Who I’m looking up to: a new series
Inspiration (noun): an inspiring or animating action or influence
I’m starting a new weekly series on my blog where every Wednesday I talk about one person that inspires me. To kick it off, I’m shining a spotlight on a hometown heroine, Michaela Healy. I knew of her during my early high school years but never had the opportunity to really get to know her until my junior year. I was in the National Honor Society and one of the requirements was tutoring hours. The NHS advisor pulled me aside after one meeting and asked if I would tutor one of her students. That student turned out to be Michaela. I said yes and that was the beginning of our beautiful, fanciful, everlasting friendship (Thanks Ms. Bogacki!).
At age two, Michaela was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates on the brain. I asked her to define it in her own words and she said, “Hydrocephalus is a friggin pain in my butt (she actually used a different word but thought that would be inappropriate).” Michaela is, by far, the strongest girl I know, the epitome of a boss a$$ b*****. As I write this she has had 297 surgeries and counting, more pieces of hardware in her head than anyone should yet, even when I visit her in the hospital, she always has a smile on her face.
The Beyoncé to my Beytwice, Michaela and I have spent many car rides together singing at the top of our lungs and laughing until our abs hurt. When I’m with her I don’t think of her as disabled. I think of her as my crazy little sister who is going to get me pulled over for yelling at crossing guards. Why her parents trusted me to take her to New Orleans not once but twice I’ll never know.
A few days ago, I sat down with her and asked her some questions about living with hydrocephalus. Here’s what she had to say:
Do you define yourself as disabled? Do you think society defines you as disabled?
“I don’t like to but unfortunately most of the time I do count myself as disabled. I absolutely think society counts me as disabled but it’s okay!”
Do you think having hydrocephalus has held you back in any way?
I do think hydro has held me back in some ways, but it’s also given me so many benefits!
Do you think other people use hydrocephalus as an excuse for telling you “you can’t do something”? What do you have to say to people who say “you can’t”?
“Luckily, I don’t think people use hydro as an excuse for telling me I “can’t do something. To those who say ‘you can’t’, I tell them ‘watch me’.”
Do you ever wish you didn’t have hydrocephalus?
“I always wish I didn’t have hydro, but I don’t really like change. I don’t know how ‘different’ it would feel not to have it.”
How do you have such a positive outlook on life?
“Every time someone asks me how I have such a positive outlook I ask them, ‘Well, how does a flower grow...with a bit of water, right?!’ Well, pretend that you’re the seed and the bad time is your rain cloud and it’s only going to rain to make you stronger!’”
Each and every day Michaela inspires me and countless others to persevere, a living, breathing reminder that nothing can ever truly “beat us” unless we allow it. She reminds me to find the laughter in any situation and is always there with an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. She pushes me to take chances, forget that I’m a little person with limitations and just go for it. I am truly honored to call her my little sister, partner in crime, and best friend. #FMPD
