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From: IO00053@MAINE.BITNET (mari robinson)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Need Help dealing with new disability
Message-ID: <18456@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 30 Mar 91 05:20:39 GMT
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Reply-To: IO00053@MAINE.BITNET (mari robinson)
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Index Number: 14586

Hi all,
I am a 20 year old woman, a university student, and am
newly disabled. Well, it ain't really new, but I just
found out that there is nothing that can be done for
what's wrong with me. The bones in my legs are congenitally
malformed (which didn't present a problem during growth
years but did once the long bones in the legs reached full
size), resulting in a very sharp angle (38 degrees in the
left, 44 degrees in the right leg) between the thigh and
shin bones. This causes severe kneecap dislocation and very
nasty pain. I can't walk very fast or far (I can barely manage
0.1 mile and it takes me 15 minutes to do it) and I can barely
climb stairs. The doctors I have gone to say the only thing that
can be done is to break both legs and reshape them?!?! but there
is less than a 30% chance of success.
Well, needless to say, I've never been disabled before, and I'm
having a kind of rough time dealing with it. I'm really depressed
and I don't know what to do with myself now that I'm a "crip" :-)
(I know that's bad wording but sarcasm is my only defense lately).
Counseling has been recommended but I can't afford private counseling
and the counselors at the university are worse than bad. I was
wondering if anyone here on misc.handicap could help me out with
advice on how to handle my new life situation. I do count myself
fortunate that it's not a life-threatening thing, but it's still
really hard for me to deal with the fact that I can't walk like I
used to.
Please send e-mail to io00053@maine.maine.edu if you can help me.
Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

                                                    Mari