[linda]

Hello there all, I have read some of the posts here and notice many of you are looking for advice. My daughter is now 24 years old she was injured at birth due to the use of forceps, she sustained a C5 incomplete center core injury. She does have full sensation in all her extremities with no respiratory,bladder or bowel issues. She does require assistance with most of her daily tasks including..bathing and toileting she also requires the use of a joy stick controlled power wheel chair.

I just want to say to all you mums dads and carers...be loving, caring, patient, persistent and above all... strong! Do not treat your child as they are disabled because if you do they will be disabled. Your child is not disabled they are challenged, physically, and if given the support they will make great strides in life. Because of this attitude, my daughter has always made great strides never allowing her physical body to interfere with her goals, she learned to challenge,adapt and over come. Today she is a bright smart, articulate, independent young lady with aspiration beyond any able body person I know. In closing...You are and always be your child's best advocate, learn all you can so that your child will get the best of all his/her need.

[Tetracyclone]

Linda,
I would enjoy hearing more about your daughter.

[linda]

Tetracyclone, What would you like to hear?

[Tetracyclone]

Oh, at least 30 minutes typing of some of her interesting triumphs and more ingenious accommodations.
And a photo!

This post has been edited by Tetracyclone: 03 September 2010 - 12:11 PM

[mcwriter]

This is so great Tetra.

Not long ago I was in the checkout line at a store and a young gal (in her scooter) and I were chatting & laughing about bags--plastic, paper, reusable-- and her mother was with her looking very unhappy. The happy young gal went to write out her check and was having difficulty getting her checkbook open and using her pen. The mother offered to do it for her and the gal kind of snapped at her mom and said, "I can do it." The entire time the mom seemed disgusted and I felt sorry for the girl, so happy to be out shopping and writing her own check only to have her mother put a damper on things.

More power to you and those who revel in triumphs and possibilities!

[linda]

mcwriter,
What you wrote about the mother and daughter... I find myself doing the same thing! I will constantly ask my daughter...do you want me to get that? Do you need help with that? Do you want me to do that? and so on, and so on...Its not that I think shes incapable, its just a habit that formed over years of doing for her so when I see her struggling or having difficulties doing something I will automatically ask her if she needs help, She doesn't get angry, she understands its just me being her mum wanting to help, she's told me several times "If I need the help I will ask" followed with a grin...lol!

[linda]

Tetracyclone,
Thank you for your interest! Her name is Felicia and she's absolutely beautiful..I'm not just saying that because I'm her mum either..lol! She likes traveling.. London being her favorite place! her plans are to move there in the next two years. Felicia loves Russell Brand having met him several times...we have pictures of her and him together at some of his shows/parties, she also loves Stephen Fry...one evening she attended a Russell Brand show/after party..she came home so excited telling me that Stephen Fry was at the party, she went on to tell me how wonderful he was... she said the room lit up as soon as he walked in. My daughter doesn't let anything get in the way of her achieving a set goal..the world is her play ground and shes playing! Just about every one she wanted to meet she has? she met Russell Brand,Craig Ferguson..all the NKOTB guys... that's just to name a few...her favorite is by far Russell Brand... she would travel the world to see him! Shes so vibrant and happy all the time not letting the little thing bring her down.

[mcwriter]

linda, on 05 September 2010 - 07:25 PM, said:

mcwriter,
What you wrote about the mother and daughter... I find myself doing the same thing! I will constantly ask my daughter...do you want me to get that? Do you need help with that? Do you want me to do that? and so on, and so on...Its not that I think shes incapable, its just a habit that formed over years of doing for her so when I see her struggling or having difficulties doing something I will automatically ask her if she needs help, She doesn't get angry, she understands its just me being her mum wanting to help, she's told me several times "If I need the help I will ask" followed with a grin...lol!

Linda---It sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your daughter! That is so great.

I wondered at the time about the mother and daughter I met. The mother just seemed to have a negative disposition and maybe it was just hard for her to see her daughter grown up and becoming more independent out in the world. It's not just parents who have to deal with letting go, it is friends, carer's, etc., you face not being needed so much.

Life is full of transitions and for the carer or parent or friend, it is a transition from finding our joy in helping to finding our joy in just watching and sharing the new things opening up to the ones we love. When we are less needed, we have a sense of loss while the one we care about is experiencing gain. Good thing we are adaptable, huh?

[linda]

mcwriter, on 06 September 2010 - 01:58 PM, said:

linda, on 05 September 2010 - 07:25 PM, said:

mcwriter,
What you wrote about the mother and daughter... I find myself doing the same thing! I will constantly ask my daughter...do you want me to get that? Do you need help with that? Do you want me to do that? and so on, and so on...Its not that I think shes incapable, its just a habit that formed over years of doing for her so when I see her struggling or having difficulties doing something I will automatically ask her if she needs help, She doesn't get angry, she understands its just me being her mum wanting to help, she's told me several times "If I need the help I will ask" followed with a grin...lol!

Linda---It sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your daughter! That is so great.

I wondered at the time about the mother and daughter I met. The mother just seemed to have a negative disposition and maybe it was just hard for her to see her daughter grown up and becoming more independent out in the world. It's not just parents who have to deal with letting go, it is friends, carer's, etc., you face not being needed so much.

Life is full of transitions and for the carer or parent or friend, it is a transition from finding our joy in helping to finding our joy in just watching and sharing the new things opening up to the ones we love. When we are less needed, we have a sense of loss while the one we care about is experiencing gain. Good thing we are adaptable, huh?

mcwriter,

I do have a wonderful close relationship with my daughter! I have waited almost 25 years for my daughter to grow and become the Independent young lady she is today. Despite her independence she does knows I will be there for her if needed... all she has to do is ask! I am excited for her to go out on her own, it has been nearly 25 tiring years of caring for her 20 of witch I had no assistance. I do love my daughter dearly and feel I have raised her with an ambition to conker the world... Will I worry? sure I will! its par for the course every parent worry when their child steps in to the world with out them...however, I can honestly say I will be relieved! I wont pretend all the years of caring for her were pleasant? there were many stressful times and I have grown physically and emotionally tired. My daughter is ready to open a new door to life, she herself has made the decision to move on her own so I will not hold her back....nor do I wish to! I will instead support her decision and walk through the door way with her. She will be entering a new life as I will myself, so yes it is a good thing we are able to adapt.