MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS THE PARENTS THAT ARE STILL 'RAISING'
THEIR ADULT SPINA BIFIDA 'KIDS'. MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER IS 31. SHE IS
L3,4,5,6 WITH EVERY POSSIBLE COMPLICATION THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THAT
LEVEL PLUS A FEW EXTRA TO MAKE LIFE MORE EXCITING.WHEN SHE WAS
BORN "WAY BACK IN THE MID-70's" THE DOCTORS AND NURSES DID NOT HAVE A
GOOD OUTLOOK. AS I PREPARED TO BRING HER HOME ON HER BROTHER'S SECOND
BIRTHDAY WE WERE ADVISED TO PUT HER IN AN INSTUTION BECAUSE 'THESE
KIDS WILL BE VEGETABLES'.WE STOPPED COUNTING SURGERIES AT 100 AND
THAT WAS OVER 10 YEARS AGO. MANY, MANY MORE HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THAT
TIME AND UNEXPLAINED PROBLEMS FOR WHICH HER DOCTORS CAN FIND NO
ANSWERS. EACH HOSPITALIZATION AND ILLNESS TAKES IT'S TOLL AND WE SEE
HER BODY WEARING OUT. WE HAVE JUST RETURNED HOME FROM 5 DAYS IN THE
HOSPITAL FOLLOWING ANOTHER BOUT OF SEPSIS. PARENTS, DON'T EXPECT THE
SPECIALISTS TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND DON'T EXPECT THE SCHOOLS TO
HAVE ANY OF THEM. WE FOUND A SOLUTION TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE
CLASSROOM. EACH SUMMER WAS SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY THEN
BODY CASTS SO WE FINALLY GOT SMART[ALONG ABOUT JR.HI],SHE WENT TO
SCHOOL 1 SEMESTER THEN THE SURGERIES TOOK PLACE THE OTHER SEMESTER
AND SHE WOULD BE HOMEBOUND WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MANDATED TO
PROVIDE HER WITH A PRIVATE TUTOR AT HOME. SHE LEARNED MORE IN THOSE
FEW HOURS A WEEK THAN SHE WOULD IN SCHOOL. YOU HAVE THE ONE ON ONE
WITHOUT THE DISTRACTION OF OTHER UNRULY KIDS.NO WORRIES ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION,ACCIDENTS AT SCHOOL, OR BEING EXHAUSTED FROM A LONG
DAY AWAY FROM HOME. ANGEL WAS THE FIRST STUDENT TO GRADUATE FROM HER
SCHOOL USING A WHEELCHAIR.[IF THE EDUCATORS SAW A WHEELCHAIR COME
THROUGH THEIR DOOR THEN THE PERSON MUST BE RETARDED].WOW, WE HAVE
COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.WE MAKE PLANS AN GOD LAUGHS