer of my junior year, I volunteered over at her hospital, but I did the food service. I, like, scooped fruit bowls, I put the labels on top. And Jill the lady, the lady who runs place was like, “Lise! Tell Kayla to come back. We all miss her.” I’m like, “Oh my g-d.” [unintelligible]
Jillian Curwin: Awww.
Michaela Healy: Wait. And then one day, it was so cute, I’m scooping fruit bowls in the cup like I said I was, and this guy stops me and is like, “Excuse me miss, did you graduate from Washington Township High School in ‘14?” I was like, “Oh my gosh sir, no offense, but how in the world did you know…?” He was like, “I remember you!” I’m like, “How do you remember me?” He’s like, “You’re, you’re a part of the hoagie sale, right?” I was like, “Yeah.” He was like, “How you doing?” I was like, “I’m good, thanks. How you doing?”
Jillian Curwin: Oh my gosh. And he said he recognized you from the Hoagie Sale?
Michaela Healy: Yeah. How cool is that?
Jillian Curwin: That's so cool. What… That is so cool. Ummm, can you explain, for my listeners who may not know, what the Hoagie Sale is? Like…it’s still going on.
Michaela Healy: The hoagie sale is a fundraiser, they do every Super Bowl Sunday, where they make thousands of hoagies and they sell them out for the… for the football game, for Super Bowl Sunday. And then, half the donations go to me and my cause, hydrocephalus.
Jillian Curwin: And what is that, when they first approached you asking….? So I'm assuming you had an input in whether or not that they would include you in this. Like, what was your response? What did your family…? Was it an immediate yes? Was there any hesitation?
Michaela Healy: Oh my gosh no. There was no hesitation at all. My mom was like, “Kayla go for it.” I’m like, “This school should be called MHHS for Michaela Healy High School.”
Jillian Curwin: It really should be. And I think, you know, the community, our community loves you and everyone knows you and just rallies around you. And I just, again, remember with, when going through all…watching you come back from everything you went through two years ago and just seeing how, even though we had graduated from Township at that point, we've been out of there for a few years, but still seeing how the community came together to support you, to support your family in any way we possibly could, without maybe some people don’t- never knew what, never understood what hydrocephalus is and never heard of the term. But yet, and it wasn't just for an awareness month, it was whatever you needed. The community showed up for you.
Michaela Healy: Yeah. It was so cute, Jill. So, a couple of weeks ago I went to my dentist’s office, key word dentist, and I hear “Michaela Healy?” And I looked up and I’m like…I whipped my head around and this girl goes, “I’m sorry. I know you through the hoagie sale.” And I’m like, “Of course, you do.” And she was like, “No, listen…” [laughter] And then she’s like, “You know Mrs. [unintelligible] in the uhh, uhh main office?” I was like, “Yeah, I know her!” She was like, “I’m her granddaughter.” I was like, “Get outta here!” Jill, I gossiped with all the ladies in the main office as my second grandmother.
Jillian Curwin: Awww. I love that.
Michaela Healy: It was so cute. I’m like, “I hope you don’t mind.” She was like, “I don’t mind at all. How you doing?” I was like, “I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
Jillian Curwin: Love that.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: Ummm, I do want to ask, was there ever anything growing up that you wanted to do but you couldn't because… for medical reasons? Or, did you ever feel like having hydro kept you out of things? Isolated you like…? What was that like for you?
Michaela Healy: Remembering. [laughter] Jill I don't know if I ever told you, my parents used to tell me that I went to Disney and I forgot about it. I’m like, “Thanks a lot, assholes.” [laughter] Jill it’s not funny! Like, you guys are such bitches.
Jillian Curwin: But it’s kinda funny.
Michaela Healy: No it’s not…yet I’m laughing.
Jillian Curwin: But it’s kinda funny.
Michaela Healy: It’s hilarious. You can laugh. I don’t care.
Jillian Curwin: But…I mean, I'm going to. I mean… But like, was there anything like, obviously, you know, like seeing your sister do…You know, she was a cheerleader, and you did cheer, but like, was there anything that like you really wish you could do that you knew you would be doing if hydro…if you didn’t have hydro?
Michaela Healy: Going away to college.
Jillian Curwin: Okay.
Michaela Healy: But that's about it. That's all I want to do.
Jillian Curwin: That’s about it?
Michaela Healy: Yeah.
Jillian Curwin: Fair enough.
Michaela Healy: I’m going to TU, Target University. [laughter]
Jillian Curwin: I cannot with you.
Michaela Healy: Wait Jill, it was so funny. Umm, I went to…I had to go to physical therapy. My physical therapist was like, “Kayla, do you go to school?” I said, “Yes I do.” She said, “Really? Where?” I said, “TU.” She was like, “Tulane?”, no, not Tulane, “Where do you go to college?” I was like, “Target.” She was like, “Oh my gosh. Get on the treadmill.” I was like, “Alright. See you later.”
Jillian Curwin: Oh, my gosh. I can't. Well, speaking of Tulane, I want to talk about, because I still can't believe that we did this, and that your parents trusted me with you, and this was the first time is… I really want to, like, get your, because I know like in the moment we talked about it, but this was the first time when we went to New Orleans, first in 2017, that… and again, correct me if I'm wrong, that you really went anywhere without your parents.
Michaela Healy: Yupp.
Jillian Curwin: So, were you… First, before we get into what actually happened, like where you scared? Like were, were you hesitant? Because I'm sure your parents were.
Michaela Healy: I was a little. But I was like this lady got me through math, I'm going. And my mom said the same thing. I was like, thanks mom.
Jillian Curwin: Because I got, I helped you with math, you guys just trusted me with your life? Okay.
Michaela Healy: Absolutely.
Jillian Curwin: That seems fair. That makes perfect sense.
Michaela Healy: Yeah. Healbone was like, “Kayla I would trust her anything with you.” I’m like, “Well, thanks.”
Jillian Curwin: All righty then.
So then what was it like for you? Because I try to, and again you can always, you know, call me out for it, and I tell you to, try to treat you like a person. Like I know that… I'm aware of, like, what hydro is and how it affects you, but I don't let it inhibit you. I kind of just, I'm much more careful in making sure that you're okay.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: LIke, I try not to, you know, I try not to assume that you can't do something before you tell me you can’t.
Michaela Healy: No, and I appreciate that so much.
Jillian Curwin: You're welcome. Is there anything you wish that people understood better about hydrocephalus and living with hydrocephalus?
Michaela Healy: Yeah. That I can, I can get most things, that I'm not, like, fully blown out. And, like, I understand people are like, well, you are a little… shit, a little, but like, I can also concept a lot of things too.
Jillian Curwin: You are. You are very perceptive.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: You have a way of seeing the world that is very honest and very accurate. Umm, and…
Michaela Healy: Like I’ve always said, I hate liars.
Jillian Curwin: You really do. [laughter] And you're also not afraid to call things out. But you, again, also find a positive aspect to any sort of situation.
Michaela Healy: Aww, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: And it's not just medical related, it's to any situation going on.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: I do think, definitely like, socializing with you and hanging around you and like kind of seeing, you know, because we…I was a year older than you, but like, you always say like, even when things would go… wouldn’t go your way you’re like, well, I learned from this and this is what I learned and this made me a better person because of it. I think that is such an important attribute to have and one that I try to emulate.
Michaela Healy: Aww, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: You're welcome.
Umm, so I want to talk a little bit because, I know we've talked about it, I'm sure, in our last episode that we talked about, but I really want to talk about, because you talked about, you know, your hair and like… Because hydrocephalus, you can't see it.
Micheala Healy: Yeah.
Jillian Curwin: In the sense that like, I can't see the water on your brain.
Michaela Healy: Yeah.
Jillian Curwin: But it definitely… you can see it in other ways. So, growing up and even now, do you try to hide it? Do you embrace it? Like…
Michaela Healy: Ummm, I do try to hide it, I’m not going to lie. But I have two huge scars on my legs, so I'm like, do you know what? I’m going to show it off when I can.
Jillian Curwin: Right. What do you call your scars?
Michaela Healy: Shark bites...
Jillian Curwin: Nice.
Michaela Healy: From when I went swimming with the sharks. [laughter] Wait Jill, it was so cute. So this time, at my first day of physical therapy, the therapist goes, “Oh my gosh Michaela, what happened to your legs?” I’m like, “Oh. I recently just started surfing on the ocean, and a shark came up and bit my leg.” She was like, “Oh my gosh! What?” And I say to the nurse, “Yeah, probably because I’m fucking with you.” She was like, “Oh my gosh! That’s awful.” “Sorry.” “It’s okay, now get on the treadmill.
Jillian Curwin: It's amazing how many people, even knowing you, how gullible people are around you, myself included.
Michaela Healy: Oh, I know. That’s what I got so mad about, like, last time I was in the hospital. I’m like, “Why do people believe me, mom?” And she was like, “Because you’re so cute…[static] Oh, sorry. Because you’re so cute and innocent.” I’m like, “Sorry, I like to have fun sometimes.”
Jillian Curwin: You really are though. And that's, I think, it gets us all in trouble.
Michaela Healy: Yupp.
Jillian Curwin: So looking ahead, knock on wood, everything okay? Medically?
Michaela Healy: Yes, knock on wood. I would knock on my head but, knowing me, I would fuck something up so I’m not going to do that.
Jillian Curwin: Yeah, don't do that. Don't knock on your head. Please don’t. I… that's… I will get in trouble for that. And I would feel… that… we're not doing that.
[laughter]
So what is something, like, how are you spreading… Like, what does Hydrocephalus Awareness Month mean to you?
Michaela Healy: Ummm, I don't really know. I mean, yeah, September is my old sister's birthday month. That's my pre-birthday month. Like…
Jillian Curwin: Yes.
Michaela Healy: I don't know. It's just like September, you know? I've never really done anything big during it, besides the surgeries, that's about it.
Jillian Curwin: Fair enough. And…
Michaela Healy: Absolutely.
Jillian Curwin: Do you like when people call you an inspiration?
Michaela Healy: Absolutely. Jill, it was so cute. So I had to go to physical therapy and I told my physical therapist my story. She was like, Babe, you are such an inspiration.” I teared up so much, I started crying. I was like, “Thank you so much. I'm really not though.” She was like, “Babe, yes, you are. You’ve had over 100 surgeries.” I was like, “Okay, thank you. You can tell my family she has over 100 braincells.” [unintelligible] Jill it was so funny.
Jillian Curwin: I mean well, it's interesting because people call you… I think you're inspirational in many ways, but it's in… there are some people, I think, and you can again like… My perception is that people are calling you inspirational just for living every day and living and breathing and doing what we all [do], you know, living a normal life, but just living and making it to today. Like, do you, do you like it when it's like that? When it’s that inspirational? Or it's more like what you're actually doing?
Michaela Healy: I think it's, it's sometimes more whether I want to… what I'm actually doing.
Jillian Curwin: Yeah, which I totally get.
Michaela Healy: Thanks. I don’t know.
Jillian Curwin: I mean, you did, you have definitely over the years that… even in the years that I've known you, but then even hearing about what happened before I met you my, you know, senior year, like really got to know you. Like, you've defied the odds more than a lot of people.
Michaela Healy: Well, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: You're like…
Michaela Healy: And it’s so annoying Jill. I don’t, I don’t know if I told you this but the night of admissions, last admission, I had a breakdown and my grandma was like, “Kay, what’s wrong?” I’m like, “I’m so tired of being called inspirational.” She was like, “What are you talking about?” I’m like, “What do I do when I’m in the hospital? Sit in the bed.” She’s like, “Okay? That’s what you’re supposed to do.” I’m like, “Okay, but how the hell is this inspirational?” And she’s like…
Jillian Curwin: Right.
Michaela Healy: “You’re resting. Relax.” Like…
Jillian Curwin: No, but I think that's a fair point to make in that, you know, people will sometimes say people with disabilities are inspirational. But a lot of times, a lot of what we’re doing is just living our lives.
Michaela Healy: Thank you. I’m…I don’t know.
Jillian Curwin: And I think you're allowed to, you're definitely allowed to be tired of people calling you an inspiration. I think you're definitely entitled to feel that.
Michaela Healy: Well, thank you.
Jillian Curwin: You're welcome. I think sometimes we need to hear that, too.
Michaela Healy: Mm hmm, for sure.
Jillian Curwin: But, so then looking ahead, what does the future have in store for Michaela Healy?
Michaela Healy: Umm, I'm not so sure yet.
Jillian Curwin: Okay.
Michaela Healy: I don't know. I'm so nervous for the future today, Jill.
Jillian Curwin: Why?
Michaela Healy: Because look at the past. [laughter]
Jillian Curwin: But yeah, look at the past. And you, after what happened to you a couple of years ago, like, there is nothing, like, that you can't, like, come out a victor against.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: So in the sense that like you, your body, truly, I mean, since birth, essentially, since you, at least you got diagnosed, has just, again, defied the odds. And look at, you know, you do have to… even if you don't want necessarily if you don't necessarily think it's inspirational, you do have to recognize how far you've come. And, you know, before we went on our trips even, you didn't think that was possible. I didn't think it was going to be… I didn't think it was going to happen.
Michaela Healy: Not at all.
Jillian Curwin: We were there. And I didn’t believe it was going to happen.
Michaela Healy: I know. Seriously.
Jillian Curwin: I was half expecting to be told to like go home or, even, like, going to Disney or you were a cheerleader. Like there are so many things that living with hydrocephalus you have still been able to do…
Michaela Healy: Thank g-d.
Jillian Curwin: And it's not like you overcame hydro. You still have hydro.
Michaela Healy: Unfortunately.
Jillian Curwin: You’ll…Unfortunately, until there is a cure, you know, knock on wood, it's going, it's going to happen. But like… you're doing all these things and you're not trying to overcome. You're just, again, trying to just live your life as Michela Healy.
Michaela Healy: Absolutely.
Jillian Curwin: I know I asked you this before, but I'm curious to know if it's changed, or just to remind myself and the listeners, who do you look up to?
Michaela Healy: I'm going to say my mom.
Jillian Curwin: Your mom is a badass.
Michaela Healy: She is. And I'm like, I’m not going to lie like, yeah, I know she drives me nuts, or whatever. But Jill, she works in the hospital. And you’d think, like, she’d be like, I don't want to go in the hospital no more, but she comes to every hospital visit with me. I’m like, “Mom, you really don't have to do this.” She’ll be like, “Okay, but I want to.” I'm like, “Why would you want to do this if you always do it for your job?” She’s like, “Because I love you.” I’m like, “Awww, I love you too. Thanks.”
Jillian Curwin: She's your mother. And like, can we take a moment, and I know this will probably drive you crazy, but like, to just recognize how much of a badass your mom is.
Michaela Healy: Oh, I know.
Jillian Curwin: Because, like, I talk a lot about being an advocate for myself and learning from my parents how to be an advocate for myself.
Michaela Healy: Mm hmm.
Jillian Curwin: And I'm sorry Audrey, mom, if you're listening, but I think Lisa has her beat. Because, you know, even going back farther to, I guess, what, 2015?
Michaela Healy: Yeah.
Jillian Curwin: So, like, she knew what she needed to do and every doctor, every nurse, and we won't name names. There are some doctors who we shall not be named.
Michaela Healy: Not saying a word.
Jillian Curwin: Not saying their names, who said no, and your mom, it was like, I know what is best for my child.
Michaela Healy: Yeah.
Jillian Curwin: I know what needs to be done. I'm doing it. And it was the best decision that she made for you.
Michaela Healy: Absolutely.
Jillian Curwin: So, like, there is, like, I just, we just need to take a moment to really celebrate your mom for being the badass that she is.
Michaela Healy: Okay.
Jillian Curwin: So, do you have anything to add to that? Or I could just do it.
Michaela Healy: Go ahead, you do it.
Jillian Curwin: Okay.
Michaela Healy: Go Lise!
Jillian Curwin: Go Lisa. Umm, are there any questions I have not asked that you would like to answer?
Michaela Healy: Ummm, I think I’m okay. Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: All righty. Umm, where can people follow you? See what you're up to?
Michaela Healy: Umm, probably on Facebook and honestly, I’m not going to lie, I feel like my mom posts whenever something bad happens. So go on her facebook. That's fine.
Jillian Curwin: Okay. I will have… I'll double check, but if Lisa gives me permission, I will have links so you can follow along with Michaela's journey.
Michaela Healy: I was going to say with Lisa’s journey for a second. Yeah, thanks.
Jillian Curwin: Well, yeah, I have to ask her if it's okay. So if it's… If not, ummm yeah. I post about Michaela all the time when something's happening, so you will know. But if, if we are giving permission, follow along and see what this girl is up to because she's doing some amazing things.
Michaela Healy: Thank you, Jill.
Jillian Curwin: You're welcome, sis. And you're welcome Béyonce.
Michaela Healy: Should I start saying it? No, I’m just kidding.
Jillian Curwin: She is the, for all of my listeners, she is the Béyonce to my Béytwice.
Michaela Healy: [laughter] Stop.
Jillian Curwin: It's true.
Michaela Healy: That meme is so funny.
Jillian Curwin: You came up with it.
Michaela Healy: No I didn’t!
Jillian Curwin: Oh no, you didn’t. We found it… We saw it somewhere.
Michaela Healy: Wasn't it on our way to school? And we were like, just listening to Béyonce just cause?
Jillian Curwin: Probably. Yeah. We probably found a meme or something. [laughter]
So, I don't think I invented this little game when you were on the first time, so we're going to do it now. Umm, it's my version of an icebreaker, but I like to do it at the end because I think it's more fun that way.
Michaela Healy: Okay.
Jillian Curwin: So I have five categories and I just want to hear your favorite and each one.
Michaela Healy: Okay.
Jillian Curwin: And I'm looking at these and realized I don't think I know the answers to any of them for you.
Michaela Healy: Oh.
Jillian Curwin: So let's go.
Michaela Healy: Okay.
Jillian Curwin: Favorite book.
Michaela Healy: Dr. Seuss, Cat In The Hat.
Jillian Curwin: Yes! I love The Cat In The Hat.
Favorite TV show.
Michaela Healy: Probably…The Ellen Degeneres Show.
Jillian Curwin: Ellen?
Michaela Healy: Uh-huh.
Jillian Curwin: Which you went to the audience, you were there.
Michaela Healy: I was.
Jillian Curwin: You got to see it. What was that like for you?
Michaela Healy: So cool, oh my gosh. I saw her and I really literally started crying. My mom was like, “Kayla, why are you crying?” I’m like, “I’m so happy!”
Jillian Curwin: Awww.
Michaela Healy: I got up, I started to dance, and it was so funny.
Jillian Curwin: Yes. Love that.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: Favorite drink.
Michaela Healy: Probably, ummm, I don’t know. Favorite alcoholic drink or just regular drink?
Jillian Curwin: Whatever. Whatever favorite drink means to you.
Michaela Healy: Malibu Bay Breeze.
Jillian Curwin: Okay. Love it. Favorite piece of advice you've ever given to someone else.
Michaela Healy: Forgive and forget.
Jillian Curwin: Okay. Favorite piece of advice you've ever received. What? [Michaela flips me off and smiles] Love it. Perfect. That is the perfect note to end it on.
Michaela Healy: Thank you.
Jillian Curwin: Michaela, thank you so much for coming back. Thank you so much for coming on to celebrate Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. I will have links for anyone who wants to learn more about hydrocephalus or if there's any places that you would like… as well as any good foundations to donate to, that are raising awareness, that are funding research. I will have links to that in the show notes, so please go check it out. And again, if Lisa gives mepermission, I will have links to follow her so you can see and follow along with Michaela's journey. Knock on wood, there are no serious updates for a while because usually if Lisa's updating about Michaela, I'm texting her frantically freaking out. So I will have links to all that in the show notes.
Michaela, again, I cannot thank you enough for coming on. It's always a pleasure talking with you.
Michaela Healy: Thank you so much for having me.
Jillian Curwin [laughing]: It's just, just, we have just a little bit, just a little bit of fun.
Michaela Healy [laughing]: Just a little bit.
Jillian Curwin: The final, final, final thing I have to ask is just to remind my listeners in your most badass voice possible, that height is just a number, not a limit.
Michaela Healy: Height is just a number, and not a limit.
Jillian Curwin: Always Looking Up is hosted by Jillian Curwin and edited and produced by Ben Curwin. Please make sure to rate, review, and subscribe and follow on Spotify so that you never miss an episode. Follow me on Instagram at @jill_ilana and the podcast @alwayslookingup.podcast for updates and check out my blog, JillianIlana.com for more content about what it is like to be a little person in an average sized world.
Thanks for listening. See you next week.
Learn More About Hydrocephalus And Donate
NINDS - Hydrocephalus Fact Sheet
Hydrocephalus Association - Hydrocephalus Awareness Month 2022
