By Dom Pruett

When Marissa Hernandez was born, doctors told her family she wouldn’t live past the age of 1.

And even if she did, she would never walk nor possess the ability to lead any fulfilling or comfortable life due to her disability.

Hernandez was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome — a condition with symptoms throughout the body, with the most noticeable being adverse effects on one’s physical development.

The odds were never in Hernandez’ favor to say the least. But on the 16th anniversary of when her parents were informed about all the things their daughter wouldn’t be able to do, Hernandez stands as living (and walking) proof of how mistaken those doctors were.

via Vacaville High School student celebrates Sweet 16th birthday, defying the odds.