INSPIRATIONAL: Aiesha Ross is taking fame in her stride after capturing world-wide attention with her enlightening speech.PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO
INSPIRATIONAL: Aiesha Ross is taking fame in her stride after capturing world-wide attention with her enlightening speech.PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO
WHANGANUI teenager Aiesha Ross is coping well with all the attention she has received since her speech The New Normal went online in October.
"I'm not overwhelmed by it - it's been good to know that other people with medical conditions similar to mine have been inspired to get incontact and share their stories."
Aiesha was born without an anus or rectum, uterus or ovaries, one kidney and spinal nerve damage so that she required major surgery in the first few hours of her life. Now a Year 9 student at Wanganui Girls' College, Aiesha had to write a speech on the theme of "What Teenagers Need."
She bravely shared details about her condition and how it has affected her in terms of being able to feel "normal" and enjoy activities that her peers take for granted.
Since her older sister posted the speech online, Aiesha and her mother, Louise Elliot, have received emails from people around New Zealand and overseas containing messages of support.
There has even been an approach from an American television producer wanting Aiesha to feature on a medical programme called The Doctors.
"That will probably happen next year and Aiesha will be interviewed via Skype - it's getting too close to Christmas now and it's been such a busy time," said mum Louise.
"One of the best things to come out of it is that we are looking at setting up a charity that we are planning to call The New Normal and we will look at starting a Facebook page early next year."
Louise, who has six other children said it would have been a comfort to know other parents with children who had conditions similar to Aiesha's while her daughter was growing up. "It is hard to make contact through agencies, because they are bound by the Privacy Act, so the great thing about Aiesha's speech becoming so popular is that people have been able to make contact with us."
Aiesha said she would like to be an ambassador for young people living with rare medical conditions but right now the family is looking forward to Christmas and a relaxing summer holiday.
