Eighteen years ago in a Russian orphanage, was a baby that’s life was about to change for the better. Her name is Kelsey Anastasia Norris and she has an extraordinary story to share with everyone. First, let me tell you about the force behind Kelsey...her mother, Carol Norris. Carol came to Georgia in June 1986 after graduating from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. After college she started her career in Savannah, GA. Like many newly minted graduates, she had little money in her bank account, a large student loan and the stress of figuring out how to survive day to day while pursuing her career. Though she secured a fellowship position at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, she still had to be very frugal with her finances. After finishing her fellowship, Carol accepted a position that kept her in Savannah for another six years. During those years she became very disillusioned with the health care system. In October of 1994 Carol started her path to working with underserved counties in Georgia. Having worked with many failed leadership programs, she decided to venture into her own consulting health care business. Her first project out of the gate was to coordinate an eight-month maternal and child health project for the State Medical Education Board of Georgia, Georgia Department of Medical Assistance, and Mercer University School of Medicine. Though she had her concerns about going out on her own as a consultant, she has not looked back since. Carol eventually made the move to the Warner Robins area so that she could better serve her clients by being in the Middle Georgia area. By 2002, her company was recognized as one of the leading consultant firms for health, social services, and education-related projects in the country. This was accomplished by her expertise of grant writing. As you can imagine, this work took all of Carol’s time; as time passed, her maternal clock was ticking. At the age of 42,Carol realized she was missing something in her life and that was a child to nurture. Now that you know about Carol and her strong character, you will understand why I needed to provide her background in order to lead into her journey with Kelsey. As mentioned in the beginning, there once was a baby that’s life was about to change 18yearsago,and her name is Kelsey. Carol had been thinking about adoption and was told about an agency that worked with orphanages in Russia. Though adoptions are not allowed anymore from Russia ,it was a very active program in the early 2000s. In October of 2004 Carol made the long flight to Moscow to meet her 11-month-old daughter. She was provided information ahead of time about the conditions she may see at the orphanage. Though the children were cared for at the orphanage, their surrounding conditions were sub-standard, at best. The workers were not allowed to pick up the children and hug them. They were ordered to pick up the children from behind so the children could not hug them and then expect the affection all the time. This is what we would call barbaric, but they were ordered to treat the children like this in order to keep control of so many of them. When Carol first set eyes on Kelsey, it was love at first sight for the both of them. Carol was allowed to pick her up and hug her and Kelsey hugged her back and the strong bond began. After meeting Kelsey, the doctors at the orphanage wanted to talk to Carol and make sure she knew that Kelsey was a special needs baby. Kelsey was 11months and weighed 14 lbs. Her preliminary testing indicated that she may have a heart condition and they could not guarantee that she would ever walk or talk. Carol had already fallen in love with her, and she made it clear that her medical needs would be addressed. It took another flight back through Atlanta and back to Russia again in January of 2005 to finally start the paperwork for the formal adoption. The process was not for the faint of heart. Carol was in Russia for three weeks waiting for paperwork to process through the court system. During the waiting period she was able to visit with Kelsey and tighten their bond even more. Carol and Kelsey arrived in the United States in February of 2005 and yet again, in another life-changing event for Carol, she never looked back. Medical care was the number one priority to address once Kelsey was settled into her new life. The doctors did not find any heart condition as thought by the Russian doctors, but they were concerned with her size and weight, along with some noted motor skill deficiencies. However, they just wanted Kelsey to go home and catch up on living the life that she had missed in her first 14 months. Since Carol was running her consulting business, she found Kelsey a childcare facility so that she could start interacting with other children. The Director of the facility provided updates to Carol about Kelsey’s progress and did recommend that she see a speech therapist that came to the center once a week. This made a huge difference in Kelsey’s life and when she was evaluated to see if she needed preschool special education services, it was noted at that time she did not need to attend but it was recommended to continue speech therapy sessions. Carol has always been determined to provide the best for Kelsey and to help her to reach her full potential in life. Carol kept up on developmental issues and one day someone had sent her an article and picture of a young girl that looked just like Kelsey. They both were small in stature with very similar facial features. The girl in the picture had been diagnosed with having Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS).Kelsey’s doctor was a bit skeptical as this is an extremely rare disease, but he was willing to refer them to a specialist at Emory University and subsequently ended up at the University of Chicago. It was there that they did make the diagnosis of RTS and added that Kelsey also was the only person in the world with an additional factor of having a specific genetic chromosomal defect. People with RT Saresmallinstature (females are not usually taller than four ’eleven”), have moderate to severe learning disabilities, poor motor and coordination skills, along with an array of health risks. This then put Kelsey in the category of having Autism. Though researchers at the University wanted her to participate in clinical research studies, Carol made the ultimate decision not to participate since the studies would not change the course of Kelsey’s life. Fast forward to today...Kelsey has grown into a very bright and talented18-year-oldyounglady.She is currently an 11thgrade special education student at Veterans High School in Kathleen, Georgia. Her resume, yes, I said resume, fills three single space pages. She has a resume because she participates in many activities that require her accomplishments to be known in order to participate. One of those activities is her pageant participation. Kelsey is the current Miss Conyers Cherry Blossom and will be competing at the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition in June 2022 as the first person with intellectual disabilities in the pageants77-yearhistory.Her pageant social impact initiative is, “special needs means special abilities–the importance of self-advocacy for individuals with disabilities. ”Kelsey strongly believes that individuals with disabilities can achieve remarkable things in life, and she is certainly on her way to doing just that. Kelsey has been preparing for the pageant with her communications teacher from Puzzle Pieces Intervention Center located in Centerville, Georgia. The center’s owner, Bridgette Sparks, has been working with Kelsey for a while and they are focusing on her pageant speech. Kelsey also attends young adult life skills classes offered at the center a couple times a month. Another major accomplishment of Kelsey’s is that she is a State Special Olympics Gold Medalist. She has won four gold medals in track and bowling and will be attending this year’s Special Olympics competing in swimming. Through trial and tribulation, Kelsey will be able to participate in swimming this year. Swimming was deemed not to be safe for a special needs student by school administration but was overturned last year in order for her to participate. Unfortunately, the Special Olympics was cancelled last year because of COVID, but is on track this year with some restrictions. Kelsey has had the same swim coach for 10 years. She is on a swim team at the Warner Robins Aquanauts, in Warner Robins, GA. Her swim coach would be the first to say Kelsey is very comfortable with whom she is and approaches everything she does with determination to do the best that she can. She is extremely excited to be competing and is looking forward to being a part of something that is larger than her. If being a pageant contestant and athlete was not enough, Kelsey and her mom have also authored a few books. The most recent book is a children’s book called Kelsey Goes to the Special Olympics. The book provides a capsule of information of her journey from the beginning of her life until her Special Olympics experience. The Norris’s strongly feel that to tell Kelsey’s story she also needs to address the bullying she endured at times while growing up. This book provides a strong positive message that promotes kindness and acceptance of people who are different. Kelsey and her mom have traveled throughout Georgia doing book tours speaking to students, parents, and community groups. They have donated books to local libraries and schools. Like many of us, Kelsey is an animal lover. She has had a few animals come and go through time, and each one has made a mark on her life. She has also donated over 7000 pounds of dogfood since 2015 to an area Humane Society. Kelsey mentioned to me during our interview that she loved horses and had taken riding lessons at one time. I could not help but invite her to the Nancy Ellis Knox Equestrian Center located on the campus of Wesleyan College. This is where I keep my horse, Georgia, and we had a great day of grooming and riding. Kelsey lights up around animals and has a Yorkie named Maggie that keeps her company at home. Needless to say, both mother and daughter are an inspiration to all. When interviewing the two of them you could see the admiration and love that they both have for each other. Carol acknowledges that it has not always been easy, but she made a promise to herself and to Kelsey that she would provide the best possible life for her and to help her reach her full potential. I would say Carol has surpassed that goal by miles. Kelsey has been involved instate government initiatives that help with the advocacy of Autism, volunteered over4500 community service hours and is serving as a Georgia Autism Speaks Volunteer Advocacy Ambassador. Kelsey has a resume that will continue to grow as she starts looking ahead at college. She is someone to watch out for and you can be guaranteed you will see her mother right by her side continuing to provide the support she has given Kelsey throughout the years.