With over 360,000 views and counting, Lisa Foster’s rendition of the gospel song God Will Work It Out has become an online hit. Her mesmerising voice is the undeniable star of the show; so much so that viewers almost forget she is standing on crutches. Captured during a service at the D’Abadie Seventh-day Adventist Church on May 2, the footage has garnered more than 1,300 reactions and 1,400 comments since hitting Facebook the following day.
Despite the attention, Lisa hasn’t watched the clip—and she probably never will. It was actually her 81-year-old aunt who first alerted her that she was starring on social media. At the time of this interview, when we told her exactly how many views and comments the story had accumulated, Lisa was genuinely surprised.
“I want to remember myself ministering without the accolades or criticisms,” she tells WE, stating why she hasn’t pressed play.
This new interest is reviving a chapter of her life she thought was closed. She remembers being a mainstay at weddings, where she always performed for free. However, once she introduced a $300 fee, the calls stopped coming. Now, with Facebook users inquiring about her availability for private gigs, she is ready to perform again. “I am open for weddings, anniversaries, church events, etc.,” she says, embracing the chance to share her gift once more.
Music has always been about passion rather than for likes. It has helped her navigate a world living with a disability after being diagnosed with polio at just six weeks old. While a wheelchair or a walker were options as she got older, she chose crutches because she was determined to be independent. She credits her mother for that mindset, remembering how she was told from the time she was a little girl that she could do anything she put her mind to.
Self-sufficiency shows up in the simple things, the fact that she drives herself everywhere, for example. Getting her licence was a major milestone; she had to find the right vehicle and face the nerves of the test. She reflects on the licensing officer being “a total professional,” even though she was convinced she wouldn’t pass. Today, being on the road is one of the things she enjoys most, even when it comes with stares and raised eyebrows. “Living with a disability, it is difficult not to be stared at,” she says simply. “I got so used to that.”
Memories of her childhood home are filled with the sound of the radio, which was her best friend as an only child. She spent hours in her kitchen trying to keep up with Whitney Houston, specifically the long, effortless notes in “I Will Always Love You.”
“I admired how she sustained those vocal runs with such ease and I said I must do that,” she says. With more practice, she later entered a call-in radio singing competition and won a hamper after performing the calypso classic, Trinidad is My Land. The victory was the impetus she needed to use her voice more. Twelve and Under, she recalls, was a fun experience, especially since she made it past the first round. She also competed in the NJAC (National Joint Action Committee) singing competition with a calypso written by her mom. “The song was about working hard at making our country a much better place,” she reflects. “I even met David Rudder. I was really happy about that.” In her adult years, she would win the “Best Song” title in TSTT’s talent show in 1998, where she was employed as a telephone operator until 2018.
Melody remained her safe space even when she and her mom moved to Atlanta for seven years. It was there, in 1992, that she was baptised while pursuing computer science. She sang regularly at church and for various congregations, and the reaction was always the same—they wanted her to come back.
Faith helped her rediscover her identity, taking each hurdle in stride. Like in 2023, when a frightening battle with fibroids nearly took her life.
“There is nothing like a doctor telling you, you almost did not make it. It has changed my outlook, knowing that my purpose has not been fulfilled yet,” she says. “Knowing that God had my back with two near-death experiences at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital when they believed I was not going to make it, and when my lungs were squeezing due to scoliosis at age 11. I know God is in control of my life and as a result, I know whatever the challenge, it will get better.”
Having overcome so many personal battles, Lisa is now using her voice to speak up for others. She is a big proponent of better structure and opportunities for those living with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago. “Assistance needs to be consistent. Taking into consideration that many disabled people, after paying their rent, find their other basic needs are not met, all facets of their care should be looked at.”
Lisa prefers her life outside of the spotlight. She is a stay-at-home mom, living with her 18-year-old son. She can often be found penning her own material, which she hopes one day can be heard on the airwaves and even have a breakout moment of its own.
“I believe the words of a song are important. As a new songwriter, I pay close attention to the lyrics and expressions. Singing has always been a joy and spirit lifter for me,” she said.
