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Duane's blog
I did introduce myself in the general forum, so I will try not to repeat myself too much. Like I said, I was born in 1948 and am bilateral.
I also was born with only one arm. There is just smooth skin where my left arm would be. I also only have four toes on each foot.
I had braces on my lower body as a baby which I think was to make my feet turn forward in order to enable me to walk better. Other than those braces the first few years, I have had no other surgeries. During Jr. High, I had an artificial left arm, and during High School, I was fitted with artificial stilt like legs, which put me up to about 5'2" tall, and also another artificial left arm. I went to the Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. to get them fitted and to learn how to use them. I was a sophomore in High School when I got them.
I found them to be very uncomfortable and awkward to use, and discontinued using them when I graduated from High School. Like I mentioned before, I never really felt handicapped until I started using those prosthetics. I should also mention that I am now 3' 4" tall.
I don't ever dwell on, or bring my disability to the attention to anyone because it has never been an issue with me as I grew up, however,
on this forum, I am going to try to post pictures of me the way I really look. I think it would be interesting to see the similarities with others who are going through life with a lot of the same problems.
These are a couple of pictures of me. One as a baby and another with my sister Linda, who is one year older than me, and was born normal. ( that's what we tell her anyway. ha ha )
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Comments
great pics
i've had a look at the 7 pics on your photobucket, thanks Duane, they are great photos.
Dave Bailey
From your "normal" sister
Thanks, Duane, for telling me I was normal - (You mean my three kidneys didn't count for anything?) I'm so glad you have your awesome sense of humor as I believe that is what has made the difference in your great success in life. You are the one who first inspired me that how a person looked at life was 10% what happened to you and 90% HOW you reacted....and you always have had that fantastic joy of living life. Anyway, I always did think I was as normal as you! I believe the most important thing is that Mom and Dad never treated us differently - even made you help me with household chores like getting on a chair and doing dishes with me (I also remember fun dishsoap fights - but most of all, a lot of love and laughter growing up). Mom always took us out places and so the stares of others didn't seem to bother you. And when someone would ask why you didn't have another arm, you'd tell them, "God just didn't give me another arm." Perhaps now you could tell them about PFFD. I never saw you feeling sorry for yourself, but I did see your pains, especially when your leg would "go out of the socket". I also remember Dad working weekends in the Experimental Department at Chamberlains and coming home with wonderful devices to help make your life a little easier - like the walkers and stools and I believe he invented America's first skateboard for you as well as the first baby play saucer - remember the table with the hole in it that they stood you in so you could play with your toys? Regardless whether you have finally put a name with your birth defect or not, you are the BEST brother EVER and I'm so thankful to have the honor of being your Big Sis.....the normal one.....hee hee.
I love you, Linda
i have PFFD on my right leg,
i have PFFD on my right leg, am missing my left hand (with my arm finishing below the elbow), also have 4 toes on each foot, and also occasionally have my leg going out of its socket.
i am 37 and from australia, and married with 2 girls.
reading about others like you is so inspiring and keeps me together.
god bless
im am so inspired by your
im am so inspired by your sucessful life. I measure success by the relationships you have and the way you look at life. It looks like your pretty successful. You have a beautiful family. thanks