MICHELLE PADILLA

My name is Michelle Padilla. Born in Tucson Arizona April 15, 1976, I was a blue baby meaning lack of oxygen that went to the brain. We moved to California two months after. I have a heart condition called server tetralogy of fallot. I had my first heart surgery when I was 2, my second heart surgery at the age of 5. My last heart operation was when I was 13 years old. I have a clef patel surgery when I was little, and ear surgery. I struggle throughout school. At the age of 17 I had a grand mal seizure which I was in a comma for about a week I suffered brain damage because of that. I went to school to get my AA degree. It took me about 6 years to get my AA degree. I transferred to Cal State Dominguez where I started an association called Human Services. It’s still going strong. I also became a radio podcaster for Kdhr. I have been an advocate for 22q11 for a long time. From Cal State Dominguez I graduated there with my BA Degree. I decided to continue my podcasting solo and I have been doing podcasting for about 11 years. I am currently on the board for the State disability committee. I was able to get a state job through the department of Reb. I have been working full time for about 4 months now. My main goal is to get more people to get involved in 22q11. In Nov is 22q11 awareness. I came up with the idea that on the week of Nov 22 we put a blue light for all 22q11 warriors, and May is our 22q11 awareness zoo. My podcast is called Awareness show.