Mitsubishi Electric: Changes for the Better

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

MEAFnet

November 2008: Camron

Name: Camron
City: Smyra, GA
Hobbies: Drawing, riding his bike, reading, video games, watching cartoons

Meet Camron, a bright, energetic young man who is always smiling and laughing. After looking at his picture, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you infer anything about him by looking at him?
• How old is he?
• What can you infer about his likes/dislikes?
• What else do you notice?

Camron is a second grade student at Imagine International Academy of Smyrna, Ga.. An honor roll student and member of the school’s gifted program, Camron enjoys drawing, riding his bike, reading, playing video games and watching cartoons.

In your original observation of Camron you may have noticed a lot of things, including his energetic smile, but did you know that he was born with Sickle Cell disease? This disease affects the hemoglobin in red blood cells and is the most common genetic disease in the U.S., impacting the lives of more than 70,000 Americans.

Camron, like most other children his age, enjoys having fun. Even with sickle cell disease, Camron’s life is not defined merely by his diagnosis – it is just one factor in the life of this young man. With the support of his family and teachers Camron is living a full, active and productive life and enjoying all the things a child his age should!

Unfortunately for many children with disabilities, people too often focus on their disabilities or their diagnosis rather than on them or their abilities. Constantly focusing on a person’s disabilities or limitations is not only condescending but offensive and hurtful. We should always put a person first rather than putting the emphasis on their physical or mental characteristics.

Thanks to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for introducing Camron.

September 2008: Cristina Powell

Name: Cristina Powell
City: Brookline, MA
Age: 20
Hobbies: painting, smiling and being happy

When I was little I wanted to be a doctor but I changed my mind…I wanted to be a nurse. As I got older, I realized that was too difficult for me. I still wanted to take care of people...I just needed to find the right way, and I did.

It all started with me and my art when I had a display of my paintings at a local library in Michigan for three months. This is where my Brighter Way began. I love to smile and make others happy, and my art is doing the same. What makes me the happiest is seeing the excitement, even tears, when I have my art table at the hospitals. Everyone says I bring them hope and inspiration. My heart is especially interested in helping the patients and their families by giving them A Brighter Way, even if for only a day, an hour, or a few minutes.

I did a project for Hospice of Southwest Michigan and Visiting Nurses. I painted a picture of hearts. The painting is named “The Sweet Hearts.” It was in a silent auction and on display in a program called Art for the Heart. One of my paintings, called Eternity is on a front of a book and a CD cover. The book is called “Special Angel.” It is for children who have lost someone close to them with cancer. My paintings also have been displayed in the West Michigan Cancer Center.

Although we are from Michigan, my mom (Leanne) and I began traveling to Boston in 2004, for my mom’s medical needs.

For a couple of years, I have had art tables to display and sell my art at Massachusetts General Hospital! People tell me that my paintings give them hope and inspiration. Since I have seen what happens with people who visit me at my tables, especially in the hospitals, I know it is now time to carry my love and smiles to the patients and their families. I want to personally visit them, and I want my paintings to be where they are.

Because of the success at the Massachusetts General Hospital display and art sale, my plan is to raise funding through donations so A Brighter Way can continue to place my paintings where they are needed the most…in patient areas throughout the hospitals. At every table I have in a hospital or medical facility, I will be collecting funds for a framed print to be donated to that facility. This is my way to give back and say, “thank you!”

Cristina Powell was born in Lima, Peru and was adopted and brought to the U.S. when she was four days old. At fifteen months, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. At age 17, Cristina formed her own business—A Brighter Way. Read more about Cristina and see her collection of artwork at www.cristinapowell.com.

See Cristina on the news:

(You may need to download Quicktime to view this video.)

Cristina's Video: Click to Play

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