My full story
Three tellings of a single life: the story of a miracle, the ministry born from it, and a letter written for you.
My Story
She was born clinically dead in Cuba and spent her first 28 days in a coma. This is the story of how that child, given no prognosis, became a lyric soprano, an author, and a messenger of hope.
1.The miracle
From the moment she first breathed, Elizabeth Sanchez proved to be a fighter, clinging to life. Those who saw her be born, die, and resurrect that day would change forever. She was born in Placetas, Cuba, on March 11, 1993. Her birth was accompanied by peculiar events and unimaginable complications.
During childbirth, she suffered from meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), which brought about three cardiorespiratory arrests. When the doctors were doing their best to save her life, the hospital experienced a power outage. Now, she was really doomed to die! The uncertainty of her first hours accompanied her for the next 28 days of her life, during which she lived in a coma. Repeated seizures, internal bleeding and generalized infections dimmed any clinical hope of survival.
“On April 11, 1993, Easter Sunday, the doctors gave her back to her parents in a vegetative state to spend her last days at home. Her future was uncertain; she would never be a normal child.”The day everything else is born from
When all was lost, only faith was left standing. The love, faith, and tenacity of her parents in the fight against the medical prognoses allowed a sequence of miracles that helped Elizabeth regain her health amidst the joy and amazement of those who knew her.
2.Two worlds
At the age of four, her family moved to the Dominican Republic, and she discovered her passion for the arts, singing. She participated in church choirs and musicals and reaffirmed her vocation for music. From an early age, she learned to cope with her intellectual disability — an official diagnosis — and developed a noble and graceful spirit.
At the age of eleven, the family's move to the United States marked the beginning of a new era for her. Elizabeth begins to blossom in her talents, and it is in music where she feels whole and where she manifests her purest feelings.
3.The voice
Her perseverance in the face of obstacles, with which she has struggled to achieve her goals, begins to yield major results. Against all odds, she completes her 12th grade studies in an advanced vocational vocal music “magnet” program and then ventures into something more. In 2016, she graduates from Barry University in Miami with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in vocal performance, proving to be a gifted lyric soprano who has caught the attention of renowned musicians and industry promoters. Her experience as a soprano at the Miami Opera set the guidelines for her work in Christian music and for her first recording production “Nace una Esperanza” (Hope is Born).
4.Hope is born
Her album “Nace una Esperanza” is a compilation of her life and her victories in the face of adversity and the verdicts of men; it is a demonstration of the power of faith and prayer to change ordinary, logical predictions into something extraordinary and fulfilling. Elizabeth is today a renowned lyric singer who has attracted the interest of influential music industry promoters. In recognition of her artistic excellence, Elizabeth was nominated for the “2019 Redemption Awards” in the “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” category, and her album “Nace una Esperanza” (Hope is Born) has won in the “Best Album of the Year 2020” category at the “New York Academy of Christian Arts Awards.” Besides, Elizabeth was nominated in the “Best Female Artist of the Year” category at the renowned “2022 Galardón Awards.”
Her powerful story has been broadcast on national television in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries. In February 2022, Elizabeth went on a media tour in the Dominican Republic where her life story and wonderful voice impacted the audience of the most stellar programs in the country. The same thing happened on the media tour held in Miami during the months of May and June 2022, where she was invited by national television programs such as “Despierta América” and “Primer Impacto”.
With her prodigious voice and profound lyrics, Elizabeth dreams of inspiring those who feel lost. Without a doubt, her life shows that it is possible to break down the stigma of dependency and the limitations that come with being born with a physical or mental disability. Her recent tour of Mexico, in October 2022, included concerts, interviews on national radio and television programs, and a meeting with the “Mazahua Indigenous Community.” Without a doubt, the visit to the “Mazahua Community” was the high point of the trip. During this meeting, Elizabeth had the opportunity to share her lectures and songs carrying her message of hope. The Mazahua indigenous community has constantly struggled to maintain their cultural values in a society that rejects and discriminates against them, something common in Elizabeth's life.
5.Hope, today
In January 2023, Elizabeth participated, as a guest artist, in the “Mujeres de Esperanza” congress organized by the Billy Graham Foundation in Mexico City. In July 2023, Elizabeth was invited to participate in the 18th edition of the “Arpa Awards” where she performed her single “Estás junto a mí” before a massive audience at the Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City.
Her first book “Viva de Milagro” just came out on the market. Consisting of six chapters, this moving autobiographical story describes the inspiring journey of the author, from difficult times and adversity to the unwavering strength she found in her faith and in the love of God and her family. The book is not only a personal testimony, but also a manual of faith that seeks to inspire those who face challenges in life and need guidance and hope.
Through her music, her talks, and her lectures, Elizabeth is changing the lives of all who could hear about her inspiring story of faith, improvement, and perseverance.
My Ministry
Hope is Born exists so that no family raising a child with a disability becomes just another statistic.
Hope is Born (HIB) was created with the purpose of motivating people with special needs to achieve their dreams by overcoming the challenges that come with adversity and misfortune. Through workshops, motivational talks, conferences, concerts and collaborative work with government offices, HIB is tearing down walls of limited expectations by instilling real hope into families whose children struggle with disabilities.
According to the data from the US Census Bureau more than 41 million Americans, or almost 15% of the population age 5 and older, have some type of disability. This is significant because by the time these Americans reach adulthood, over 75% of them will be without employment. So, it's no mystery that U.S. households containing at least one family member with a mental disability are marked by the highest poverty rate of 32 percent.
The HIB mission is to make an impact on those numbers by guiding and supporting families who are raising children with disabilities. The heart and drive behind “Hope is Born” is Elizabeth Sanchez, a young lady who grew up with intellectual disabilities and refused to be another statistic. With the direction and backing of her family, teachers and professionals, Elizabeth has gone on to graduate from a major university and is now making strides as an entrepreneur and professional singer/songwriter. She is passionate about encouraging others to do the same. Succeeding despite her disabilities has created a platform that allows Elizabeth to do what she loves most: understand, love, and give comfort to those who suffer.
HIB is not indifferent to the suffering of children and young people struggling to find their life purpose. Instead, it aims to motivate them to overcome their own difficulties and challenges so that they can fulfill their calling and live with hope and joy despite their diagnosis. HIB recognizes that life will always bring obstacles and that some of them are inherent to particular individuals, but, for the most part, obstacles are universal and affect us all. Using Elizabeth Sanchez's testimony, the primary goal is to sow hope in the hearts of people who feel that their lives have no purpose and support them.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”Romans 12:12 · the vocational verse of Hope is Born
A Message of Hope
A letter from Elizabeth to you — about rejection, unconditional love, and the secret to happiness.
Hello!
My name is Elizabeth Sanchez. My story has positively influenced many people. The most amazing thing about my life is that it has brought hope to many families, youth and children. I was born in Placetas, Cuba, in 1993. My birth was accompanied by unimaginable complications. During childbirth, I suffered a meconium aspiration that caused me several cardiac-respiratory arrests. As if that was not enough, the hospital experienced an electrical blackout at the time of delivery, and I lived in a coma for the first month of my life.
My life has not been easy. I have faced many adversities with my family. The circumstances of my birth left some sequels and disabilities in me. However, despite all the limitations and conditions, I have strived to be happy and nothing has stopped me from fighting for my independence.
When I was a child, I realized that I did not learn like other children. Simple things like tying my shoes or riding a bike were impossible for me. My classmates mocked me, despised me, called me useless, and even locked me in the bathrooms. I didn't understand why so much rejection, and bullying and depression came to the door of my heart.
Despite having wonderful parents, I felt alone. Those were very dark years, but with the dawn of each day a new hope was born. Just as there were people who rejected and hurt me, there were people who accepted me and loved me unconditionally. Love always triumphs! Thanks to God and the wonderful people that He put around me I stand bringing love and hope to the world through the organization Hope is Born.
I have found that adversity respects no one and knocks on the door of every human being in one way or another. Many of the obstacles I have faced in my life are consequences from the circumstances of my birth, but others are inherent in any human being. Life can be unfair, and we have no control over adversity and calamity, but we can be sensitive to the needs of others.
Seeing the indifference and lack of love that exists in the world affects me a lot. Like many children and youth with disabilities, I have also suffered from misunderstanding. For years, I kept these feelings inside my mind and heart. Then they became poetry, and today they have become songs and musical works. I discovered that my obstacles were the training ground to discover my gifts and prepare my character to encourage others.
I live assured that love and prayer change all things for good. Never stop loving! Love is the secret to happiness.
I would love to share my experiences with you. Follow me on social media.
With much love,
Elizabeth Sanchez
The story, told on screen
The miracle told from the inside: her family, her faith, and the road from Cuba to the stage — the full version.
The feature that brought this story into millions of homes on Spanish-language TV.
