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Everyday Angel

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Conversations with Kimberly: Jessica Smith

Every now and then, if we are lucky, we come across a living angel. I have been blessed with several angel encounters in my life, and I’d like to share these everyday angels with you.

In this cynical, sometimes negative world, it is empowering to see such a positive light shine brightly and deflect outward. Jessica Smith, from Chula Vista, is one of these people.

Jessica is a bright, 21-year-old woman with much passion for life, doubled with compassion for the “underdog.” She was born prematurely (2 pounds, 4 ounces at birth), and, as a result, developed cerebral palsy. Otherwise known as “CP,” cerebral palsy is a motor disorder often caused by injury to the brain that occurs before, during or after birth, up to about age 3. “Cerebral” refers to the cerebrum, which is the affected area of the brain; “palsy” refers to disorder of movement. CP is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the young, developing brain. It is a nonprogressive disorder, meaning the brain damage does not worsen, but secondary orthopedic difficulties are common. There is no known cure for CP.

Jessica has spent her entire life in a wheelchair, yet she considers herself “lucky.” Jessica was blessed with an amazing family of supporters and caretakers. From a very young age, she learned not to let anything get in her way and her family has always honored her wishes. All of her life she’s been told what she can’t do with comments like, “You’re never going to walk,” from her doctors, to “You’ll never graduate from high school on time,” from her teachers. Jessica's inner voice always said, “You’re messing with the wrong person! If you believe it, you can achieve it!" And achieve she has. Jessica graduated on time with her class at Hilltop High School and even attended the graduation ceremony with her class. She walked for the very first time in August 2006, and Jessica no longer has hips! What an inspiration.

To date, Jessica has endured nine major surgeries, from scoliosis surgery and complete hip replacement reconstruction to the removal of her broken tailbone. “I’ve been dealt a difficult hand,” says Jessica. “Not the worst hand, not the best. Sometimes I have very bad days when I’m in a lot of pain and it feels like I’m sitting on a tack. I realize I have two choices: I can give up and let a whole lot of people down, or I can keep on going, knowing that somehow I am here to make a difference in other peoples’ lives.”

Someone who has made a huge difference in Jessica’s life besides her parents, sister, family and friends is  Dr. Scott Shoemaker, whom she considers her everyday hero. Shoemaker, pediatric orthopedic surgion at Kaiser, literally came to Jessica’s rescue after a series of unfortunate events. He continues to care for Jessica today and has been a constant bright spot in her life, always available when she needs him the most, together with his wife and four children. Jessica can’t imagine life without him.

Another everyday hero in Jessica’s life is San Diego singer/songwriter, and Jessica’s personal “angel,” Eve Selis. When Jessica was in middle school she had to wear a full-body cast for nearly eight weeks. “It was a dark moment in my life when I was feeling really down, and I listened to a lot of music,” Jessica says. “One song was ‘Do You Know Me?,’ sung by San Diego’s own Eve Selis. I got in touch with her and she truly lifted me up by sending me autographed pictures, CDs and concert information.” Today, Jessica and Eve have a very special bond. (They even share a heart-shaped tattoo!) Together they have raised more than $10,000 for breast cancer research, and, three years ago, they started hosting a benefit concert to help raise funds for the local chapter of United Cerebral Palsy and The Kaiser Pediatric Unit Rainforest Renovation Project, two organizations near and dear to Jessica’s heart.

Jessica has an amazing gift of making everyone she comes into contact with feel good. For some, especially children, interacting with people who have a disability might be a bit uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say, or it may be hard to understand what they are saying. Jessica wants to help ease these awkward moments by becoming a professional motivational speaker. Her life’s mission is to take the “dis” out of disability. If you didn’t get it before, Jessica's motto is “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”

Meet Jessica Smith. Poet, everyday angel, writer, and soon-to-be motivational speaker. Jessica will inspire you when you hear her triumphant stories about walking for the first time, flying an airplane or riding on the back of a Harley. “There’s so much more I want to do!” says Jessica. “I want to learn to surf and jump out of an airplane. I’m not even close to being finished!”

Her advice for kids today? “Be grateful for what you have, take time to volunteer, and always put yourself in someone else’s shoes," she says. "I am blessed to be who I am.”

And the world is a brighter place because of Jessica Smith.

For more information about Jessica or to book her for a speaking engagement, visit JessicaMSmith.com. To learn more about cerebral palsy, visit ucpsd.org. To learn more about the Kaiser  Pediatric Unit Rainforest Renovation Project, visit MyChildsRainforest.org.

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