Lisa Medina 0  

Unfortunately, I'll have to put at least a couple notes here, as there wasn't enough room within the fields provided! (smile)

My first & ONLY fluent language is English. The other languages I've learned come from songs, so I am NOT fluent in any of them. (smile) Just practicing. (smile) I am a fast study though, & am always willing to learn something new, always up for a challenge. I have 4 cats, Tigger, Snowball, Rosie, & Carmel -- whom my friend Holly & I are sharing. We have 2 dogs, Grace & Demon.

Because people usually ask me about my chosen Username, here goes.

ELIAS is the lead vocalist for a band called NONPOINT, whom I adore dearly.

Check out their music at:

www.myspace.com/nonpoint

www.nonpoint.com

www.bielerbros.com

Best band you'll ever find!!!

NONPOINT - "VENGEANCE"

OUT NOVEMBER 6TH!!

SEETHER, another best band...

www.myspace.com/seether

www.seether.com

www.winduprecords.com

Seether - "FINDING BEAUTY IN NEGATIVE SPACES"

OUT OCTOBER 23RD!!

And, finally, for another WILD fact about me, I am ONE OF EIGHT people in the entire world who has my exact birth defect. If you check out my

www.myspace.com/nonpointchica

profile on MySpace, you'll know immediately what I'm talking about. I was born with a Bilateral Craniofacial birth defect, also called a "Facial Cleft", or the "Tescea Cleft". All that means is that the cleft runs up through the face into the area where the eyes should be.

So I was born without any eyes (making me COMPLETELY blind). I have prosthetic eyes. I also had a hole in the roof of my mouth (Cleft Palate), & my lip was split wide open (Cleft Lip). I also had a clubbed foot, which was remedied quickly by my doctors. They had to break my ankle in order to make it go straight.

As a sidenote, everyone talks about cancer & diabetes, but did you know??

Cleft Lips & Palates are the most common birth defects in babies. 1 out of every 600 babies will be affected, & Hispanic families are more likely to have children with this type of birth defect. It also appears that there's at least a slight genetic influence. If someone in your family has a Cleft Lip or Palate, then it is more likely that one of their children, or another one of your children will be affected.

If you have a Cleft Lip or Palate, or another Craniofacial defect, or know someone who does, please join us at

www.cleftadvocate.org

www.aboutfaceusa.org

www.ccakids.com

www.faces-cranio.org

Long story short, I've had 63 reconstructive surgeries so far at age 21, & have at least 1 or 2 more to follow.

I graduated high school in December 2003, 6 months earlier then my classmates! (smile) Despite having to struggle all my school life for Braille books, & equality. I was punched, kicked & spit upon by the other students who didn't like me. I've been doing public speaking since I was a child, & have volunteered at a couple different centers. Now I've written a book about my life experiences so far, & am trying to get helpso that I can have it published.

I've also been trying to alert news organizations to my plight.

I need money for my next surgery as Adult Medicaid is giving me the run around.

I also need money for a new talking computer, because the one I have is 5 years old & about ready to give out on me.

I know how easy it is to scam people, so please feel free to ask me for any proof you need of my disability, WITHIN REASON. I will not give out any personal, or identifying information.

Please visit my home page at MySpace,

www.myspace.com/nonpointchica

I'm also looking to find the money to start up my own website. Not as important, but if i could do that, then I could really start vouching for my own causes!!

If you have any questions after reading my page & my blog, please contact me at

michellem86@gmail.com

or right here at

iloveelias32@peacemail.com

Thank you all for listening.

I hope to have my picture up soon.

Thank you for any helping hand you may extend in the future!

Michelle AKA ILoveELIAS!!!