Lauren Foster

To me, a hero is someone who is courageous and strong, and someone who never gives up. My hero is someone whom I have looked up to my whole life, my great niece Lauren Foster. At only 21 years old, she has overcome many obstacles in her lifetime. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, but grew up in Newark, Ohio. 

At the age of 13, Lauren found out she had a very rare disease known as Fibrous Dysplasia, which is a bone disease that destroys and replaces normal bone, with fibrous bone tissue. Lauren has had over 6 surgeries. It is known for now that this disease cannot be fully removed.. She has it in parts of her jaw, cheeks, and now it was found in her ankle. It is very painful, and since it replaces normal bone, it can deform parts of the bone. Lauren lost most hearing and some sight in her left eye (which is the side her disease is on). Since Fibrous Dysplasia is so rare, almost no one knows about the terrible disease.

At the age of 16, Lauren found out she was pregnant. She was just about to end her junior year of high school when she had found out. She had her daughter, Emmaleigh Rachelle Crowe. Lauren finished her high school career on online schooling, since she had Emmaleigh, but still made sure she graduated.

Last year, after Lauren's last surgery, she decided since Fibrous Dysplasia is not a very known disease, that she would make her own ribbon for it. It was posted last year, and is now the actual ribbon for it. This shows that she is very determined to get the word out about her rare disease.

Now, Lauren is married to Alexx Foster of a year, and had their first child together, Jace Michael Bradley Foster. Alexx is in the army, and Lauren is a stay at home mother. She still has pain in her face, and will have surgery in December. I see Lauren as my hero because even though she has had many obstacles in her way, she has never stopped or given up on herself, or her family. She finds her children as blessings, because they are healthy. Every person that Lauren comes across in life, she has always left a mark on them. She will continue to fight this battle. She is very strong willed, and an overall amazing person. She has kept me going, and will always keep me positive. She is my hero.