Personal Narrative: The Birth Of My Saver

There’s a story that I always tell people about when I talk about how much I love helping people. As a kid, I have always wanted to be a superhero. Of course, every kid wanted that too, but I feel like I always took it more seriously than others. The story that I tell is when I saved my little sister’s life. It was a day at the pool, and we were so little even I did not know how to swim yet. Our caregiver was not watching and my little sister fell in the pool, I immediately dove in forgetting that I could not swim either, but that did not stop me. I think I was around 4 years old, I grabbed my sister and pushed her above my head so that she could breathe, while I was nearly drowning underneath her. Finally, our caregiver jumped in and saved the both of us,

My setbacks and challenges through being a foster child took me on a journey that continues to greater things because God’s plan is big. Hardship did not overpower me in the end. I am surrounded by people who love me. Challenges that I came to encounter turned into things I would not change for the world, like my adoption, and my Christianity. That blaze that once tore the inside of me now dispenses

My freshman year in high school was unarguably the best year of my high school career, If I knew how the rest of my school career would go I probably would have cherished it a lot more. My sophomore year was going pretty well until one major internal change shifted my well being in the worst. I always knew about depression,but It was always one of those things that I never really thought about because I thought that only certain types of people experienced depression and I couldn't be one of them. was wrong. During the spring of sophomore year I fell into a depression, at the time I did not know what depression was ,nor did I know what was happening with me so I didn't know what to do, I didn't ask for help, and I didn't talk about it. I started to go down an even darker path with self medicating, drinking ,and self destructive behavior all of which I never told to anybody. As the winter and spring ended and summer began I came out of my rut and told myself that If that ever happened again, I want to get help and I don't want to be on a self destructive path

A huge turning point in my life was when I became a mother. My husband and I did everything to prepare for parenthood. What we didn’t know was that life had very different plans for us. On March 24th, 2008 we welcomed our beautiful son, Timothy John Constable into this world. He was born very premature, we watched him suffer and struggle and eventually take his last breath. When I think back to those extremely painful times the only positive I can remember is the sweet

The clouds were black, immeasurable, and grotesque. I still believe it was because my best friend was leaving for war. My friend Nicholas was the only person that I could have reliance and certainty with. He was the person that when the stresses of the world got to heavy on my shoulders he would pick the world up of my shoulders and carry the burden of the stresses of reality for me. In the end there are no words to describe the signification he has in my life and there is no comfort that can fix the loss that I feel in my heart because of his absence. So for the time being my heart will be in two places, half with me here in Denver, Colorado and the other half in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

From the moment I was born people already had opinions on how my life would turn out. Shoutout to the doctor who told the group of interns that I was gonna die in the icu without knowing my mother could hear him. Days after being born that so called medical professional was certain I would die before my first birthday. I am certain there are scientists willing to bet that because I was born three months premature, I have some sort of birth defect or disability. The American society must be pissed off knowing that small BLACK baby didn’t die and went on to be healthy and a leader and unafraid to speak my mind.

I remember when I decided to exclusively pump for my son. I had struggled with nursing him in the three weeks since he’d been born, and we’d been going to the doctor every few days for a weight check, because he still wasn’t back up to his birth weight.

My 1st child, I really could have used a Doula.. My husband was deployed in Afghanistan, I was 19 and trusted the doctors way too much... then.. I had never heard of a Doula. Had I known or had one, maybe the unnecessary c-section would have been prevented. My 2nd child, my first unmedicated VBAC, I had chatted with a few doulas however we couldn't afford them and they lived hours from us... I think had I had a Doula with me, my 1st VBAC would've went dreamful... The on-call doctor forced pitocin on me to "hurry me up" even though I was progressing on my own.. she would not let me out of bed and I had horrible back labor. When I needed to push I did, and the nurse shrieked at me to stop and wait for the doctor, but i didn't, i pushed. I was

In the third grade, I was chosen by my teacher to write a newsletter. I had to pick someone who was a hero to me to write about. I chose my grandpa Dave, who was honored that I chose him to write about. I sat down on the ground, crayon in hand, a notebook in front of me and began to ask him about silly things at first. What his favorite color was, his favorite food, his favorite television show. Then I asked him how he survived, to which he answered, “Her,” meaning my grandma. Writing about him made me realize what a real hero was. A real hero is not the one wearing spandex pants and carrying a shield, a real hero is someone who fights for what’s right, and for the person they love. I believed that to be a positive experience, until he passed away when I was in fourth grade, when what I had written was read at his

It was coming to the end of my first few months in high school. I had a pretty fun life. I had many adoring friends and an amazing outlook on life. In an instant that was all gone. My stepfather was killed in a motorcycle accident and along with this and many other reasons I got severe depression which has worsened over the years. My whole freshman year was a downward spiral, my grades dropped significantly, I never wanted to go anywhere or talk to anybody, and I had never loved my lonely room so much. After a few months, slowly and one by one I was losing friends. I never understood why they would leave me at the time I needed them most. However, junior year I finally started realizing that if I didn't want to be around me then how could I

My junior year of high school felt cursed. It was a slow year full of disappointment and loss, leaving me in a dark abyss of self-loathing and loneliness. Like any other teenager, my parents argue a lot. Like any other teenager, they place me in the middle. One day it’d be “I’m still with them because we need to raise you.” the next day it’d be “I would be happy if I didn’t still have to take care of you.” It felt like a petty reason to be sad, but those words always made me feel that my existence was a burden- they've made me wonder if things would be better if I just ceased to exist. That disposition grew with the year; I no longer could deal with the extended hours and efforts that came with being in the band program or even focus on school work. Then, my cousin passed away. Not too soon after, my uncle passed as well. Within the next two months, my other uncle also passed on. This was the climax of my descent into depression, and it felt like my life was caving in. I quit all of my extra-curricular activities, I cut off all of my friends, and I let my grades drop.

Every chapter of my story has medicine in some form. In some, its presence is all encompassing, a life changing singularity. In others, it hides behind anecdotes, quietly shaping my dreams and passions. The quiet moments gave me direction; the loud gave me dedication and reason.

Life is built on a foundation of individual bricks that when mortar is applied, the foundation becomes strong. There are many different events that have contributed to the process of personal growth and change within me that have helped me to become who I am today. Events, experiences, and people have molded me and prepared me for future obstacles and opportunities. I tend to learn from every situation that I am confronted with. There is one particular event that made my life turn from a dark and dreary path to one of hope. For once in my life, I actually wanted to not only survive; but to live. One of the most positive moments that shaped my life was the day that I met the most influential and inspiring person who touched my soul; Makayla Regan. Her presence and friendship had a huge impact on my perception of life, promoted a positive mindset, and helped me to establish positive values for myself.

Naming one simple experience that has transformed my life, has proven to be a challenge. As I look back at my journey that has led me to this point, seems overwhelming. Where and when did it all begin? I believe it started the day my daughter was born, April 25, 2006 at 4:44pm. My daughter was going to give me a precious gift, the opportunity to recreate my childhood through her eyes. She was going to challenge everything I knew to be right, and convenience me to make changes for the better.

Naming one simple experience that has transformed my life has proven to be a challenge. It’s a bit overwhelming looking back at the journey that has led me here. Where and when did it all begin? I believe, it may have started the day my daughter was born, April 25, 2006, at 4:44 pm. Unknowingly, this 7lb baby was about to give me a precious gift, the opportunity to recreate my childhood through the eyes of a child. She was going to challenge everything I knew to be right, and convince me to make changes for the better.