My name is Michaela Davert, and I am 22 years old. Sharing my story with all of you is an incredible honor, and I hope by opening up about my life, I can inspire, educate, and encourage others. There’s so much to my journey, and I plan to share it as authentically as possible. I invite you to follow along on my social media as my story continues to unfold.
I was born with a rare physical disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Type III). OI comes in many forms, and the type I have is the second most severe. This condition occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough collagen or produces collagen of poor quality. In my case, my body produces collagen, but it’s of poor quality. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and without strong collagen, many parts of the body—including the bones—are affected. For me, this means my bones are extremely fragile. Over my lifetime, I’ve endured more than 100 fractures and undergone 27 surgeries. I am also 2 feet, 7 inches tall due to the condition, and I live with several other health challenges as a result of OI.
Disability was not unfamiliar in my family. My twin brother Austin and I share OI with our mother, while my father lives with a mild form of cerebral palsy. Despite these challenges, my parents were raised in supportive and loving families, and they instilled that same positivity and resilience in me. Unfortunately, the world does not always share that perspective. Before I was born, some doctors questioned whether I should even come into this world, assuming my life would be one of suffering and limitation. Today, I can confidently say I live a rich, fulfilling life, and I am far from a burden. My disability is my greatest blessing, and I wouldn’t trade my life with anyone.
Growing up, I quickly realized how society often views disability as a tragedy. People see it as an overwhelming circumstance or a limitation—but the truth is that everyone has challenges. Mine are simply visible. That doesn’t make them worse, just different. Life’s value is not determined by whether one faces hardships; we all have our struggles, visible or not, and our lives are meaningful regardless.
I approach life with joy and gratitude. My family’s love and support have given me an amazing childhood and set the foundation for an extraordinary life. Academically, I excelled—graduating high school in 2016 with honors, joining two national honor societies, and becoming a member of DECA, an association for marketing students. While school was not always socially welcoming, I sought out community and connection. Today, I am pursuing a BBA in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing at Davenport University, where I am involved in the National Society of Leadership and Success and Sigma Beta Delta.
During high school, I discovered the world of beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. I had always loved makeup and fashion, but watching these creators inspired me to share my own passion. I noticed, however, that very few beauty vloggers had a physical disability, and that sparked the idea for FunsizedStyle, my own YouTube channel. Today, with over 39,000 subscribers, my channel has become a community where I share content about makeup, fashion, lifestyle, and my experiences living with OI. Representation is incredibly important to me—I want young women and girls with disabilities to see themselves reflected in the beauty industry and know that there is no single standard of beauty.
Through my channel, I have connected with people worldwide, sharing my story and raising awareness about Osteogenesis Imperfecta. My viewers are curious about the medical aspects of my life, and I am passionate about educating them. I discuss my surgeries, my hearing loss, and most recently, my life-saving scoliosis surgery, in hopes of shifting perspectives and showing that living with a disability is far from tragic.
The past year, my social media has documented the reality of my severe scoliosis, a condition that curves the spine. While millions in the U.S. have scoliosis, for many, it is mild and requires minimal intervention. For me, the curvature was life-threatening, putting my lungs and organs at risk. Three years ago, an MRI revealed the severity of my condition. I was surprised—I had felt healthy and had never experienced significant breathing difficulties, despite the extreme curve in my spine. It was a miracle that my body had managed so well.
As a child, I wasn’t strong enough for spinal fusion surgery, and my back never caused me daily pain. But as the curve worsened, I faced a critical, life-altering decision. Without surgery, I was told I had fewer than ten years to live; respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or the need for a tracheostomy were real possibilities. Despite the risks, I knew I had to act. Life is precious, and I wanted every opportunity to fulfill my dreams and aspirations.
This surgery was unlike anything I had experienced. My bones were fragile, the surgery would take nearly 10 hours under anesthesia, and respiratory complications could require a tracheostomy. Paralysis was also a potential risk. I sought opinions from top OI and scoliosis experts, many of whom advised against surgery, saying the risks were too high. But I felt in my heart that I had to move forward. Eventually, I was blessed to find Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Michelle Caird and Neurosurgeon Dr. Hugh Garton at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, who shared my vision and committed to giving me the best possible chance at a longer life.
On September 14, 2020, I began halo traction, a device with a metal ring around my head attached to my wheelchair to gently stretch my spine over three months. Those three months were some of the hardest of my life, but I endured them with faith, hope, and the certainty that this pain had purpose. On December 23, 2020, the day of my spinal fusion surgery arrived. I was about to face what many considered impossible—but with my medical team’s expertise and God’s guidance, I went in with courage and peace.
After ten grueling hours, I woke up and realized something miraculous: I had full feeling in my body, no tracheostomy was needed, and I had not required a single blood transfusion despite expectations. The morning of extubation was the ultimate test, and when I breathed on my own, I knew another miracle had taken place. God had answered my prayers, and my incredible medical team had saved my life.
Recovery has been long and challenging, but every day I grow stronger. This journey ensures that I can continue pursuing my dreams, growing FunsizedStyle, educating others, traveling, creating content, and advocating for those with disabilities. My story is far from over, and I am so grateful for every opportunity to share it. Life is precious, and it is absolutely worth fighting for.
