Dale Dyke, 16, of Milesburg, was diagnosed at birth with Type lll Osteogenesis Imperfecta – also known as "brittle bone disease." Osteogenesis imperfecta is a lifelong genetic disorder that causes a person's bones to break easily. Dale said she has had over 20 surgeries done at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., to replace some of her bones with metal rods. Despite her obstacles, Dale focuses on her main goals: getting her drivers license and going to medical school at Johns Hopkins University. Dale hopes to become a surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the place where she's been treated her entire life.
Dale smiles at her mom Robyn Dyke while parking the van in the Target parking lot before going to work at Wegmans in State College, Pa., on Nov. 4, 2018. Dale takes driving practices with her parents while using a hand control steering wheel knob and a seat cushion to help her. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale monitors the self-checkout machines during a night shift at Wegmans in State College, Pa., on Nov. 9, 2018. The button that controls the height of her chair broke in the first hour of her shift, leaving her stuck at the chair's tallest height. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale laughs with co-worker Raina Cutshall during her shift managing the self-checkout line at Wegmans in State College, Pa., on Nov. 9, 2018. "She's awesome," Cutshall said. "It's hard sometimes because we usually work at cashiers far away from each other." Only one out of 18 cash registers is wheelchair accessible at the Wegmans in State College. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale sits in her bedroom in Milesburg, Pa., on Nov. 27, 2018. Her bedroom walls are lined with posters of her favorite bands such as Twenty One Pilots and Fall Out Boy. Dale said the two roses hanging on the black window curtains were given by her older sister, Moreta Dyke, after learning Dale was bullied by her peers at her old high school. Dale now takes online classes at the Agora Cyber Charter School. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale practices her ukulele in her bedroom at her house in Milesburg, Pa., on Nov. 27, 2018. Dale said she used to practice her ukulele often, but stopped after she had brain surgery in spring 2017. She painted her ukulele from inspiration by her favorite band Twenty One Pilots. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale embraces her border collie named Dean in her house in Milesburg, Pa., on Nov. 27, 2018. Dale says Dean helps her with her anxiety and cuddles next to her when she's upset. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Old photos of Dale and her older sister Moreta Dyke hang in her mother's office cubicle in 104 Paterno Library, University Park, Pa., on Monday Oct. 29, 2018. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale massages her hands while she speaks with her mother in her office at 104 Paterno Library, University Park, Pa., on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale smiles at her mom while visiting her at work in 104 Paterno Library, University Park, Pa., on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Robyn Dyke checks the time on her watch to make sure her daughter Dale gets to work on time at Wegmans in State College, Pa., on Nov. 4, 2018. Robyn said Wegmans is over 20 minutes away from her home and can't afford to take several trips dropping Dale off at work, coming home and then picking her up. Her and her husband take turns sitting in the car for four to five hours in the parking lot until Dale's shift is over in order to save money. / Photo by Lauren Lee
Dale crosses the street to go to work at Wegmans in State College, Pa., on Nov. 4, 2018. / Photo by Lauren Lee