My name is Marcus Guenther, i am a 21 year old male who has bilateral PFFD and lives in Ohio. I never knew that anybody else in this world had the same thing i did until on of my friends mom's saw the article in the People's Magazine and they told me about it. I enjoy the outdoors, especially cutting grass. I work about 50 hours a week and i am about ready to graduate college. I drive a car with hand controls. I also have a twin brother who is 6 foot 3 inches and does not have PFFD. I have always been treated the same as any other person in my community. I played soccer, baseball, and even have the chin-up record in my high school of 59 chin ups. In my free time i like to cut grass, split wood, ride fourwheelers, go fourwheeling, fish, clay pigeon shooting, and just hang out with my friends. Everynow and then it gets a little hard when i go outside my community and have people, mainly little kids say stuff like, "look mom, he's little" or "he's short." But that hasn't stopped me from doing anything, i was very active in Young Life and Boy Scouts in which i traveled many places. I have gone to many different states, from California to South Carolina to New York to Florida. My dad owns a Milk Hauling business and i also help work on the semi trucks and run parts when they need me. If anybody has any questions please feel free to contact me via this website or my e-mail minime2347@aol.com. I wouldn't mind meeting some people just to see how their lives have been for them and how they are coping with life.
Comments
Hi. My name is Kathy. I have
Hi. My name is Kathy. I have a dughter that is three and has unilateral PFFD affecting her right leg. When we first found out we were shocked. We wondered how she would be ablr to do certain things but when I read stoires such as yours, I knew she is going to be okay. I also live in Ohio. What part are you from? I live in southern Ohio in a little town called Chesapeake. It is just across the river from Huntington, WV.
I am from a small town
I am from a small town called Ross. It is about thirty minutes above cincinnati. If you know anything about the area it is around fairfield and hamilton. It may be rough on her at times but just tell her to keep her head up and she will be just fine and let her know that the little kids that say stuff to her aren't necessarily making fun of her, they are more curious than anything. I've had a lot of little kids ask me why i was short and after i had explained it to them they thought it was neat.
I am somewhat familiar with
I am somewhat familiar with the area, mostly because of Kings Island and the zoo but I have heard of Ross and hamiliton. She has a very strong head on her shoulders. Kids like to know what happened to her leg and she loves to show it off. She is not shy about it one bit. But as she gets older that could change. She will be going to public school in two years and I may be a head of myself but she has two older sister in elementary school and we have been to both of their classrooms this past year. I am trying to prepare the children and the school system for her. My goal is to have them familiar with her and her condition by the time she starts and hope that the kids will not pick on her. But she is sostrong willed she may just hit them for making fun of her. Kids think it is neat because she has Dora on her leg.
Good idea
That's exactly what my mom did for me. First day of 5th grade at a new school I went in & brought in an old leg. I passed it around, let everyone touch it and look at it and explained everything.
Thats awsome!
Thats awsome! educate the kids and answer their questions just get it all out on the first day. That way the leg is not the issue anymore they will focus on YOU. Thanks for that. I will definately do that for my son.
Everyone is different.
Everyone is different. Whether you are short, tall, have blonde hair, or brown. Everyone is different, for his or her own reason. If we all looked the same how could people tell us apart? Children need to embrace their differences and accept the differences in others. That's what makes life interesting. It's okay to be curious and it's okay to ask questions, that how we all learn. I am 34 years old and I have been through it all!! If you would like to talk or ask any questions please feel free ask.
sincerley
sara
Same idea
I'm 31 years old with bilateral PFFD. I'm just starting my ninth year teaching, fourth year teaching high school. Every year, on the first day of school, I give a little talk about my disability. We do the normal school business, and then I launch into, "Now, I don't look like most of your teachers, and I bet some of you are wondering why" speech. I explain bpffd, how it affects my hips, I talk about my various surgeries and show my students pictures of me in a full body cast at age 2, walking with a teeny tiny walker and leg braces with a bar in the middle at age 3, with my Ilizarov device in at 11 (this one grosses them out!). I also give them the opportunity to ask any respectful questions. There's always at least one student who'll ask something.
I really think that people tend to make fun of what scares them and what they don't understand. It's a lot harder for a kid to make fun of you when s/he knows what you've been through.
I've had many parents tell me that their children talked about my disability to them; they seem to appreciate my openness.
About kids picking on her
About kids picking on her just tell her that everyone gets picked on in life I haven't met anyone who hasen't been picked on. I know I did. I know my children will. It will be for a different reason for each of them. I hope that when I have to deal with that i can explain it in a way that my son knows if it wasn't the pffd it would be his hair or whatever else the kids can find. I know how you feel some times i worry too. But i think we will find that we'll have a harder time with it than them. Looks like youve raised a strong willed and spunky little girl. I bet she will suprise you and inspire you and show you so much! shell be great in school. Dont worry.
cass
Hi. Im Cassidy. I live in
Hi. Im Cassidy. I live in central Georgia. I have a son who has unilateral PFFD of his right leg. I totally agree with you. I think this site is God sent. Did you go to the site with Sarah Reinertsen? If not check it out.
Hi Marcus!
My name is Megan Miner and i have bilateral PFFD too. I'm 19, I live in Maryland, and I'm getting ready to be a sophmore in college. I went to a community college my first year, but now I'm off to Shepherd University in West Virginia. You seem like you are a very active person who doesn't let anything stand in your way. Best way to go! I can definitely relate to the little kid thing...I get that all the time! Just like you, I had no idea that there were so many people out there like me until my mom's best friend called about the People Magazine article. I also have a twin sister who is 5 foot 2 inches.
I don't let things get in my way either. I've been very active in theater and singing since I was really little, and I was colorguard captain in high school for 2 years. I wanted to ask you about your college experience. I am very nervous about going away to college and I was wondering if you had any advice for me. You can email me at Vocalcordchick@verizon.net
hope to hear from you soon! :)
Megan
College
Hey. I'm 31 with BPFFD and amputation on one side. I know everyone's college experience is different, but I find that by that age, people are a little smarter and nicer than they were before. I went to a liberal arts college in Florida and I gravitated towards really open minded people anyway. I found that being confident drove the bad people away and pulled the good people in.
College was one of the best experiences I've ever had... talk about liberation. Living on my own the first time was soooooooo exciting. And I'm still very close to my friends from that time. Enjoy it. It only comes around once... unless you get your PhD. Then you can stay there forever.