What it was like to grow up in the 80s as a disabled child
When I was born I was diagnosed with Spina Bifida. After surviving the 3 weeks that my parents were told I wouldn't, my parents began to realise they had a fighter for a daughter. I have also been informed that at this time my parents were asked whether they wanted to put me up for adoption. My parents expressed how horrified they were by this question and never had to question whether keeping me was the right thing to do. This brought them strength to carry on and do their best by me. Due to my ill health, the hole in my back was not closed up immediately, as a result, this led to Hydrocephalus also developing.
The first 5 years of my life were challenging for the whole family not just for me. I have an older brother who also had to learn to grow up quite quickly and who also had his own health problems. My parents recall a time when I was in one hospital and my brother was in another. This led to the family being split in two for a period of time.
My shunt being fitted was only the beginning, with this came problems that were going to affect my life in a massive way especially with regards to my childhood. In the first 5 years of my life, I was in and out of hospital regularly due to problems with my shunt. On more than one occasion I was given life-saving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. I owe my life to the doctors and nurses who regularly looked after me through these years.
Many of my memories of this time are through what I have been told by family and as I get older I am now able to appreciate the seriousness of my health problems as a child. More than once, my parents thought that they were going to lose me and I required life-saving treatment, not least on Christmas Eve of my 5th year. Within this year I was in and out of hospital many times and although it is awful to have to go to the hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital always tried to make it easier for the patients and their families. In the summer of this year, I was in the hospital again and the patients got the opportunity to be involved in the filming of the Sooty Show Christmas Special. Unfortunately, I got the opportunity to watch the show on TV while in the hospital again over the Christmas Period. Christmas wasn't all bad at Great Ormond Street Hospital though. I have had the privilege to meet several famous people through being in the hospital, so I am at least thankful for that.
The time in the hospital was not the only problem experienced throughout this time, each time I came out of the hospital I 'became a different child' as my mum described it. This meant that I regularly had to re-learn skills that children of my age took for granted, like feeding myself. This slowed my development down but I was determined and always came back stronger.
My hospital visits became less frequent after a while and I was allowed to grow and begin to experience life as a child. The beginning of my school life was at a Special Needs School. I've got some great memories of this. This school was instrumental in developing my independence and character. I will speak about this more in other posts so please keep reading. Although the rest of my life has continued to provide me with the challenges of growing up with a disability as I became older I began to experience more positive moments which I will look forward to sharing with you.
My shunt being fitted was only the beginning, with this came problems that were going to affect my life in a massive way especially with regards to my childhood. In the first 5 years of my life, I was in and out of hospital regularly due to problems with my shunt. On more than one occasion I was given life-saving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. I owe my life to the doctors and nurses who regularly looked after me through these years.
Many of my memories of this time are through what I have been told by family and as I get older I am now able to appreciate the seriousness of my health problems as a child. More than once, my parents thought that they were going to lose me and I required life-saving treatment, not least on Christmas Eve of my 5th year. Within this year I was in and out of hospital many times and although it is awful to have to go to the hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital always tried to make it easier for the patients and their families. In the summer of this year, I was in the hospital again and the patients got the opportunity to be involved in the filming of the Sooty Show Christmas Special. Unfortunately, I got the opportunity to watch the show on TV while in the hospital again over the Christmas Period. Christmas wasn't all bad at Great Ormond Street Hospital though. I have had the privilege to meet several famous people through being in the hospital, so I am at least thankful for that.
The time in the hospital was not the only problem experienced throughout this time, each time I came out of the hospital I 'became a different child' as my mum described it. This meant that I regularly had to re-learn skills that children of my age took for granted, like feeding myself. This slowed my development down but I was determined and always came back stronger.
My hospital visits became less frequent after a while and I was allowed to grow and begin to experience life as a child. The beginning of my school life was at a Special Needs School. I've got some great memories of this. This school was instrumental in developing my independence and character. I will speak about this more in other posts so please keep reading. Although the rest of my life has continued to provide me with the challenges of growing up with a disability as I became older I began to experience more positive moments which I will look forward to sharing with you.
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