Guides Who Have Been There

Hi, I am JoNell Saunders I am a college student, a bit of a gamer, a TikTok watcher, and someone who is learning that life shapes us in unexpected ways. I was born with a rare congenital condition called frontal nasal dysplasia, which affects the midline of the face and nose, often causing a flat nose or widely spaced eyes. Because of this, I spent much of my early life in and out of hospitals, undergoing many procedures from newborn through young adulthood. These experiences taught me how to be confident and stay strong. 

As a child, I learned to adjust to my surroundings and watch the world around me, noticing both my own abilities and the emotions of others. Growing up, I faced bullying and moments of unkindness that tested my confidence, but those experiences helped me build self-worth and the courage to embrace who I am. My parents and family supported me every step of the way, helping me believe in myself and giving me daily affirmations to boost my confidence.

Even today, people sometimes stare at the scar on my face, and I ignore them because it has become a symbol of my strength and the long journey that shaped me into the person, I am today smart, strong, confident, and kind.

Now, as a young adult, I carry all those lessons with me. What once felt like a limitation has become a source of self-awareness and confidence. I approach challenges with intention, connect with others through understanding, and celebrate the growth that has brought me to this point.

Every stage of my life, from infancy to now, has shaped the person I am becoming, and I am proud of my strength, kindness, and determination these are the things that keep me going.

I was born with Apert syndrome, a condition that shaped my early life through surgeries, medical challenges, and moments of being misunderstood or underestimated. Growing up, I had to learn resilience at a young age, how to keep showing up even when things felt uncomfortable or unfair. There were times when the world focused on what I couldn’t do, but I chose to focus on what I could become. Through school, sports, and leadership experiences, I learned that my condition did not define my limits; it helped build my empathy, determination, and strength. In high school I had an art teacher who saw potential in my skills and asked me to make a self portrait for our class project that would be on a bigger size paper than what he normally assigned the rest of the class, and with patience and precision, they turned out great!  I also joined the bowling team, part of it to get out of school early, but also to bowl with some friends who were also on the team. A few months later I started going to my high school’s basketball games, then one day after I appeared at one of their road games their coach asked me if I wanted to be their manager. It was a life changing experience as I was able to make memories with the team and play on senior night. Then prom season was around the corner, I decided to run for prom king just for fun, and I was fortunate to be nominated prom king. After I graduated from college, I went to college and became a manager for the basketball team, spending long hours attending practice, doing homework while I did laundry for the team, but it was worth the experience since I’ve been able to form great relationships with the coaches and players on the team. I graduated from college in 2023, and now I’m helping a friend build a basketball program helping unsigned players improve and earn an opportunity to play college basketball.

One of the most impactful experiences in my journey was Camp Superstar. It gave me a space where I felt fully accepted, encouraged, and inspired to grow alongside others who understood what it meant to face challenges with courage. The friendships I made as both a camper and a volunteer helped shape who I am today. Now, I’m excited to work alongside those same friends, both volunteers and former campers, to bring parts of that Camp Superstar magic back by organizing Cultivating Kindness. Through this work, I hope we can create spaces where the children with craniofacial and other disabilities feel seen, supported, and empowered to believe in themselves. goes here

I didn’t have the best relationship with my parents growing up, and it was hard to find adults that I could talk about anything I went through with. Because cleft lip and palate is a facial deformity, I was bullied a lot. It ranged from being asked intrusive questions, to being mocked, all the way to

being called slurs. Kids can be pretty mean, but it gets better as you grow up; you’ll still get a few random questions, but you're better equipped through life to handle it.

I went to Miami Children's Hospital (now called Nicklaus Children's Hospital) for most of my surgeries. I’ve had over 10 procedures in my life, I genuinely lost count after 10. Dr. Wolfe was my surgeon, and he was a perfectionist. He was considered one of the founding fathers of craniofacial surgery. I remember his cold hands touching my face, and focusing on his bushy eyebrows while he was poking and prodding me. I remember going to the gift shop after every appointment and checkup at the hospital. Spending most of my summers recovering from surgeries was the worst, but eventually the doctors appointments stopped, and I had my final craniofacial surgery back in 2017.

Camp Superstar was my home away from home. It was a place I could fully be myself without judgement or consequences. I could sing as loud as I wanted, I could cry as hard as my heart would let me, and all I received back was love and acceptance. This was the first time I felt like I belonged somewhere. I never thought I was good at anything as a kid; sports were a no go, I tried art for a while but nothing really stuck. But I was introduced to theater, and theater I could get lost in. I was a different person every night on stage; I was the top of my class one night, and a “too cool for school” kid another... I truly found myself in performing arts.

Currently, I will be starting college in the summer of 2026. I am going to school for a degree in psychology to help people of all backgrounds navigate life. I have my own apartment, I have a daughter, a bunch of cats, and a fiancee. As hard as life is some days, I couldn't ask for more. The important thing to remember is that IT GETS BETTER. Now that I am an adult, I want to be the person that my community can come to for advice, to chat, or for guidance navigating life through this lens; the kind of adult I needed growing up. Camp Superstar gave me the foundation I needed and the drive to help people. Life is complicated, no one has all the answers, but I am here to sit with you in the dark while we figure out what to do, together. I can't wait to recreate the same safe space I had growing up here at Cultivating Kindness, where anyone and everyone can wear their heart on their sleeve with nothing to worry about.