Sarah Outerbridge is 19 years old and home for the summer from her school in Cape Cod.

She loves to play golf and during term time, she goes to baseball games and likes to join her friends for a session of cheerleading or an evening of bowling.

At home, she works on her father's computer and helps her mother with mailing lists for the Masterworks Foundation. She loves mathematics.

She has what is referred to as `a photographic memory' and has earned quite a reputation as the family genealogist.

Most of all, she loves to draw and a couple of years ago, her work drew praise from The Mid Ocean News art critic, Mr. Andrew Trimingham when it was included in a show at the Dockyard Arts Centre.

Sarah, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Stuart Outerbridge, who was born with a hole in the heart and cleft palette, suffered severe heart failure when she was six months old. When she was two, and still unable to sit up, her parents were told that she would probably never sit up and, in any case, would be ineducable. When she was three, she was found to be deaf, all the nerves in her ears damaged. After some agonising, the Outerbridges decided against teaching her sign language, believing that any hopes for a normal life lay in making her as much a part of the community as possible. She now wears a hearing-aid.

"It was a nightmare,'' says mother, Mrs. Elise Outerbridge, "because no-one really knew what was wrong with her. It was only about three years ago that we found out that her condition has a name. When all her disabilities are grouped together, it's very rare, and is known as Charge Syndrome.'' Now, thanks to Sarah's own strong sense of survival and the unflagging support of her family and the community, she provides shining proof that children like Sarah can and do live happy and useful lives.

Mrs. Outerbridge is the first to acknowledge the contribution made by Friendship Vale School in helping her daughter.

"I am very sad to see Friendship Vale close. Everyone there was so marvellous with her. I feel very strongly indeed that there are certain children who benefit from the specialised teaching that they were able to offer. It gave Sarah such increased self-confidence.'' But when Sarah finished at Friendship Vale, Mr. and Mrs. Outerbridge were faced with the dilemma that confront all parents of handicapped children. What next? "Sarah's problems were primarily physical. There was only slight, residual brain damage from her heart failure. We felt certain that she should go on with the learning process and we found a wonderful place, Riverview School, which is basically a high school with a `grow' programme which is post-high school. But it was very, very expensive.'' It was then that the Outerbridges' friends stepped in to help.

They formed the Fund for Sarah, with friends and family all pledging various amounts of money to cover her school fees.

Her parents are still overwhelmed by that generosity.

"It was a complete shock,'' says Mrs. Outerbridge. "As far as I know, and apart from the great work being done by Project 100, there are no scholarships for children like Sarah. I don't know what we would have done without the kindness of these people.'' A spokeswoman for the group (which prefers to remain anonymous) says, "We did this because we adore Sarah. She is also very bright and worth educating. I am convinced there is nothing at all wrong with her mind. She not only remembers your name, she remembers your middle name and your mother's name! Friendship Vale was absolutely wonderful for her, but there came a point when she had to leave. So when I found out that Elise and Stuart had found this school, I knew we had to act fast. I didn't say a word, but just went round getting pledges from family and friends. Some were big, and some were little.'' The rewards for those who took part in the scheme have, they say, been watching Sarah develop.

Although her speech, to unattuned ears, is not always easy to comprehend, it is worth the effort to do so. Her conversation is animated and humorous, and she is full of curiosity. (She was particularly intrigued with the shorthand notes for this story).

She seems to have a phenomenal memory, especially for dates ("Hurricane Emily was on September 27, 1987. I believe it was a Friday.'') and family trees. She is fascinated with the names on churchyard gravestones: "I like going to Holy Trinity. Grandpa and his friends are there. When I'm at school, my favourite is drawing. I used to have a boy friend, but not any more.'' She laughs out loud and adds, "He said he had a new girl friend. But he's still a grand person.'' One of the great advantages of her time at Cape Cod, says Mrs. Outerbridge, is that the "dormitory setting'' allowed her to make close and lasting friendships: "It's the first time she's had real friends and been able to do the things that normal teenagers do, like going to the movies and playing sports. She's actually quite vain, which is why she has braces on her teeth.

Now she wants a nose job! She does get frustrated because she can't always express herself, so people sometimes don't realise that she has a wonderful mind.'' Mrs. Outerbridge admits that it is easy to "baby'' someone like Sarah; "But for their own sake, you can't. Right now, she is having to learn to keep her voice low and not to keep interrupting. But she's made wonderful progress in the last two years.'' Sarah will soon be finishing at Riverview and the spokeswoman says she would like to see others take up the drive to help Bermuda's handicapped go away to school.

"We did this on a personal level but we hope our actions will encourage others to come forward to extend the fund for other children. Project 100 also helped with the fees and I believe, are getting more involved in this direction.'' Mrs. Outerbridge acknowledges that she has been extremely lucky in the help she has had.

"We could never give adequate thanks. But it's a very sad situation in Bermuda. So many children just go through the cracks. I personally know of so many young people here who, basically, just sit at home all day and do nothing and their lives are worth nothing. I believe that Bermuda has to do better than this, to help these children.'' And, she says, she is certain that if given the chance, Sarah will give something back to all those who have helped her.

"I also think she can give something back to Bermuda.'' Sarah beats all the odds! (With a little help from her friends) Sarah Outerbridge is 19 years old and home for the summer from her school in Cape Cod.

She loves to play golf and during term time, she goes to baseball games and likes to join her friends for a session of cheerleading or an evening of bowling.

At home, she works on her father's computer and helps her mother with mailing lists for the Masterworks Foundation. She loves mathematics.

She has what is referred to as `a photographic memory' and has earned quite a reputation as the family genealogist.

Most of all, she loves to draw and a couple of years ago, her work drew praise from The Mid Ocean News art critic, Mr. Andrew Trimingham when it was included in a show at the Dockyard Arts Centre.

Sarah, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Stuart Outerbridge, who was born with a hole in the heart and cleft palette, suffered severe heart failure when she was six months old. When she was two, and still unable to sit up, her parents were told that she would probably never sit up and, in any case, would be ineducable. When she was three, she was found to be deaf, all the nerves in her ears damaged. After some agonising, the Outerbridges decided against teaching her sign language, believing that any hopes for a normal life lay in making her as much a part of the community as possible. She now wears a hearing-aid.

"It was a nightmare,'' says mother, Mrs. Elise Outerbridge, "because no-one really knew what was wrong with her. It was only about three years ago that we found out that her condition has a name. When all her disabilities are grouped together, it's very rare, and is known as Charge Syndrome.'' Now, thanks to Sarah's own strong sense of survival and the unflagging support of her family and the community, she provides shining proof that children like Sarah can and do live happy and useful lives.

Mrs. Outerbridge is the first to acknowledge the contribution made by Friendship Vale School in helping her daughter.

"I am very sad to see Friendship Vale close. Everyone there was so marvellous with her. I feel very strongly indeed that there are certain children who benefit from the specialised teaching that they were able to offer. It gave Sarah such increased self-confidence.'' But when Sarah finished at Friendship Vale, Mr. and Mrs. Outerbridge were faced with the dilemma that confront all parents of handicapped children. What next? "Sarah's problems were primarily physical. There was only slight, residual brain damage from her heart failure. We felt certain that she should go on with the learning process and we found a wonderful place, Riverview School, which is basically a high school with a `grow' programme which is post-high school. But it was very, very expensive.'' It was then that the Outerbridges' friends stepped in to help.

They formed the Fund for Sarah, with friends and family all pledging various amounts of money to cover her school fees.

Her parents are still overwhelmed by that generosity.

"It was a complete shock,'' says Mrs. Outerbridge. "As far as I know, and apart from the great work being done by Project 100, there are no scholarships for children like Sarah. I don't know what we would have done without the kindness of these people.'' A spokeswoman for the group (which prefers to remain anonymous) says, "We did this because we adore Sarah. She is also very bright and worth educating. I am convinced there is nothing at all wrong with her mind. She not only remembers your name, she remembers your middle name and your mother's name! Friendship Vale was absolutely wonderful for her, but there came a point when she had to leave. So when I found out that Elise and Stuart had found this school, I knew we had to act fast. I didn't say a word, but just went round getting pledges from family and friends. Some were big, and some were little.'' OVERCOMING ADVERSITY -- Ms Sarah Outerbridge.

STEPHEN BY SARAH -- A quick caricature by Sarah Outerbridge of her next-door neighbour and long-time family friend, Mr. Stephen West.