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Trista Holder
English 2010
Lisa Packer
31 March 2016
Blessing in Disguise
I would have never thought that this experience would teach me how to become a
better person and not see people by their looks, but see them by their heart.
Sabrina Martinez is a mother to three beautiful children. Like any mother she
does everything she can to raise her children to the best of her abilities. Sabrina says,
When youre a parent, its your job to teach your
children how to handle the world, how to make a
difference, and become a good person. She
knows the responsibilities that come with being
a parent, and knows how important her role is in
childrens lives. The one thing she didnt know
her
was that
her child would be the one helping her become
a better person.
Like any expecting mother, Sabrina was
both excited and anxious to be having a baby,
but she was given devastating news at her 20 week ultrasound appointment. She
learned that her son would be born with Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS). ABS is a type
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of congenital birth defect that occurs when the fetus is trapped or entangled in the
amniotic bands in the
Figure 1: Sabrina Martinez with her son Isaiah
Martinez
womb. It
restricts blood flow which can greatly affect the development of the baby. In her sons
case, the band wrapped around his left hand. Because of his restricted growth, Isaiah
David Martinez was born 17 short weeks later with no left hand or fingers. Little did we
know at that time, says Sabrina, that my husband and I were blessed with an amazing
gift.
Despite his young age, Isaiah has grown to be a very happy, energetic, and
brave four year old boy. He has been taught from a young age that anything is possible
and to never let anything get in his way. Sabrina mentions that although he knows he
was born different, he never lets it stop him. He finds joy in the little things, but has a
daily struggle that many children never experience. As of now, the obstacles that he has
to overcome seem minimal, but he manages to make the most he can of every day. He
tends to make more of a mess then his two siblings, occasionally complains of pain in
his wrist, and gets frustrated when he cant hold two action figures at the same time.
Going out in public can be a struggle because of the odd glances and comments
from others. The worst part is, Sabrina says, Its from adults rather than children.
Despite this, Isaiah always manages to make light off his situation when he can by
telling jokes about his hand getting bit of by a shark. Sabrina says she used to get upset
because of the stares, until she noticed that her son just kept smiling and walking with
his head held high, and it inspired her to do the same.
Isaiahs humility and love for life has inspired many people already in his short
four years of life, and he has yet to help many others in the future. Sabrina has taught
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her son at a young age that it is okay to be different, and that everyone should be
treated equally. When asked her hopes for her sons future, Sabrina responded, I hope
he continues to keep holding his head up high when people treat him different, that he
can be and do anything. Sabrina and Isaiahs inspiring story can remind all of us to be
grateful for all we have, and to try harder to be positive and find the blessings in our
lives. Sabrina says she reminds Isaiah that we are all born differently so the world isnt a
boring place. She says, If you look at a flower up close you will notice none of the
petals match perfectly, yet, its one of the most beautiful things in the world
Work Cited
Martinez, Sabrina. Interview with Sabrina. Personal Interview. 20 March 2016.
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RHETORICAL RATIONALE FOR PROFILE
*A rhetorical rationale gives you an opportunity to think about how you approached
a writing assignment and to examine the process you used to complete it.
DIRECTIONS: Type up a document covering these five bulleted points. You may copy and
paste these questions into the document and then answer them according to your
experience with writing the profile. Include this with your profile as the last page of
your document when you turn it in online.
Does my profile create a dominant impression? What is that impression or nut graf?
Yes, the nut graf is learning not to judge others by their outward appearance.
How does this profile connect to the larger issue for the online magazine?
Maintaining Personal Health- Maintaining a positive mental state is the best
way to overcome physical challenges.
How did I use the rhetorical appeals in my profile? (ethos, pathos, logos)
I used pathos to connect the reader emotionally, by telling the story of a young
boy and his loving mother to inspire others.
What specific feedback am I looking for on this piece? What do I need specific help with
to get this paper ready for the final draft online?
Making sure there are no spelling/grammar errors, the overall format of my
profile is correct, and to make sure the nut graf is clear.
What did I learn from doing the interview/profile paper?
Although we may think that living with a physical disability can be so difficult, it
may not be the case for every individual. Sabrina told me that she reminds her
son that he does not have a disability it is an ability. Sabrina and Isaiahs
story reminded me that it is important to make the most of every moment and
to be grateful for every obstacle we need to overcome in life because they help
us become a stronger person.
