Malakye

My story begins long before this moment. I was born in Romania and spent the first five and a half years of my life in a county-run orphanage during the 1980s. Life in that setting was harsh, isolating, and deeply formative. At age 5½, I was adopted into a Roman Catholic Air Force family in Europe. I moved to the United States in 2001. What was supposed to be a new beginning became another painful chapter. The home was abusive and controlling, and I remained nonverbal until I was 15 years old. From ages 16 to 18, I lived in a group home where I was again mistreated—this time bullied and emotionally abused due to my limited communication skills and disabilities.

Despite all this, I’ve achieved things many thought impossible. I earned a second-degree black belt in American Kenpo, a discipline that helped me build self-confidence and focus. I also hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (with an emphasis in Printmaking, Painting, and Drawing), a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and an Associate’s degree in Business Administration. These accomplishments represent years of effort, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in my potential— even when the systems around me didn’t believe in me.

These early years taught me how fragile safety can be. They also instilled in me a fierce determination to build a life of my own, no matter the obstacles. I live today with multiple disabilities— Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 2/3), ADHD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, epilepsy, Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome, and other chronic and neurological conditions. These aren’t just medical terms; they shape every part of how I experience the world. I require help with daily tasks like bathing, toileting, medication management, and meal preparation. I wear diapers due to medical needs, and I rely on caregivers to keep me safe, especially because of seizures and a history of elopement.

While I don’t live independently in the traditional sense, I function with a great deal of effort and support. My daily life involves managing pica, executive dysfunction, sensory challenges, trauma triggers, and severe anxiety. Bathing, feeding myself, and staying emotionally regulated are all uphill battles. I use oral sensory tools, a pacifier to sleep, and sometimes bottle feeding due to ARFID when solid food intake becomes too difficult. I love chores because they give me structure, but I often need encouragement to stay motivated.