Born To Stand Out

This afternoon, 7-6-2023, we held a memorial service for Kristina Harrison who died in her sleep. This was found in her journal. “Were you forced to be “born to stand out?” Before you answer, really think about the question I’m asking. I can 100% tell you that I was, in fact, FORCED to be born to stand out. When I was delivered as a newborn… my apgars (a score used by Physicians to determine the health of newborns) were 0/0/0. What turned that around for me? A resident, who obviously read his textbooks, paid attention in class, and had a heart; was able to identify that I had TCS (Treacher Collins syndrome which affects the way the bones of the face develop before a baby is born). He was also educated enough on how to secure an airway for me, and thus leading to ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). I never asked him personally to do this for me. Actually, no one asked him to save this black child with profound medical issues. He did it because he went into the medical field, more specifically neonatology, to help, assist, save the new creatures of this world. He was the first one to demand that I be born to stand out. Then you have my biological family who did not demand that for me. There is absolutely no wrongdoing for their decision. The state then decided to entrust my life to a white woman in a country town who cares for children no one else wanted. She was the second person in my life that demanded I be born to stand out. Even when my body fought against her efforts … she persevered…and maintained the life of a little black girl that many others at this point had deemed that I was actually not worthy and/or able to be born to stand out. She has spent the rest of her days and continues to do so to ensure that I beat the odds and be forced to be the little black girl that was born to stand out. So as the years went by…people saw her (the little black girl) as incapable. No way a little black girl with ALL those medical problems could stand out in a world like this? Well…I’m here…37…almost 38 years old later. Has it been an easy road? Hell no! Have I hit major roadblocks along the way? Hell yes!!! Have I always wanted to fight this daily fight that no one even realizes I have to fight? Hell no! So…when I’m faced with conflict or with situations that make me question…why God? Why did I have to be born to stand out? I will never know the answer while I’m here on this earth. Maybe…I can provide some comfort to those facing similar struggles? Or similar questions? Or maybe…it has nothing to do with me…but everything to do with YOU! Never underestimate what God can do! Don’t EVER underestimate a child of God! Even though the trails [trials] I face make me weary…I must continue the work that the Good Lord is doing through me. I just pray that when people see me, and I mean REALLY see me...they don’t automatically have negative thoughts or questions. Because the God I serve…is capable of ANYTHING! So, while I’m enduring a trail [trial] of not being a good enough nurse, a good enough person…I have to remind myself…God’s got me! Because before I was formed in the womb…He knew…I was born to stand out! No one or anything was going to stop God from making that happen!” Ms. Kristina Harrison