Jamie Nakamura was born 3 1/2 months early, weighing only 1 1/2 pounds 16 years ago, and that was just the start of her horrific physical problems.

“;I've had over 20 surgeries over the years, from head to toe,”; said Jamie, who turned 16 on Oct. 24, one of two daughters of Kelli and Alan Nakamura of Waialae-Iki. Her sister, Noelle, is 10.

Jamie's surgeries included two major brain operations within two weeks at age 10 for a minor stroke due to Moyamoya disease, a disorder in which arteries at the base of the brain become blocked.

She was born with an imperforated anus, double vagina, kidney reflux and blindness in her right eye, “;among other things,”; her mother said. “;She continues to go through challenges as a teen, but never complains.”;

Jamie's positive outlook through innumerable medical problems was recognized recently with an award as a 2009 Comeback Kids Recipient, West Region.

The program is sponsored by ConvaTec, a medical technology company, to honor achievements of children and teenagers “;living inspirational lives with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or an ostomy.”;

Nakamura accompanied Jamie to Spokane, Wash., in October for a ceremony in which Jamie received a certificate and a $200 savings bond. U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka acknowledged her “;comeback”; in a letter.

Comeback Kids, in a letter describing her medical issues, wrote: “;For 15 years, Jamie Nakamura and her parents have felt like they've been on a roller coaster, with more downs than ups. Jamie, however, has maintained a bright outlook, strong sense of self and appreciation of life and looks forward to being a role model to others facing medical challenges.”;

Jamie said: “;I'm very honored. This is actually my first award.”;

“;She always felt 'why me, why me,'”; said her mother, but that changed when Jamie began going to a special buddies program run by nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and was invited to a national Youth Rally, a summer camp for kids with bowel and/or bladder dysfunction. The last one was in Boulder, Colo.

“;When I went up there, I felt happy because a lot of people have a lot more surgeries than me,”; Jamie said. “;I feel very happy that I don't have a lot of problems they have.”;

She doesn't have a colostomy anymore, but she still has bowel problems and has had many surgeries for her blind right eye, Nakamura said. “;Now it's mainly cosmetic, trying to fix it before she graduates.”; Jamie is in the 10th grade at Hawaii Baptist Academy.

She participates in an outreach program to help low-income families, especially children, and has decided she wants to be an ocularist when she's grown to help other kids like herself.

She received a temporary ostomy and an artificial eye shortly after birth, but that didn't hold her back. Jamie was a very active child, learning karate, softball, tennis and basketball. She had to stop sports because of her brain disorder, her mother said.

Now she enjoys hip-hop dancing and playing the ukulele. And she has been giving speeches to various groups.

She has this message for those with a bladder/bowel disorder, colostomy, ostomy or some other disorder: “;You should just accept it because it's always there. Trust that your family and friends will always be there to help you through the dark times.”;

Commenting on her daughter's “;positive demeanor,”; Nakamura said: “;She never gives us trouble. We're just very lucky, just blessed that she turned out that way.”;