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A Tribute To Inspiration

As a nation, we are a people that are taught to be empathetic; to feel sorry for those who are less privileged than ourselves. It seems impossible for us as Americans to not pity ones who have acquired some physical or mental disability. We often find it difficult to even watch such persons struggle through a task. After all, it is our responsibility to inspire those of lesser ability to do great things. Or is it? Could it be true that we, ourselves are disabled because of our ability? Is it possible that those who have not are the very ones who we should be inspiring us?

Samantha Lynn Gilley was born on June 23, 1989 to Steve and Susie Gilley, of Flintstone, Georgia. Her life, which began like any other happy child, would soon change drastically. At only six weeks of age, Samantha was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, shattering the tranquility of early childhood. After several failed attempts to treat the cancer, Samantha’s doctors were left with no choice but to remove her right eye when she was only one year old.

Over the next few years, Sam endured countless radiation and chemotherapy sessions in addition to several serious surgeries. As Samantha continued to grow, however, her health continued to deteriorate. At one point, Samantha’s expected survival rate dropped from 90% to less than 10%, in only a matter of months, when the cancer returned, this time in her cheek. The surgery to remove the cancer took nearly 6 hours and placed Samantha in the ICU for 23 days. Samantha, however, recovered quickly and continued to go about her life.

As Samantha learned more about her condition, she took steps to assure she would be able to live a full life without being dependent on others. By the time she was old enough to realize the extremity of her situation, she began to teach herself Braille, anticipating the eventual removal of her left eye. When Sam was a freshman in high school, the pain and near uselessness of her remaning eye forced her to make the decision to have the eye removed, leaving her totally blind.

Samantha has twice attended the Helen Keller School, in New York, for several weeks. She has visited the Olympic training center, in Colorado Springs, for training and was required to train for a month in Columbus, Ohio, in order to receive her Seeing Eye dog, Peach.

Samantha graduated from high school as part of the Class of 2007, and she plans study to become a doctor. She currently lives with her family in Flintstone, Georgia. In 2007, Samantha trained for a nd completed a fund-raising tandem bike ride from Chattanooga to Memphis, Tennessee in an effort to give back to the hospital that helped save her life. Sam completed the ride in the fall of 2007, raising almost $50,000 for St. Jude Hospital!

Sam continues to touch the lives of all those around her whether she is rock climbing with her cousins, snow-skiing in Aspen, or knee boarding at her Grandparents’ house. She can rarely been seen without a smile on her face and is never bitter or spiteful about her situation. Samantha continues to give counsel to those who are in similar situations as well as inspiration to those who could not imagine her situation.

Samantha Gilley is a one-of-a-kind individual who proves that disability is only debilitating if allowed to.

Jerod Gilley, Cousin
March 2007

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