My baby sister isn't really a baby--she is now 3 years old--, but she is still the youngest girl in my family.

Enriquesa was adopted at the age of 10 months from Guatemala, and she had spent most of her young life in an orphanage or in and out of hospitals. She was born without arms or hands, and she was also born without most of her legs. She wears prosthetic "hooks", which serve as her hands, and she wears prosthetic legs to walk. In order to walk she uses a wheeled walker she pushes, but lately she's been learning to walk on crutches. She was also born a little person (i. e., a "dwarf"), which only makes her look even younger than she is. She was born with "achondroplasia", which is the most common form of dwarfism; in achondroplasia the long bones in the arms or legs don't develop properly, and as a result people with this form of dwarfism have shorter-than-normal limbs--but normal-sized torsos. Their heads are also bigger, and this makes them look rather unusual. In Enriquesa's case she was born with hydrocephalus, or "water on the brain." She had a shunt placed into her skull at the age of 8 months, and she is now doing very well, thank you. In addition, she also has speech problems, but is getting speech therapy to improve her speech.

A lot of people don't know what to make of Enriquesa when they first see her (especially when she doesn't have her "legs or arms on") because she is so tiny, but they are soon taken by her beguiling nature and her quick mind. She is quite smart, and she has recently taken to learning how to print her name and to name some of her colors. She is also learning to identify animals. And besides, she is cute. She has thick, jet-black hair that she wears in pigtails, dark, dark eyes that have a tendency to sparkle, a snub nose, and a quick smile that brings out the dimples in her chubby cheeks.

Like most little girls her age Enriquesa loves "Barney." She watches him every time he comes on tv, and she doesn't move from her spot. She knows the "Barney" theme song by heart, and she loves to sing it to us. She also loves stuffed teddy bears, and she loves her dollies. She also loves wearing frilly dresses and matching ribbons in her hair. She doesn't like physical therapy, doctor visits (she HATES shots), chicken, orange juice, or peas. She also hates having her hair washed.

As far as little kids go, Enriquesa is NOT a bad little sister, but she DOES have her moments. She can throw a good-sized temper tantrum, especially when she goes to bed or has her nap; she does NOT like going to bed. She also throws her "hissy-fits" when she has her hair washed. She is a social butterfly around people she knows, but she is shy around strangers. She has to know a person well enough before she considers them a friend.


Enriquesa (pronounced En-ree-kay-sah) is determined to overcome her disabilities, and this is evident in everything she does. She has an extremely stubborn streak in her, and this is why she does so well at physical therapy (even though, during her therapy sessions, she does cry).

She does know what she wants to be when she grows up: "A mommy."