Parent's Stories

Our Parent's Stories

This page is for posting the stories of our parents - good or not so good - of what they went through on our behalf. From when they learned we had CF, to how they dealt with our issues with surgeries, races, casting, school, friends, shoes, self-esteem - when they encouraged or discouraged us. No one story will be the same as another, just as we are all quite different, except where we are similar. Simply use the Comments box to tell your parent's story. To make it more interesting, consider interviewing your folks so the story is as much from their point of view as possible. Please use first names only, to help maintain privacy as much as possible.



3 comments:

  1. My Mom recently gave my brother and me our baby books. After reading through it and looking at pictures, I realized that my club feet were not even mentioned...anywhere!

    The next time I spoke to my mom I asked her why there was no mention of my feet. She was silent for a minute or so then said, Dana...I never made a big deal out of your feet. I never wanted you to feel like you couldn't do something. When other people tried to pity my (my grandmother, for instance) my mom said that she told her not to do that.

    My mom is my hero. After she delivered me (in 1964) and was recovering in her room, they brought me in. I was swathed in a baby blanket and she unwrapped me. When she saw my feet, she began screaming. She has told me that they "looked like little balls of flesh at the end of my legs!" She then was sedated. Apparently, the ortho was just on his way into her room to explain to her what my condition was when she began screaming. Hours later, when she awoke he was beside her...holding her hand and telling her everything would be ok.

    My mom is my hero. She did all the excersizes they told her to do. Every diaper change apparently she was told to manipulate my feet to help increase mobility. She remembers me crying all the time as she did this, but she was determined to do whatever she could so I would have a normal life. And to be honest, I did. I played every sport (until my doctor would find out and make me stop!)she never made me feel like I was different than anyone else and she, to this day, admires me for MY courage. I try to tell that it was HER courage that got me here...strong woman, my mom. Raised me to be a strong woman too.

    Thanks for reading,
    Dana

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  2. Amazing Dana!! I was told and very aware of my clubbed feet, but I was never allowed to let it hold me back!! I just like you was very active as a child, participated in all PE at school, and played all the sports I wanted to!! I remember going backpacking for the weekend with a club in middle school and it was amazing!! I kept up with everyone and then some. Congratulations to you!! Lorri

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  3. Amazing!!! I was very aware of my club feet as a child and my parents never let it hold me back as well. I was extremely active as a child and even into my teens. I played sports, did PE, marched in a marching band and showed dogs. Like you, there was nothing mentioned in my baby book about my club feet, no photos exist of what my feet originally looked like and only a few photos of me in casts. My parents let me keep some casts, a surgical pin and pair of corrective shoes though. I was fascinated about the process I went through but couldn't remember it.

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