James River High graduate from Liberia dreams big

Edward Sando-Miller grew up in Liberia during a civil war that deformed his face, killed his father and oldest brother, and shattered his hopes for the future.

Today, the dreams for the 20-year-old - who graduated this month from James River High School in Chesterfield County - range from getting bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry to running for president of Liberia. He's planning to attend John Tyler Community College and then transfer to the University of Richmond.

"Looking back, nobody could have imagined how my life was going to turn up," Sando-Miller said. "First, you've been expecting something for so long and when it comes, suddenly it takes a while to sink in. 'Did I really do this? Is it really over?' I'm excited, and I can't wait for the next step."

Comfort Anderson-Miller met Sando-Miller, who was missing his nose and upper lip, in 1994 during a mission trip to her homeland to distribute food, clothing, toys and books to destitute Liberians. After helping him come to the United States for reconstructive surgery, she and her husband, Elijah Miller, adopted Sando-Miller in 1997.

Sando-Miller caught a viral infection at age 2 while his parents hid from rebels. His nose and lip had to be amputated.

"Edward is a miracle," Anderson-Miller said.

She said that she and her son would not feel so blessed and be as successful today without the help of people at churches she visits and Dr. Jonathan S. Jacobs of Norfolk, who has been reconstructing Sando-Miller's face. Dr. W. Baxter Perkinson Jr., a local dentist, provided Edward with a set of prosthetic teeth.

Sando-Miller is due for another facial surgery this week. He has had about a dozen surgeries over the years, his mother said.

She has been blessed with Sando-Miller, Anderson-Miller said. He has changed her life.

"We've become one," she said. "It's like God brought us together."

With an optimistic attitude, Sando-Miller adjusted well to his new home in southern Chesterfield. He is grateful to his parents, doctors, teachers and classmates at James River High's Center for Leadership and International Relations, he said. He said he feels an obligation - which he admits overwhelms him sometimes - to achieve and go back to Liberia to help those less fortunate once he completes his education.

"Who knows, maybe run for president . . . if that's what God wants," he said.

During his graduation reception, Anderson-Miller played a video in which Sando-Miller's biological mother, who lives in Liberia, recalled people running away from her son's disfigured face.

"Now she knows that people are not going to run away from him," Anderson-Miller said. "They're going to run to him."

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .