Nineteen years ago, a helpless baby was lying in a hospital bed suffering from malnourishment and eventually a stroke, but two people changed all of that by adopting the infant into their family.

That child happened to be me, and the two people were my parents, Curtis and Margaret Wells.

The doctors told my parents I probably wouldn’t have a normal life. They said I might not go to college or graduate from high school.

My parents knew better, though, because so many other children of theirs had already beaten the odds.

It wasn’t easy, but with my family’s help, I did it. I beat the odds. All it took was many years of physical therapy, a lot of encouragement and patience on my part. If you know me, you can probably guess that having patience was the hardest part.

Although I had to go through many trials and tribulations, I am here. I’m a sophomore at Baker University and a graduate of Nixa High School in Nixa, Mo.

I owe every article, paper, exam and honor in my life to my parents. No matter what happens in my life, or how many mistakes I make, my parents and my whole family are there to help me pick up the pieces or even plan a wedding pretty much within one weekend.

Who would have thought that very soon I would have another name change? I will be Cassandra Michelle Smith.

Family for me is not just every relative I have with the last name of Wells.

Over the past two years, my family has expanded more than I ever expected. My family now includes all of my Phi Mu sisters, the Baker Orange staff and so many more people on Baker’s campus. Let’s just say, there are too many to count.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without each and every one of these people and I am eternally grateful.

As you can probably imagine, the people I told about my wedding first on Baker’s campus were my family members. They have all been so supportive in giving opinions and blessings, and I can’t thank them enough. Every one of my family members has helped in the recent adventure of planning my wedding, which is only 50 days away.

Everything from invitations to the dress is done and decided on, thanks to my ever so large family.

I can only hope I will make my family proud by the life I live and the marriage I will soon have.

In only 50 days I will marry the love of my life, and move out of the Wells’ household. It’s almost too good to be true and I owe it all to the best family ever, especially the few that made all of this possible and never stopped believing in me, my parents and siblings.