Teen inspires others with her everlasting hope

Saturday, May 25, 2013
Sikeston teenager Bethany Baker is sharing her hope with others across the world. Despite receiving bad news after bad news and undergoing life-threatening surgeries over the years, Bethany has never given up hope. The teen's everlasting hope and strength is inspiring others both in person and through a video posted on indiegogo.com. To learn more about Bethany, visit http://igg.me/at/bethanys-hope/x/2236597. (Submitted Photo)

SIKESTON -- Sikeston teenager Bethany Baker has endured more bad news and surgeries than most people will in a lifetime.

No matter how grim the message, her mother Debi Baker said Bethany always remains positive -- and never gives up hope.

"When the doctors and nurses tell Bethany something that would be horrible, discouraging or scary, she would just still be pleasant and smiling and positive," Baker said. "And they would come back in the room over and over and say: 'We've never seen anyone like this in our lives. We've been doing this for X amount of years and we've never seen someone that's so positive, that's so -- hopeful.'"

Within the last few years, Bethany has undergone life-threatening surgeries, but the teenager prefers not to talk about her medical condition.

"I block the medical stuff, and I focus on positive and go on with the what I do and just be me. You have to live life to the fullest," Bethany said.

"When asked how she can stay so positive and so hopeful, Bethany said: "It comes down to one word: God. Period. End of story."

And Bethany said she's beginning to see how -- through her medical issues -- her everlasting hope and strength is inspiring others.

Doctors and nurses have found encouragement in Bethany's responses, her mother said.

"The nurses tell us they vie to be Bethany's nurse, which they also say is a very unusual thing when it comes to teenagers," Baker said.

Friends and family often call Bethany for advice, the teen said. They know she will be honest with them but also give them hope.


Online video helping to spread Bethany's Hope

SIKESTON -- Last fall Bethany Baker, who is the daughter of Debi and Matt Baker of Sikeston, was recuperating from a recent surgery when her mother noticed she wasn't her usual, perky self.

Things started to change for the better after Bethany read an article in the Standard Democrat about Sikeston native Tiffany Seth, who was competing in an upcoming television reality competition, "The Great Food Truck Race."

Bethany began watching the Food Network competition and soon found herself hooked on the show and rooting for Seth's team, which eventually placed fourth in the competition. Bethany's mother said week by week, she saw her daughter return to her perky self.

A few weeks later Bethany found herself shocked and thrilled when one day she and her mother happened to run into Seth in Sikeston. Bethany asked to have her picture made with Seth, and soon after, they reconnected through Facebook and have been great friends ever since.

Now Seth is organizing a fundraising campaign to help her friend realize her dream of meeting Winter -- the dolphin from the film, "Dolphin Tale." The film is inspired by a dolphin who severely damaged her tail. Winter's outlook for survival was grim until strangers came to her rescue and provided her with hope -- and a new tail.

"Last year at this time I was arriving in Los Angeles to compete on a TV show, but I did wonder for a long time on the show and after: 'Why me? Why did I get chosen to be on this show?"

Seth said she now believes that path led her to Bethany.

"I want others to know about Bethany's hope, the inspiration she is and her desire to let other people know hope," Seth said. "Her family is very committed to their faith and trusting God, and they rest in His word for everything."

Seth posted a video about Baker on the online funding platform, indiegogo.com, on March 30.

"The campaign reached its goal in less than 24 hours, and the trip has been planned," Seth said.

Seth then unofficially unofficially raised the goal to $10,000 to help assist with some of the expenses that have accrued along this journey. Only five days remain in the fundraising campaign.

For the rest of these articles and more, see Sunday's Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.

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