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  • and then, she remembered

    posted August 28, 2009 2:35 am

    There are many things about myself that I tend to forget.

    I was born with a condition called CDH, short for Congenital Dislocation of Hip. Along with that, I was also born with a mild Giles Smith syndrome, or in laymen’s language, club foot. I was a breech baby and was almost a miscarriaged infant a t a few instances. I have gone through 16 surgeries, both major and minor, of which have successfully put me on my two useless-at-birth feet for almost 18 years (I took my first step as a 4+ year old child. I actually learned the piano before I learned how to walk properly.)

    I am not able to wear pants standing up, nor socks for that matter. I cannot walk well without tailormade shoes. Because of my limp, I tend to spill things when I carry bowls of soup, or cups & glasses of beverages. I rely on the strength of my arms when I climb stairs, I literally pull myself up from stair to stair. I do not do well when I try to get in the backseat of two door cars; I have hurt myself on a few occasions. I have never enjoyed the luxury or excitement of sleeping on the top bunk of a double decker bed simply because I am not able to climb upright vertical ladders without hurting myself.

    I cannot cycle, and have never rode on 2 wheeled bicycles before. Because of the difference of length & strength of my legs, I cannot swim in a straight line. I cannot squat more than 2 minutes straight, and when I stand, I tend to lean my weight more to the left because my right leg is weaker (and ironically, all the birth defects that came in the package were on my left leg.).

    I tend to forget that physically, I am not like everyone else.

    But I also tend to forget that I am, and can be different mentally and spiritually, too. I am relatively thankful that for 23 years, I have spent a large chunk of my time living life under the positive sunlight. If quantifiable, the amount of time I spent loathing myself would sum up to less than 3% of my 23 years of existence – of which, I barely do for the reason of my walking imparity.I am generally grateful to have the many other things I do; at least, if I can’t walk like everyone else, I was supplemented with many other gifts and abilities that makes up for the lack I face.

    I am not (physically) perfect. But I’m happy, and I have proven (and will continue to) that no defects, incomplete body parts, not even Giles Smith – can get in the way of me and what I want to do in life.

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    8 Responses to “and then, she remembered”

    1. by kaun

      29th August 2009 4:14 pm

      this is awesome. =D Authentic inspiration indeed =D

    2. by khailee

      30th August 2009 5:22 pm

      hey movie geek. rmb that sean stephenson dude who blew my brains? (and joel’s as well) .. similar inspiration ;)

    3. by joanneliyeng

      18th September 2009 12:28 am

      kaun: thanks.. you so kind lah. :)

      khailee: thanks khailee. though it would be fun to blow your (and Joel’s) brains too… literally. ;p

    4. by muhammad-hafiz

      14th November 2009 10:11 am

      Awesome inspirational story by you and good for me to read and understand yourself. Nice =D

    5. by Andrea Kong

      30th January 2010 3:39 pm

      Hello :) Your story encourages me! Thank you!

    6. by manndee

      8th October 2010 5:16 pm

      Hey Joanne! I gotta agree with khailee like Sean Stephenson. I gotta say something about your way of blogging especially about your family makes me feel fuzzy inside =D reminds me a lot of my siblings.

    7. by Joanne

      25th October 2010 1:15 am

      thanks Hafiz, Andrea & Mandee :) (lol sorry a bit the late) glad to know at least I have readers *blushes* ;p

    8. by Val Vonderahe

      17th March 2011 5:28 am

      excellent account you annex