An affliction called brittle bone disease means Mariela Oman physically can't do much on her own — but mentally, she's as sharp as anyone on the block.

It took a while early on in Oman's life to convince educators she could attend regular classes, that she was as capable as her physically "normal" peers.

She finished grade school and high school. After three years, Oman, 21 — who needs help taking notes in class and help even to breathe — has earned her associate's degree from the College of Eastern Utah. She has her sights set on a psychology degree through a Utah State University extension in Price.

Mindy Bunnell, Oman's helper for 10 years, is always impressed by Oman's attitude.

"She's always happy, never has a bad word for anybody," Bunnell said. Oman has one brother with the same disease while other siblings are healthy.

Bunnell once asked Oman what she thought of having the disease. Oman replied, "I guess I'm just lucky."

Luck for Oman means relying on a wheelchair to get around. It means using special devices to type on a computer. It means needing help just getting in and out of doors.

Because of her disease, Oman has a very limited range of motion. Her organs are crowded inside a small body that prematurely stopped growing. Thankfully, actual broken bones are relatively rare — but one wrong, albeit simple, move can cause problems.

The disease may have slowed Oman down, but she hasn't let it define who she is, nor will she let it stop her from completing her education.

"If you don't think you can do it, you'll never succeed," she said in an interview. "If you think you can, you'll be able to do it."

She had a fight early in her life to show adults she could succeed in school. As an adult, people are more accepting and the fight now comes mostly from within, to finish school, get a job and maybe be on her own someday. According to Bunnell, Oman never talks of quitting.

"You always know what you can do," Oman said. "Nobody else can tell you what you are or are not capable of doing except yourself."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com