Tears in my eyes as I ran home from the bus stop. With each stride I took my sight became more and more blurred with tears. Beat red and broken, I barged through the door and sprinted up the stairs to my room. In my sanctuary I stared down at my deformity, my foot. As I wept and cried I wondered why I had to be born with macrodactyl of the left foot. This foot grows larger and faster than the other. I ran my hand over each of my scars remembering the pain of the surgeries that had left them. That’s when my mom came in and sat down next to me on the bed. Her supple hand smoothed my hair as she asked what was wrong. Although, she didn’t have to ask, she knew all too well what had happened that day and what had happened nearly every other day of my life.

It seemed that everywhere I went it seemed people noticed my deformity. “Ew, what is that!” girls would say at the sight my foot “Mommy what’s wrong with that girl’s foot?” I would often over hear little kids saying. These things stung a bit, but I think it was the stares that bothered me the most. As I grew older I gained more confiendce in my self, and did not care what others would think, I realized how much worse it could actually be. This has made me a more positive person and gave me a very good disposition.

There was an incident a couple of summers ago at my job. There was a boy about 5 years old who only had one arm. During swim lessons he would try very hard but never learn the strokes as well as the other children. A fellow lifeguard who was teaching the lessons noticed the boy was crying profusely as the other children would make fun and laugh at this child. The instructor took him over to me to explain how I walk around barefoot and people always stare or make fun, but you shouldn’t let their rude comments get to you.

Eventually I got off the lifeguard stand and went over to the young child and his family and started telling him about my story. I told him about how I used to cry when I was his age cause everyone would look at me funny to or make fun of me. The little child wept and said “but why me” I related so well to him and I said “because you’re special and you should cherish what you have and how it makes you a strong individual, and not have to worry about what the other children say.” After I was finished speaking to him the young boy gave me a hug and ran away with a smile to go down the slides.

The father comes up to me the next day at work and says, “thank you for being my sons inspiration it was very nice of you to have share your stories and difficulties and I wish you the best.” Since this day I feel great about how I positively influenced this young boys life.

Looking on the bright side of life I have realized I am able to influence many others, as well as overcome any difficulties that life has planned for me.