10 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 9, 2005 FRIDAY Focus Toucfediby a fardrock angef . MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD PHOTOSTORY BY TREVOR CAMPBELL 0 DAILY PHOTO EDITOR 9I S ight - a sense that people take for granted - is one thing that 19-year- old Lisa Michelle Medina of Mon- trose, Mich. is not concerned with. Medina is one of seven living peo- ple in the world born with bilateral cranial facial birth defects: Her facial structure did not form properly in the womb. "By all rights, I should be dead, because I was swallowing my mom's amniotic fluid for the nine months she was carrying me," Medina said. "My upper lip was split down the middle, and my cheeks, around the area where a persons eyes should be, weren't formed. It was all open." As a young child, she began a rigorous regimen of what has totaled 60 surgeries at the University's C.S. Mott Children's Hospi- tal. Since she was born, she has been in the care of Dr. Louis Argenta, who now works at Wake Forest Hospital. Having to deal with taking mountains of medication, visiting doctors regularly and battling depression throughout one's child- hood is not an easy task. Throughout her turmoil, Medina turned to music for sanc- tuary. Growing up, her father was always playing Spanish music around the house, and she developed an early affinity for the art. "It really hit me when I first heard the song 'Pretty' by The Cranberries," she said. "I could just relate to that song so much." As years progressed, Medina's musi- cal tastes evolved along with her emotions. Depression set in, and the music she lis- tened to took an aggressive twist. Hard rock seemed to combat the pain in her life. Grow- ing into an inescapable vacuum, music has become her passion in life. "It's my saving grace," Medina said. After contemplating suicide many times and even coming close to intentionally overdosing on pain medi- cation, she battled her condition by letting music be her guiding angel. With a collection of over 800 albums, Medina has recently started attending con- certs in addition to listening to her music at home. "When I'm at a'show, I feel accepted. I feel like I'm one of them," Medina said. "My dad takes me to shows, even though he doesn't like the music." On Wednesday, Medina attended the Non- point concert at Six Shooters Concert Hall in Saginaw. Medina has been listening to Nonpoint since their first album but had lost touch with their music for a couple of years. Last fall, while she listened to the radio, the band's Spanish-infused single "Rabia" came on the air, and the familiar voice of singer Elias Soriano caught her attention. Eagerly awaiting the end of the song to find out who the band was, she was sure it was "I've been judged all my life. First by adults, who used to follow my parents in public, pretending to look around and shop, but really eyeing the strange oddity in the shopping cart, then by kids all through elementary and middle school. Punched, kicked and, worst of all, spit on. them. "Being blind, you develop a real sense for voices. Elias has one of those voices that grabs you and you know you won't forget," Medina said. Despite not being able to actually see the performance, Medina showed more enthusi- asm than many of the fans up front. Danc- ing along and singing through the entire set almost to the point of hoarseness, she expressed her appreciation for the band. Following their performance, she eagerly awaited the group at their merchandise table, where she stood with a bag of candy for vocalist Soriano. "I heard in an interview that he loved Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, so I had to bring him some," Medina said. The four members of the group all signed the T- shirt she bought and thanked her for listen- ing and coming out to their show. Medina opened up to Soriano in tears. "You can stay strong, sweetie," Soriano said to her. Walking away from the concert in sheer awe, she pondered whether the night's events had happened or were just a surreal dream. Even though she couldn't see them perform, even though she couldn't put a face to her idols, even though she can't see the auto- graphs on her shirt, Lisa Michelle Medina took away what no one else did from that concert: a reason to live. I was mainstreamed at 5 years old, and the public school system was brutal and hellish for me. I graduated early, and have never looked back." 10 - Lisa Michelle Medina 0 - Lisa Michelle Medina ABOVE LEFT: Nonpoint drummer Robb Rivera performs Wednesday at Six Shooters Concert Hall in Saginaw. BOTTOM LEFT: Nonpoint vocalist Elias Soriano sings at the show. BOTTOM CENTER: Soriano meets Lisa Michelle Medina after the show at the merchandise table. BOTTOM RIGHT: Rivera greets Medina with a hug after the performance. ABOVE RIGHT: Lisa's father Mark, 49, and sister Becca, 14, in their Montrose home. ABOVE: Rivera signs the T-shirt Medina bought during the concert.