By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Mostly, Lyrik Adams is like a lot of 11-year-olds.
The Union City Middle School student lists singing, eating junk food and spending time with her family among her favorite things to do.
She has a 92 average in her sixth-grade classes, is a cheerleader, active in church as a Christian and “absolutely loves” softball.
And, not that it matters – to her or much anyone else – but Lyrik goes about her ‘normal’ busy schedule with little regard for what she doesn’t have.
Born without a left hand, the bubbly Adams has not allowed that to deter her in her goal-setting or achieving things other young ladies her age accomplish or are involved in.
“Just because I have one hand, that doesn’t mean I can’t do anything I want,” Lyrik said matter-of-factly. “I know God made me this way and I also know I can accomplish something great in my life.
“Besides, I know when I go to heaven someday, I’m going to have two hands.”
Lyrik’s mother, Maleah, and her father, DeAndre, were told 5 ½ months into her pregnancy that their second child would be born without a hand due to amniotic banding.
“My husband’s first words were, ‘She’ll never be able to play the piano. Or sports,’” recalled Mrs. Adams, who works in the UCMS cafeteria. “Naturally, we were both upset immediately (after finding out).
“That didn’t last long, though. God doesn’t make mistakes. It is what it was meant to be. I’ve always told her (Lyrik) she was fearfully and wonderfully made. We call it her purpose.”
Maleah insists she and her husband “always push” their daughter – the middle child and sister of two brothers.
“When she was in the fourth grade, we had ‘the talk.’ She’d had a little situation of being bullied and we explained that this didn’t make her different or should it hold her back,” Mrs. Adams said. “We told her that people might look at her different, but you have to show them you’re no different than them and that you can do with one hand what they do with two.
“Someday she’ll see why she was born without a hand. We’ve always told her that God knew her, even when she was in the womb. There might’ve been some things she didn’t understand when she was younger, but I think now she understands why God made her the way she is.
“I just love her spirit. I love her spunk. And I love her heart. She’s not scared and it shows. Her drive to ‘show’ everyone is remarkable and makes me so proud.”
Lyrik was actually born with five small ‘digits’ on the end of her nub. Doctors and her family decided to leave them for a year to make sure no bones would develop. When they didn’t, a simple surgery was performed to remove them.
She later dismissed the idea of a robotic hand, she said.
Union City Director of Schools Wes Kennedy swelled with pride when asked about Lyrik.
“She epitomizes everything we stress in Union City Schools when we say ‘No Excuses,’” the head administrator said of Lyrik. “Her drive to succeed, her willingness to overcome obstacles, her wonderful nature and personality are great examples for every other student – and adult – to follow.”
One of Lyrik’s main goals is to play second base for the UCMS softball team. She’s focused on improving her bunting technique before next season, acknowledging that her right arm needs to be stronger to hold the bat.
One can count Lady Tornado middle school coach Chelsea Farmer among those who doesn’t doubt Lyrik can accomplish that goal.
And she’s never “cut her any slack.”
“I would have never known Lyrik had a disability if it were not for her actual appearance,” Farmer said.
“In fact, the first time I came across her was at our free mini clinic for elementary students. I was hitting her some grounders for the first 10 minutes of the clinic and had no idea she was disabled.
“It wasn’t until I was working with her on her hitting later on that I actually noticed she had a disability. Lyrik has never once complained about it. She only asks what she can do to improve her skills. That can-do attitude is exactly what gave her teammates inspiration and encouragement. She views her disability as God’s gift to her ‑- a reason to live and a reason to give, not a reason to complain and whine.”
Along with her infectious personality and spirit, Lyrik has a wonderful sense of humor – even about her missing left hand.
“When I get knocked down in softball sometimes, and someone asks if I need a hand, I say, ‘Well, yeah, actually I do,” she giggled.
Lyrik already has looked into the future, too, without fear.
“I want to be an oncologist and I want to work at St. Jude in Memphis and help find a cure for kids’ cancer,” she said.
For now, though, she’s focused on being just an ordinary 11-year-old – one who spends little or no time worrying about a hand she doesn’t have – but plenty about who she is and wants to become.
“I’m really just like everybody else my age,” she insisted. “People look at me and think I have a disability, but I really don’t see it like that. And I really don’t like the word ‘disability.’
“I have bad days just like everyone else, but I don’t blame them on not having a hand. Actually, the people around me most don’t really pay much attention to it and I really like that.
“I know I have the freedom and opportunities to be what I want to be.”
Before ending, and perhaps not coincidentally, Lyrik’s interview time circled back to her faith.
A church regular due to her father being a pastor, she smiled and said: “Sometimes I feel like I was born in church. On Sundays, I’m there unless I’m sick.
“And, sometimes, I just sit and write prayers and Bible verses. I thank God for everything He’s done for me and my family.”
It’s the people who’ve crossed paths with Lyrik, though, who should truly be thankful.
Photos by Mike Hutchens.
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