4WomenTalk Forums Community for Women - Disabilites... got any?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tink

Of my 3 children, only the oldest has really had medical problems. She was a twin, and I miscarried her sibling but managed to carry her to 35 weeks. When she was 4 days old, her medical problems started to be noticed. She weighed only 4 lbs 15 oz at that time.

She was born with a hole in her heart (Ventricular septal defect) and a ring growing around a coronary artery that was closing it off. She had major heart surgery at age 4 where they actually stopped and re-started her heart to get the needed repairs done.

She has no sinuses in her forehead; had her appendix, gall bladder and several ovarian cysts removed in her early teens. She had a tooth that grew sideways in her gum rather than down as it should have, and had chemical imbalances in her brain that caused life threatening episodes many times over about a 12 year period. I seriously doubted for a long time that she would live to be an adult or ever have a normal life.

She is now 33, married, is a private care nurse, has 2 darling kids of her own and I'm extremely proud of her. She was a fighter and won!

Wow, what an impressive life she has lived! I'm sorry you had to go through such pain Tink, especially on your first pregnancy, but I'm glad your daughter has come so far and achieved so much! She must have a pretty awesome mom! ;)

Thanks!

You know it was very hard, and I wouldn't want to go through it all again, but it has made me really appreciate what she's accomplished and become. She's the one to be proud of... I was just along for the ride.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tink

I understand Tink. My older brother Randy has cerebral palsy. He is the sweetest, most caring person you will ever meet, but he can only do about 3rd grade math and reading. His speech is difficult if not impossible to understand if you aren't used to it. He will never be able to live on his own. But despite all of this, he brings SO much joy into our lives. The doctors said over and over, he won't live past *insert number* years old. They didn't think he would make it out of the hospital when he first had his seizures at three years old (before I was born), then they didn't think he would live another year, then they said he wouldn't live past 10. Well, he's 28 and still going strong! He comes over sometimes to have banana splits and play the Wii. He really adores Brendon. I would love nothing more than to just move him in here and be able to have him around all the time, but he lives with my grandmother and she would be completely alone if he wasn't there.

Here's a picture. :)

But when I think of our kids with some of the other parents I know.... our kids needed us as much as we needed them.

He is a very nice looking youngster Angie, can tell he is a very caring person.

Very nice picture Angie. He has such a warm smile to him. You and your brother Randy are lucky to have each other.

God bless both your daughter Tink, and your brother, Angie. I'm sorry that both of them have had to struggle, but they add so much to the world.

Tink, it sounds like you had a lot of worries with your oldest daughter. It sounds like she's a very strong girl to come out ahead and I'm sure that you're very proud of her. What a struggle she must have had. I'm sure that her story would be very inspiring!!!

Angie, that's a very nice picture of your brother. I have seen you mention him before and I know that he's very precious to you and your family.

Hopefully throughout all their and our struggles...it will make us stronger, more caring people. Your daughter sounds like a gem Tink and Angie...your brothers smile could light up the world.

I'll have to post a video of him sometime for you ladies. His laughter will melt your heart...

Oh Angie, i would love to see hes video, i'm sure he lights up many people's lives.

Yes, I would like to see video of him too. He's throws such a warm feeling out of that picture you posted.