Pageants teach teen to embrace challenges

Carissa Kano describes herself as a "quadruple threat" during her formidable middle school years. She wore glasses, braces on her teeth, a leg brace to deal with ankle problems and a back brace for scoliosis.

Her self-esteem and confidence plummeted when she was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 13. She had three moderately severe curves in her spine, which limited activity, caused pain and reduced her ability to breathe.

"I knew I was different and was nervous about how people would react. It was definitely an awkward phase," she explained. The blows to her confidence and esteem were worse than the physical pain.

"It was really uncomfortable, and I ended up with permanent discoloration on my torso," she said.

The back brace needed to be worn for 23 hours a day for two years.

At 15 she was finally free of the contraption that made doing simple daily activities difficult. Learning how to change clothes, use the restroom, scratch an itch and other common tasks took some effort, said the now 18-year-old Kailua resident. "Sleeping was the worst," and she had many tearful nights because of the pain and discomfort, she said.

Scoliosis is incurable, but individuals with severe cases can wear a brace to prevent curves from worsening. The alternative to the brace would have been back surgery, a much riskier option that would have required six months to a year of recovery time.

"My arms are super-flexible now. I never need help putting on sunscreen and can zip up my dresses. My back will always be misaligned," she said, but says she won’t let her physical limitations hinder her ability to succeed.

Kano graduated this year from Hawaii Baptist Academy, and volunteering at Shriners Hospital, where she was treated, gives her a sense of satisfaction in helping others. Kano will begin attending college in the fall with an aim of becoming a high school English teacher.

She said her parents were instrumental in helping her overcome her shyness. They encouraged her to maintain regular activities in high school, like volleyball, and participate in beauty pageants.

"Dad would help me in the backyard with volleyball hits," she said. "I’d go shopping with my mom. She would look for styles so I didn’t end up looking like SpongeBob."

"At the pageants I really learned what it’s like to love myself," she said. Kano won the title of Miss Hono­lulu, landing her a spot in this year’s Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant. She didn’t receive the title but continues to share her experiences and platform — "Stand Tall: Embrace Yourself!" — with others. She also continues to work as a goodwill ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network.

"We all have special quirks, the things that are special about us," she said. "We all get teased, no matter how old we are." Her motto: Simply love yourself, flaws and all.

"No matter how disheartening the circumstance, we can choose to complain or encourage; to quit or proceed; to cower or remain confident. Our differences should not make us insecure and weak when they can be great sources of strength and courage," she said.

"Life is so much better when you don’t worry and just go for it. Every choice we make allows our challenges to defeat us or motivate us."

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“Be Well” features inspiring stories of people dealing with health challenges. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.