2007 Ina Brudnick Award Recipient, Central Region
“I'm stronger now, not because of my disease, but because of how I chose to look at my disease.” says Maggie Montoya.
From the time she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 10 until she
was 17, Maggie Montoya saw the inside of many hospitals. Remarkably, following her
second ostomy surgery this past winter, she managed to graduate from high school and
recently enrolled at Nebraska Lincoln University.
As a student at Lincoln Science Focus Program in Nebraska,
Maggie worked independently on her subjects so that she
could graduate on time, despite her frequent hospital stays.
Through her struggles, Maggie has learned the value of true
friendship, inner strength and maintaining a positive attitude.
She says, “Being negative doesn't solve anything.
I realized while I couldn't control my disease, I could
control my outlook on it. I'm stronger now, not because
of my disease, but because of how I chose to look at my
disease.”
She also credits her mother, a psychologist, and her primary care doctor, as her role models,
both of whom she says always treated her like an important participant in all decisions made.
Following in their footsteps, Maggie plans to go to medical school and wants to become a
psychiatrist, so she can help others as she has been helped herself.
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