Mary Settle was born with cerebral palsy, which affects her speech and body movement. It was so traumatic, she went into a coma as a newborn, and her mother was told she would never wake up and to let her go. When she did wake up, her mother was again told to let her go on the basis that she would remain a vegetable all her life. She has since graduated high school, moved into her own apartment attends college, and got married. She lives with her husband and two step-daughters.