“Her name is Tutti. Like Tutti Frutti. She’s a Chinese Crested/Jack-A-Poo mix. When she was very young, the people who had her stepped on her. They said the kids were real mean to her. So we ended up taking her.

“She has luxating patellas. Her back legs are out of place because of it. The vet said it would be $2,500 a leg to fix, but I didn’t have the money at the time. So she’s had to adapt.

“She couldn’t walk the first year of her life. She would take a few steps and fall over. I had to carry her everywhere. She’s 4 1/2 now. She only walks so many steps before getting tired. Then she kind of bunny hops. But she’s not in pain or anything. She’s a good, happy little girl. And she’s spoiled rotten. She’s like my baby. When my daughter went off to college, Tutti was like a mini-replacement.

“My daughter and I are very close. I was a single mom. It was always just me and her. Then I got my husband when she was 12. She’s about to turn 24. She graduated from Baylor University, and now she’s in Baylor Law School. She’s thinking about doing environmental or immigration law.

“She’s overcome a lot in life. She has Asperger’s. I didn’t know for sure until her first year in high school, when a counselor mentioned it. It’s been challenging, but she hasn’t let it stop her. She’s extremely smart. She made straight A’s all through school. She graduated high school with lots of honors. She was in honor society in high school and college.

“I’m very proud of her accomplishments. But I’m even more proud of how she’s grown as a person. She cares about others. She wants to help people. All I ever wanted was for her to be a good person and to be successful in life.

“I was a high school dropout. I left after ninth grade. Just getting in trouble with my friends. No support at home. No aspirations in life. When I was 21 and had my daughter, I was determined that she would have a better life and do better than I did.

“She’s the first love of my life. This baby here is second. My husband may not like to hear that. But my children are special to me.”

— Rhonda

The post Daughter, rescue dog overcome challenges appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I have dyslexia. I started really noticing it near the end of my sophomore year in high school. I had trouble staying focused on one topic, and I would mix-match letters sometimes.

“It was kind of distracting at first, but I didn’t really get frustrated. In some of my classes, another teacher would be there to help make sure that I stayed focused. I managed to get through school and graduate.

“I knew I wasn’t like everybody else, but it didn’t make me feel bad. It just made me realize that not everybody is the same, and that some people have to work harder than others.

“It hasn’t really affected me now while working. I stay on my tasks. I stay focused. I guess I’ve just learned to live with it.”

— Yannick Matthew

Related:

• He finds that saving money pays off

The post He doesn’t let dyslexia define him appeared first on The Baytown Project.

Name
Angel Middleton

Age
43

How long have you lived in Baytown?
11 years

Most interesting fact about you
I’m almost embarrassed to say it. I’m 43 years old, and I’ve never learned to roller skate.

Background
I’m originally from Miami, Florida. My family and I relocated to Houston in 2004. In 2008 we found ourselves in Baytown, and we’ve been here ever since. It’s kind of reminiscent of Florida, with all the palm trees and water.

I’m the mother of four (ages 27, 23, 21 and 15), and I have two beautiful grandchildren. My family are my biggest fans. I’m also blessed to have the support and encouragement of the best friend in the world, who happens to be their dad.

I own GNE Massage and Wellness Spa, as well as a non-profit organization, Grace Never Ends Inc. I admit to being a workaholic, maybe because I grew up seeing the women around me work much harder than most. I have a do-it-yourself work ethic. If I don’t have work to do, I think something is wrong and create work for myself. At 43, I’m just learning how to relax. I’ll have it mastered soon.

I’m the oldest of four, and I come from a really large, loud and colorful family. We are definitely some larger-than-life characters. Family is extremely important to me. Women, like the ones in my family, are often the glue that holds it together. I learned at an early age that women can do everything. Oftentimes, we pour ourselves into caring for the ones we love and put caring for ourselves on the back burner. We burn ourselves out.

I saw it and swore I wouldn’t do it when I grew up. Yet, I found myself recreating that same scene. I was trying to do it all and succeeding, just like the women before me. I didn’t know how to accept help, take a break or say no, even when it was desperately needed. Call it a pride thing. I was overwhelmed, overworked, overly stressed, financially strained, and I felt under-appreciated. It was a recipe for disaster.

I hated my job. It paid well, but it was just that — a job; no passion behind it. I did the work-from-home, stay-at-home mom thing, too. But I was still just as, if not more, stressed and tired. I had no time for myself. I was juggling life, work and my son’s illnesses, and recovering from my second car accident and major surgery. I was in the darkest place of my life. I struggled with my weight from stress, overeating and lack of energy. It was a killer combo. I developed body image and self-esteem issues. I found myself irritable and isolated all the time. I didn’t want to be bothered with anyone or anything. I just wasn’t me. I battled depression and stress-induced anxiety for a long time.

Through therapy, prayer, support of friends and family, and learning to make myself a priority, I’m in an amazing place in my life now, and it’s only getting better. I finally found my passion. It’s helping people feel like their best selves, especially encouraging women to take care of themselves — mind, body and spirit. And in giving back to say, ‘Thank you. I appreciate you.’ That message can mean the world to someone who desperately needs to hear it.

Goals
Early in my massage career I focused more on the medical aspect, the physical benefits. I worked primarily with the special needs population and active seniors. In building a relationship with my clients, I also got a chance to bond with their families. I started developing a new appreciation for the caretakers of the world. It reminded me of myself and the caretakers that I grew up emulating.

The concept of GNE Massage and Wellness Spa, and Grace Never Ends Inc., was born. I began catering packages to help people relax, de-stress and receive relief through therapeutic touch to aid in recovery from stress, trauma, injury, training, etc. — total wellness. That, in addition to gifting massage, event planning and other services to those who couldn’t afford it, has become my passion.

I hope to obtain a space just as unique as the community of people I serve to accommodate the combined efforts of GNE Inc. and GNE Premier Services LLC. I want to continue to grow, provide better service and give back to the community on a larger scale. I have a huge vision. Things are slowly beginning to manifest, and I couldn’t be happier.

Challenges
I almost shut it all down after three crucial blows dealt to me by life. First time was a few years ago due to physical setbacks. I was in four car accidents during the course of a year. One was an almost fatal rollover accident on Christmas Day 2016. Lesson: tomorrow isn’t promised. The second was when my son, who had finally gotten his kidney transplant after over a decade of fighting kidney failure, began to reject the kidney for the second time. Lesson: take care of yourself. The third was when God called my beautiful grandson home to be with him. That almost took me out. Lesson: appreciate life.

From it all I realized that there is something greater than us. It’s the power that lives within us that causes us to grow stronger with adversity, overcome any obstacle, dig deep and stand firm when we feel like we are going to fall apart. To keep progressing and pursuing our dreams despite the circumstances. Pain produces passion, becomes purpose.

Happiest or saddest moment
The saddest moment in my life was when I questioned my existence. I didn’t know who I was, why I was here and what I was supposed to be doing with my life. The happiest moment was realizing my purpose, relentlessly pursuing my vision, and watching it manifest now.

Advice
Collaboration — working together — is key. Just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you have to. It’s OK to take a break or say no sometimes. Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity. Put pride aside and learn to better give and receive help when needed. Lastly, give each other grace.

Reading/watching
Favorite reads right now are “Fervent,” “Becoming,” “The Worn Out Woman” and “Girl, Wash Your Face.” I’m not much of a TV person, but I do watch a lot of educational videos regarding my field on YouTube.

Favorite thing to do in Baytown
I love to visit Baytown Nature Center and sit by the water or relax in the butterfly garden under the gazebo. It’s beautiful.

This profile was received through the Submit Your Story page.

The post Angel Middleton: businesswoman overcomes obstacles appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve been going to church more since Owen was born. You just look for that comfort and peace. Plus, my family and our mutual friends have helped support and motivate us. We have a type of village that looks out for us. I mean, it’s been really hard on all of us. But we’ve been able to stick together and see it through.”

“Owen has been through so much this year. But he’s a little fighter. And what I see in ourselves is that there’s a strength you don’t know you have until you’re pushed to the limit. We’ve had so many obstacles, we almost don’t pay attention to them anymore. It’s like, OK, this is what we’re going to do this week. If you would have asked us last year, I probably would have told you there’s no way we’re going to make it through everything we’ve faced as a family. But then, you just do.”

— Blanca Aguilar Bobo and Blake Bobo

Their son, Owen, is facing life-saving heart surgery related to his rare genetic condition, Williams Syndrome. The family needs help with costs associated with his care that their insurance does not cover. Check their GoFundMe page to learn more about their journey and how you can help.

Related:

• Young boy faces life-saving heart surgery

The post They rely on faith, family, friends and fight appeared first on The Baytown Project.

Q: What’s it like to be 86?
A: “I think it’s a wonderful age. I’m very glad I am who I am.”

Q: How would you describe your personality?
A: “I’m just a nut. I like to have fun. I like people. I’m very versatile. I like to keep busy, but I like my alone time, too. I can fit in most anywhere these days.”

Q: Your friend says that you’re a pretty good dancer. Is that true?
A: “I can dance with anybody that can lead. I started in high school. But I didn’t dance much for years while raising my kids; I had four in five years. After I retired, I got back into it. We have senior dances all over the area. I still enjoy it.”

Q: What else keeps you busy?
A: “I’ve been an avid sewer all my adult life. I just love fabric. I tell people that for me, going into a fabric store is like a kid going into a candy store.”

Q: Any memorable jobs?
A: “I was working as a waitress at a Holiday Inn. Then one day the cook said, ‘Joanne, I know you’re a greenhorn but …’ The next thing you know, I’m tending bar. One day these fellas started laughing at me. They thought it was funny that I was mixing drinks while holding my book. It was a recipe book for drinks. So I was stirring and reading at the same time. It took me a while to get the hang of it.”

Q: What’s your biggest challenge right now?
A: Probably my health. But really, it’s not bad. I’m lucky. I’m very, very blessed.”

Q: Do you have any advice for others?
A: “Don’t complain about life. Just do what you have to do every day and enjoy it.”
Q: Do too many people complain?
A: “Oh, yeah. Big time.”

— Joanne Webb

The post She may be 86, but she’s still going strong appeared first on The Baytown Project.

Sometimes, life can seem pretty darn difficult.

What’s one of the saddest moments in your life?
“Losing my tía, my aunt. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012. She fought it and beat it. It was a good six months where she was in the clear, and then it came back to her lungs and later it moved to her brain. She went pretty far with the clinical trial before we lost her. When she was coming down to Houston for treatment I really got to know her. Losing her was really hard.”

What’s your biggest challenge right now?
“Paying for school. It’s not the community college part that I’m in right now. It’s more looking toward transferring. I’ve applied for five scholarships so far, so I’m hoping I’ll get something. I might have to get a loan, but I don’t want to get too deep into debt.”

Despite life’s complications, he has an easy smile, optimistic outlook and simple dream. “I would like to get a nice car, settle down, have a nice house and spend time with my family.”

— Gabriel Garza

The post He’s facing life’s challenges, one at a time appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I guess my biggest challenge is staying busy and taking care of my family. Sometimes it gets a little rough. I make decent money doing lawns, but you can always use more. It’s hard work, but I like it. I get to meet lot of nice people and have quite a few regular customers. As long as I enjoy doing it and my body holds up, I’ll keep going.”

The post Lawn mower enjoys hard work, meeting people appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve faced many challenges, from divorces, to deaths, to you name it. But you just learn to keep your head up and keep going. It’s just life. Don’t let anything knock you down. Life takes turns, so just go with it. My approach is that if you go in with no expectations, you leave with no disappointments.”

The post ‘Life takes turns, so just go with it’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.