AttitudeLive - Maia's Song

Burdened by self-doubt and shyness Maia Amai had hidden herself away and lived life in the shadows. Now, with the devoted support of her best friend and caregiver, Letitia, Maia is growing in self confidence, and her latest achievement is representing New Zealand in wheelchair rugby with the Wheel Blacks. At the 2013 Attitude Awards, Latitia performed a song inspired by Maia. This is Maia's song.

I was in a car fire when I was 18 months (old)

I was in Waikato Hospital from about
18 months until I was about 5.

When I was in hospital for the burns,

something happened and I got a spinal infection

made me paralyzed.

Just angry...

...depressed

I felt like I didn't want to be here.

Letitia, she's my caregiver.

[Letitia] I just started to work for
a new company and they said

"we've got this Maori girl you need
to meet, she's really, really shy,

we think you would be amazing
for her, and I was like "oh cool".

And so it is with great pleasure we get
now to welcome to the stage Latitia,

to perform the song she has
written as a tribute to Maia.

Listen carefully, Latitia Hayter
ladies and gentlemen.

♪ I've overcome so much doubt in my life.. ♪

♪ I always put my, my own strength ♪

♪ I never thought that I could achieve even
this, now I'm embracing this moment ♪

♪ that I can, I...I've gained from
this moment, who I am ♪

♪ Look at me now! I'm on my way, no
turning back from here, no chance, no way ♪

♪ Look at the stars, shining on me,
for the first time I truly believe ♪

♪ I'm holding on with all the strength
I have, knowing that triumph will come ♪

♪ my way, I must admit, some days
I'm up, some days I'm so far down ♪

♪ Learning each day as they come,
finding brave from all that I've done ♪

♪ Look at me now! I... I'm on my way, no
turning back from here, no chance, no way ♪

♪ Look at the stars, shining on me
for the first time I truly believe ♪

♪ People look and stare and judge me,
all they see is scars, they don't know me ♪

♪ Nothing ever seemed very fair, with our
great determination, life is changing ♪

♪ everything I do, it still amazes
me that I'm almost there, well..♪

♪ Look at me now! I... I'm on my way, no
turning back from here, no chance, no way♪

♪ Look at the stars, shining on me
for the first time I truly believe ♪

♪ I've overcome so much doubt in my life,
embracing this moment that I can ♪

Love you Maia.

[cheering and applause]