Michelle H. Insco

Michelle H. Insco was nominated by Hope Jackson, financial aid counselor, who said “Michelle is a full time student who is married and raising a wonderful young daughter with a rare kidney disease. Her daughter was recently diagnosed with Alport Syndrome this past fall semester. I have had the opportunity to spend time with both Michelle and her daughter. Michelle is a devoted mother and has handled the recent news exceptionally well. She is motivated to help find a cure while continuing her studies at UNCW. She has maintained a positive attitude and believes that the best you can do in any situation is to accept what comes your way and try to make the best of it! Michelle’s positive outlook is shared by her daughter. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, her daughter is looking at all of the opportunities her condition has presented, like learning sign language. Michelle is a diligent student, as this past semester’s performance will prove, who successfully manages family life, school and now the new challenge of finding a cure for her daughter. Michelle is an asset to UNCW and an inspiration to others.”

Michelle is a 34 year old elementary education major who will graduate in December 2006. She is actively involved in her daughter’s preschool. Michelle is also an instructor with Little Lambs at St. Mark Catholic Church and the former vice president of the MOMS Club of Wilmington. The Mothers Offering Mothers Support (MOMS) Club is a national support group for mothers who stay at home with their children, including those who have home-based businesses and who work part-time.

Because she waited more than a year after graduating high school to attend college, is over 22 years old, is married and has a daughter, Michelle distinguishes herself as a non-traditional student. Michelle has faced two very different challenges since coming to college. “I thought the confidence to go back to college after many years was going to be the hardest challenge facing me, but my husband, Mike, has made that easy. He is one of my biggest supporters and the main reason it is possible for me to accomplish my goal of obtaining a college degree. He makes juggling being a mom, wife and student easy for me. The hardest thing so far is staying focused on my school work and having to cope with the devastating news about my daughter’s kidney disease. She was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome after a kidney biopsy in October 2004. Alport Syndrome is a rare genetic kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure, hearing loss, and eye defects. Not only did this take my family by surprise, but also being that this disease is so rare and had never shown up in our family until now, it has been very hard to just “accept.” My daughter is a wonderful, spirited 4 year old, who is full of life and loves everyone and everything she comes in contact with. She is a true inspiration. When I am not on the computer doing homework, I am on the computer researching this disease and praying that I will find some kind of cure or research being done to find a cure.”

Michelle put an interesting spin on our question about her greatest achievement. She said “I feel that every day is an achievement. And every day brings me closer to achieving my personal goal of graduating from UNCW and, now, finding a cure for my daughter. Some of my classes at UNCW have helped me in the search for answers to my daughter’s disease. I have learned to navigate the Internet and become more computer literate, which helps in my classes too. My communication skills have improved and I feel I am better at communicating with doctors, even ones in other countries such as Australia and Italy! I feel it is a wonderful privilege to be a part of such a great school.”

When asked about those who have helped her along the way, Michelle had quite a list of colleagues and professors. “When my daughter was diagnosed this past fall, it was truly devastating. But I think what helped get me through the shock of it all were the students that were in my classes and my instructors. My daughter came to several study groups with me and there are two girls who my daughter became very close to and still talks about, Jess Luckett and Lindsay Rowe. These two have called my house on several occasions to check on my daughter, wish us a happy Thanksgiving or to just say "hi." There were students who collected can tabs for me to send to the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill to help with the drive to buy new playground equipment for the children, and several that would ask me daily how my daughter was, how I was, and tell me that my daughter and family were in their prayers. My instructors, Katrina Aldrich and Eric Pfirman, offered assistance in helping me research this disease and giving me leads to research outlets. Dr. Jennifer Summerville encouraged me to keep searching the Internet, and Hope Jackson, has never stopped thinking of us and how she could help. Without this wonderful support and encouragement from these students and staff of UNCW, I am not sure I would be as determined as I am to do well in school and to find a cure for Alport Syndrome.”

Michelle would like to thank “all the students and instructors I have come into contact with so far in my UNCW experience. And as mentioned before, everyone assisted me last semester and I don’t think I would have stayed focused without them and I am truly grateful for that. My husband and daughter have been the best anyone could ever ask for. My husband is always making sure I have study time, that I have my assignments done and that I understand what I am doing. He is just a wonderful rock for me to lean on. And he is always encouraging me and telling me, and everyone else, how proud he is of the work I am doing at UNCW and trying to find some leads on Alport Syndrome. My daughter, who gives up some of her time with me so that I can get my schoolwork done, is awesome!! She will keep me devoted and dedicated no matter what, so we will always take time out to play!!”

Michelle’s advice to other non-trads is “just never give up. No matter what cards are dealt to you, if you think there is a chance out there worth taking, find a way and take it.” That is good advice that we should all take to heart.

After graduation, Michelle plans to teach (hopefully 4th grade) and work on her Master’s degree. She also plans to work on finding a cure or being involved in research dedicated to Alport Syndrome. Michelle also wants to learn sign language with her daughter since the kidney disease can sometimes lead to hearing loss. She also wants to become active in helping others learn to communicate through sign language.

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The Seahawk Perch congratulates Michelle Insco as our January 2005 Non-Trad of the Month!