Little Person’s Big Struggles

It’s human nature. Everyone wants to fit in.

Even though it’s the differences that make each person special.

But imagine being so different that it hurt – not only emotionally but physically.

That’s why it’s one El Paso woman’s big dream to be accepted.

Misty Morales is getting ready for a trip of a lifetime. She’s headed to Nashville, Tennessee.

‘It will open my eyes and will open Laylah’s eyes to know were not alone,” said Morales.

At 3-foot-6, Misty’s 6-year-old daughter, Laylah, is already taller than her.

”There’s times where she doesn’t listen because she’s taller than me and I’m like, no, I’m the Mom here,” said Morales.

Morales suffers from a form of dwarfism, which can be caused by 200 different medical conditions. Morales does not no what caused her dwarfism because there is no geneticist in El Paso.

Morale has gone through several surgeries locally, but her legs are now starting to curve inwards.

She also has had three hip replacement surgeries.

Besides health problems, the 31-year-old single mom has had a difficult life that she said includes being abandoned by drug-addicted parents, a divorce of her own, and an abusive relationship that produced her daughter, Laylah.

She’s a blessing Morales often struggles with.

”Why did she have me as her Mom? Morales asks herself a lot.

As she’s starting to age, Morales said her legs are getting weaker and she is having to rely more and more on her 6-year-old daughter.

”She deserves a mom that can take her to the park, a mom that can drive her to wherever she wants to go,” said Morales.

She will soon start depending on a wheelchair, which arrived recently. It is a tough thing for Morales to accept.

:I look at it and I think it’s not me, it’s not me because I was never taught that this was going to happen to me as I was getting older,” Morales said.

The wheelchair was not modified as promised – another setback.

She says she’d love to get a job, but no luck. And her dream is to drive someday.

But that’s not easy either.

”The closest school for you to learn how to drive is probably in San Antonio,” Morales said.

And with no local support groups to help Morales cope with all her challenges, she said she feels overwhelmed at times.

‘I’m stuck, I’m basically stuck. I’m in a hole where I can’t see out,” Morales said.

She hopes this trip will be her way out.

She’ll be attending the 2010 national conference of Little People of America.

After getting rejected locally for sponsorships. a business in Phoenix came to the rescue.

”I’ve never been around little people in my life,” said Morales.

For the first time, Morales and Laylah will spend time learning more about the differences that makes them special in a big way.

Morales and Laylah are in Nashville this week. ABC-7 will check back with them to see how their trip went.

For more information on Little People of America, go to lpaonline.org