My mother raised me all on her own as a single parent and I know that was not an easy task. As a preemie, I was delivered early and only weighing one pound. I was also admitted into the hospital on multiple occasions for my many medical issues that didnt come as a surprise for my doctors. I couldn't even imagine what would be going through my mother's head at times just watching me struggle and fight for my life. When my mother told me stories about my birth she always talked about how small and fragile I was. I was so small that I could fit in the palm of my doctor’s hand, she would say. When she was cleared to bring me home I came home on four different medicines and an apnea monitors that alerted my her when or if I stopped breathing. The doctors told her that I would likely not be able to learn, red, or write as effectively as other children as I grew up. It was by the grace of God that I was able to prove everyone who doubted me wrong and to my mom I was considered a “miracle baby” in her eyes. With my families love and support I was able to do the things many thought I could’nt and more.
I have defeated all the odds held against me and now I will graduating from Rutgers University in Newark campus with my Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Administration, Journalism and Media Studies. Upon graduation, I will be continuing my studies and working on achieving my Business of Science Masters in User Experience Design also from Rutgers. Despite my other accomplishments, I believe, my downfalls in life helped strengthen and mold me into the person I am today. Hearing my mom talk about the struggles that I have face and I how she is so proud of the intelligent, strong, young, black women I have become brings tears to my eyes. I was able to accomplish more than anyone could imagine and I surprised even myself for that matter.
No Bigger Than My Doctors, is a book dedicated to inspiring preemies everywhere that anything is possible as long as you believe. This book takes you through the narrative of my life from when I was a preemie to now. I want others to hear my story, be able to relate to it, and feel encouraged to fight through any obstacles they may be facing in life. I want others to know that you can overcome anything obstacle in life with a little dedication and endurance. My project through my writing forms my identity by going the different stages of childhood and the person I am becoming today. I am a strong believer that I identity is shaped through the different obstacles we face and how we choice to overcome those obstacles. I live by the quote, “ God only gives its toughest battles to his strongest soliders.” I aspire to write more children’s books that inspire, cultuviate, and accept the beauty of the black women. I want to encourage young girls, like me, to be comfortable in their own skin, live life to the fullest and to have no regrets.
I was motivated to dive into this kind of writing after reading Grace Byers children book, I AM ENOUGH. I admired her wanting to shine light of the many women and young girls in this work that do not think they are enough. Her focus is to build up their confidence within themselves and helping them to understand that they are beautiful, intelligent, and one of a kind, just because they are them. There is no one person in this world that is just like you and that is what makes us unique. Learning to embrace that uniqueness only helps us grow as human beings as we learn to love ourselves more and more each day.
EXPERT
“No Bigger Than My Doctors Hand”By Leah Ellis
A STORY ABOUT A “Miracle Baby”
No Bigger Than My Doctors, is a book dedicated to inspiring preemies everywhere that anything is possible as long as you believe. This book takes you through the narrative of my life from when I was a preemie to now. I want others to hear my story, be able to relate to it, and feel encouraged to fight through any obstacles they may be facing in life. I want others to know that you can overcome anything obstacle in life with a little dedication and endurance.
On September 3, 1996, my mom was given the greatest gift imaginable. It was me.
She remembers it like it was yesterday. Oh, how tiny I was, she would say. I was so small you could fit in the palm of your doctor’s hand.
Every gathered to meet me. Their faces filled with joy as they watched me from the outside of my new plastic home.
It was not long after that until the doctor walked in with some bad news to tell my mom.
He told her, it was possible I may not read, write or walk. Could you imagine that?
My mom began to believe him.
It was by the Grace of God, that my mom was able to find hope again.
book continued...
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