Wellness

[violann]

The month of October is designated SPINA BIFIDA AWARENESS MONTH, and next Thursday, I will be wearing TEAL to honor people living wonderful lives after being diagnosed with this condition.

What will honor them most of all is if everyone learns something about this condition, the name of which literally translates "the spine divided in two".

Check out FB sources to see men, women, and children leading happy and successful lives after receiving this diagnosis. Research has developed some exciting treatments during the past few years.

Find out about SB. You may already know someone who has it! And next Thursday, October 27, WEAR TEAL WITH ME!

[Mmsfoxxie]

I worked with a lady for about 15 years who had a daughter with Spina Bifida.  It was a definite challenge but with the help of her older son, friends and relatives, this child, who had a severe case, grew up to function well in society even though she was in a wheel chair with no feeling in her lower extrimenties.  She went to college and is working.  I'd say she's in her thirties now.

My coworker once told me that the reason she was divorced was because her husband could not accept the child as she was and left them when the child was a baby.

[Noel7]

@violann

I'm so glad you posted this!  DH has a family member with a toddler with spina bifida, and my daughter has a close friend with a young daughter with spina bifida.

A terrible thing for families and children to deal with, we need to see there is more research and treatment.

[RedTop]

A young relative lost her first child to a neural tube defect called anencephaly.  Her doctor suspected spina bifida, but testing showed that it was so much worse.  My cousin and her husband had genetic testing before trying again, and has since added 2 healthy children to their family.   

[violann]

@RedTop- your relative has my deepest sympathy. 

The field of Spina Bifida research has exploded (in a WONDERFUL WAY) over the last 10-15 years.

Many children born with Spina Bifida lead nearly totally normal lives today, and those same children would not have had nearly such a sunny prognosis as little as 15 years ago.

Public perceptions and even the perceptions of some in the medical field have not quite caught up with what is actually happening. 

I proudly wear my teal during October.