I'm still blogging on the subject of Cerebral Palsy and seeing my Neurologist went well, but I feel frustrated and let down now by those who were involved in my life as a child and who should have been protecting me.
A diagnosis would have been good, anything that allowed me to know what I was dealing with. A diagnosis would have gone some way to explain some of my difficulties. Having started the ball rolling last year when it was thought I had Cerebral Palsy, I had the diagnosis confirmed by a Neurologist, but had no clear understanding of my symptoms, so I have had to go back.
I am both cross and disappointed that where differences could have been made, particularly in my early 30’s and even though my family knew I was looking for answers, they still chose not to help. It was only when I was first diagnosed by a Podiatrist, then went back and told them that it was Cerebral Palsy I had been diagnosed with, I was told that they knew.
In the 60's there was also a stigma attached to disability. Having had children myself, I know how it's supposed to go and regardless of the stigma involved, your children are your children, they deserve to have the support, no matter how bad we feel as a parent.
If you recall Ilana a lot of societies' ills were swept under the rugs back then. It seems anything they couldn't cope with they simply hid away and tried to put it out of their mind.
I recall my Mother telling me as a young child in the sixties, to stuff emotions that were too hard to cope with deep into my stomach and swallow them down and cover them up with a smile. I don't blame her, it's just the way society coped or rather didn't cope with emotions back then.
If you recall people with mental illness were stashed away in long term institutions to rid them of society. Priests molested children with little or no repercussions and young girls and women were misled about their health.
It's sad to look back at the way society was and it's terrifying to think of where we are going as a race, but we do have today and we are feeling and doing as well as we can. God bless us all.
Your words resonate with me. In a different way I feel I was part of those statistics, left to 'rot' in my own misery, dealing with my own set of problems.
My problems were never addressed so I became self-sufficient through needs, more than anything. Now that I'm getting older, I have to face up to problems in association with those issues and more.
Thanks Brian for your support. Your words always help me.
I don't think my parents brushed my problems aside they just over protected me. Everybody knew I had diabetes so I was treated differently than everyone else.
I understand your frustration and I'm sorry you didn't get the support you needed. I heard "you can't do that" a million times, but now it's different. I say yes I can do that! I wish I could give you support in person. Maybe one day I can.
You're so good at what you do and you've helped me sooo much! I want to do the same for you. I'm here for you always.
I know Lisa. You are here for me. Your support through my site help so much. I hope that one day this will all become a reality and that we will meet up. I believe it.
Never say never.