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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 19, 2006

Student's on a roll, despite disorder

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Lee

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MICAH LEE

Age: 11

School: Waimalu Elementary

Grade: 6

Who helped you? "My parents. I have this condition where my bones are brittle and break easily. They've always encouraged me."

What advice would you give to other kids who would like to follow your example? "Keep trying. If you fail, try again. The only way to get better is to keep trying. The only thing that can stop you is if you quit, give up."

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Micah Lee suffers from a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily, but it hasn't prevented the 11-year-old Waimalu Elementary School sixth-grader from achieving academic and athletic success.

"It doesn't really change me," Micah said of the eight broken bones he has suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta. "I'm still a normal person. I don't let it bother me. I know I can't play contact sports, like tackle football, so I bowl."

The youngest of Jan and Solomon Lee's three children, Micah is "gifted and talented" academically. He's also a third-year bowler who rolled a 223 game for Leeward Junior Bowling Club in September, a junior police officer and former student council leader.

Micah, however, is best known on campus as the anchor of "Warrior News." It's like being the "Joe Moore of Waimalu Elementary," he said.

"Warrior News" is videotaped on Fridays and shown in classrooms on Monday mornings. Micah, who is extremely articulate and poised for his age, reports on the past week's student news and what's coming up.

"It's fun to be on Warrior News and give students information," Micah said. "Now, the younger kids go 'that's Micah' when they see me."

His favorite subject is math but he also likes cars.

"My goal right now is to be a pediatrician or mechanic," he said.

Because he has a clear understanding of his physical limitations, Micah has the confidence to try things he can handle.

"It's because his parents don't hold him back," Waimalu principal Kaylene Yee said. "I've seen him grow and mature. What's neat is that most people wouldn't know (about his condition) by just watching him."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.