Annexation of The Hawaiian Islands

Truth or Fiction?

To those of us who are fairly new to Hawaii, we have to more or less learn for ourselves about the so-called injustices that were done to the “Native Hawaiian” people. We get a sense that something happened when we hear of recent assaults by locals on militarypersonnel or tourists. But the stories are veiled since they are not particularly a draw for the tourists that keep the state economy from folding.

Upon further investigation, I found many biased pieces of revisionist history providing selected historical facts, together with dubious interpretations, half-truths, and falsehoods, carefully choreographed and narrated to support different theories. My suspicion is that whatever has been written regarding the annexation of Hawaii is false or badly twisted. Also I have found that some persons who have degrees and so-called expertise apparently get away with intentional historical malpractice.http://elayne001.hubpages.com/hub/Annexation-of-The-Hawaiian-Islands

Best Places to Visit in Mexico

With over 5,000 miles of beaches, warm weather and a rich history, it is no wonder that Mexico is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Personally, I have not been there yet, but many in my family have. I researched this hub to find out where I would like to visit in Mexico. I found that there are actually three different spots in Mexico that most people travel to. I will discuss them below.

Besides the historical sites, there are over 150 museums. I love museums! Mexico is the birthplace of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. As an art student, I studied both of these artists and I found their work very interesting. I wouldn't mind traveling to Mexico just to see some of this artwork in person.

You might think you have tasted authentic Mexican food, but your taste buds will thank you for showing them the difference, or so I've heard. Tamales, burritos, tacos, and so much more. I do love Taco Bell, but would love to taste real Mexican food.

Architecture in Mexico is one of the major tourist attractions and includes haciendas, cathedrals and other amazing structures. Also the huge Mexican Mayan pyramids would definitely be on my list of things to see. Major settlements were built by the Mayan civilization in this area. I'm sure one of the highlights of visiting Mexico would be touring one of these historical sites.

The Yucatan peninsula is the most popular of the tourist destinations, and encompasses the Riviera Maya, otherwise known as the Caribbean Riviera. It is well known for the Mayan Ruins, white-sand beaches and beach towns. This includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. My son and his wife traveled to Cancun for a week last year and thoroughly enjoyed their experience.

Second in popularity is the Mexican Riviera. It includes 2,000 miles of beaches between Acapulco and Ensenada. Many cruise liners travel to this region regularly ending up at the Puerto Vallarta area, Cabo San Lucas, and Ixtapa. It is about time we take a cruise instead of flying. So this area could be a definite possibility.

The third most popular area tourists visit in Mexico includes Copper Canyon, Morelia and Mexico City which runs down the center of the country.This land boasts abundant marine and wildlife. There are occasional Mexican craft markets where you can pick up some treasures to take home. I have heard you can find some great bargains at some of the markets. I am sure I would love to go to a market for shopping.

I would love to hear from you if you have traveled to Mexico and what you enjoyed the most.
 

Traditional Chinese Medicine, A Holistic View

Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach. Whereas in the West diseases are specific to a certain part of the body, Chinese believe that all the systems of the body are interconnected. If there is a problem with one part of the body, it can affect other areas in the anatomy. Also, changes in the environment can have an affect on the body rhythms and cause illness.

My first experience with Chinese Medicine was when I first moved to Hawaii 18 years ago. I went to a Chinese friend's home for dinner. I had just moved here from a third world country and had experienced a few health problems. He brought out an instrument that he told me would give him a diagnosis of anything wrong in my body. He is a school teacher, so I was a bit skeptical about it, but thought it might be fun anyway.

He explained that the human ear is just like a reverse fetus. According to the theory of Chinese Traditional medicine, each human organ has a corresponding point on the ear. If a certain organ has any disease or changes, it will emit a bio-electrical current from the corresponding point in the ear. By listening to the instrument carefully, a person can detect if there is a problem in any area of the body.

So my Chinese friend moved a little stylus over every part of one of my ears listening intently for any changes in his Hua-han electronic acupuncture device. It tickled a bit, but did not hurt at all. To my amazement and wonder, when he was finished, he asked me if I had liver problems. I told him that I had hepatitis B while I was living in the South Pacific islands and had been very sick with it. I have since been told I have PBC Pulmonary Biliary Cirrhosis. Then he asked if I had trouble with my knee joint. I injured my left knee severely as a young lady and have had trouble with it ever since for which I have been told I need a knee replacement.

He further explained that diseases are caused by a block of meridian channels in our body. The block causes pain. If there is no block, then there is no pain. The instrument he used picked up the bio-electric currents and he could hear that those two areas, my liver and knee, were indeed blocked. I was beside myself because I had not mentioned anything about my hepatitis or knee problems before I got there. It seemed magical to me.

I have since read quite a bit about Chinese Medicine. They believe that the body's vital energy (chi or qi) circulates through channels called meridians. If there is an imbalance or interruption of this vital energy, illness or disease results.

Chinese claim that over 200 kinds of disorders have been treated with ear acupuncture with an 85 percent effectiveness rate. Sometimes they add electrical stimulation to acupuncture needles to treat disease. Chinese commonly practice self massage of the ears on a daily basis to prevent disease which certainly couldn't hurt and may actually work.

I have not had acupuncture, but believe it may work according to my experience with my Chinese friend. Acupuncture is used to restore balance of the chi in the body. Of all that I have learned about Chinese medicine, the theory behind auricular acupuncture is the most interesting to me. Too bad it has gotten a bad rap from the Western world. The Chinese have treated disease by using points on the ear for centuries.

Travel Toy Ideas

Introduction


You need to prepare before traveling with a young child.

Traveling with kids in tow can be a very challenging experience if you are not prepared. There are several ways you can keep your child happy and entertained during a long drive in the car or on a plane. Certain toys and activities can alleviate many of the frustrations you might experience while traveling with small children.

Electronic Toys


Children can be entertained for hours with electronic devices.

Many electronic devices, such as an iPod or iPpod touch, an iPad, an mp3 player, a portable DVD player and others, can entertain even the youngest child. They feature movies, music and interactive activities created with children in mind. The only drawback is that you may want to use the same device while traveling, and these items can be expensive. Less expensive electronic toys made for young children are an option. However, because they often feature lights and sounds, they must be silenced on an airplane.

No-Mess Activities

Children love to color and doodle.

Being cramped in a small space for several hours with a child is easier with toys and activities that do not create a mess. Etch A Sketch and Magna Doodle are two classics that have withstood the test of time. They provide hours of creative activity for young children who have good dexterity, and recent changes and improvements have made the originals suitable to a wider age range. Simple coloring books and crayons, which are light enough to be carried in a child's backpack, are sufficient for some children.

Sticker Books

Children can be entertained for hours with reusable sticker books.

Children love stickers, and they are available in a variety of shapes and sizes designed to entertain and educate. Children enjoy stickers even more if they can remove them and reuse them. Sticker play sets come with different scenes in a variety of themes. These toys fold up like a book and have a handle for easy carrying.

Happy Children

Finger puppets are a great way to entertain children while traveling.

Delicious Baby recommends toys suitable for traveling with children, from infants to school age. They suggest that the best travel toys are quiet, not easily lost, lightweight and compact. The site also explains that toys need not be expensive, and suggests that children can be entertained with everyday items such as blue painter's tape, play silks for peek a boo, finger puppets and pipe cleaners.

All About Comfort

Children feel helpful with their own lightweight suitcase in tow.

Ciao Bambino suggests bringing along a cute head pillow that your child can also play with. Children need comfort in unfamiliar places, and special blankets, pillows and stuffed animals can help. Also, children enjoy feeling helpful; when they are old enough, provide them with a lightweight wheeled suitcase that they can pull themselves.


References

Quirky Momma: Travel Toy Ideas [http://quirkymomma.com/tag/travel-toy-ideas/]
Adopting Sweet Pea: Travel Toy Ideas [http://adoptingsweetpea.blogspot.com/2010/06/travel-toy-ideas-especially-for-toddler.html]
Delicious Baby: Travel Toys [http://www.deliciousbaby.com/products/travel-toys/]
Ciao Bambino: Travel Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages [http://www.ciaobambino.com/ciaobambinoblog/index.php/2010/12/travel-gift-ideas-for-kids-of-all-ages/]
Picpocket Books [http://www.picpocketbooks.com/]
Galison: Sticker Set Play Scenes [http://www.galison.com/Sticker-Set-Play-Scenes-C301.aspx]
Resources (Further Reading)

Mom's Mini Van: Car Travel Games for Toddlers [http://www.momsminivan.com/toddlers.html]
Best Child Toys: Toddler Travel Toys [http://www.best-child-toys.com/toddler-travel-toys.html]

Shed Clutter and Simplify Your Life

It is amazing how fast your home gets cluttered with unessential items, cast offs , and has beens. Here are some tips for keeping your home clutter free. The process is called “shedding” and it involves four steps for methodically letting go of objects and activities that bog us down so we can move forward with ease. It is an empowering feeling when you can de-clutter periodically.

Epilepsy in the 21st Century

Many myths and beliefs abound concerning epilepsy, and for anyone that has witnessed a full-fledge grand mal epileptic seizure, as I have, this is understandable. “Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder and is one of the world’s most prevalent noncommunicable diseases”, yet few conditions carry the same stigma as this disorder. Victims either try to conceal it or struggle with embarrassment and rejection throughout their lives. Furthermore, 70 percent of people with epilepsy receive no treatment. Developing countries are home to the significant majority of people with epilepsy and, paradoxically, are the ones least prepared to provide care". Awareness of the conflicts between medical and spiritual realities of epileptics in developing countries will contribute to better health care and alleviate suffering. Revealing some of the misconceptions about epilepsy, the associated stigma that goes along with it, current remedies in third world countries, and presenting ways it can be better dealt with is the purpose of this paper.

Misconceptions

More than 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, yet erroneous beliefs about epilepsy are numerous. Murthy reported that in developing countries, patients with epilepsy encounter several significant barriers to adequate treatment and are more often managed according to local ethnic, racial, religious, economic, educational, and cultural diversities. Fadiman in her book “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”, points out that a Hmong (Laos) who has epilepsy is considered to be an anointed one, has an elevated social status, and usually becomes a shaman (spiritual healer) later in life because the condition gives them intuitive sympathy for the suffering of others and lends them emotional credibility as healers. However, this positive attitude regarding epilepsy is the not the norm throughout the world. Jallon indicated, “The patient’s experience of epilepsy is closely related to his or her culture. In Africa, epilepsy is usually considered a dangerous and shameful disease because it is believed to be transmitted by saliva, urine, and expired air”.

In Uganda it is believed that epilepsy is caused by a lizard spinning around in circles in the head disturbing the brain and causing dizziness, usually followed by a seizure . Another belief in Malawi is that an insect that is moving inside the stomach causes epilepsy. In an area of Kenya that is inhabited by nomadic people a 14 year old girl was buried alive by her own parents because they believed that she was possessed and was harboring evil spirits. The abuse is not limited to the physical, as people with epilepsy are often shunned and verbally abused as well, told that they will get nowhere in life – that they are outcasts and failures. Some regions of the world consider epilepsy to be a metaphysical phenomenon and believe the only way to cure it is through sorcery. This is definitely a distressing situation for a person who has no idea how they came to have the disorder.

Throughout the years, epileptics have been regarded as different from the rest of humanity. Thanks to modern medicine, however, this belief is slowly changing. In reality, epilepsy in developing countries is found to be caused by poor living conditions where victims are exposed to a host of parasitic and infectious disease largely absent in industrialized countries. Malaria may indirectly lead to epilepsy as may malnutrition and under-resourced health care at the pre-, peri-, and postnatal levels. Neurocystercosis is another cause of epilepsy that is an infection of the central nervous system with cysticerci of the pork tapeworm. Studies from Latin America have shown that infection of the brain by the larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium is an important cause of epileptic seizures in endemic communities. Trauma, a tumor or cyst, poisoning and infection can also cause it.Epilepsy is a disorder, not a disease. In about 70% of cases, it can be treated with medication, which can cost as little as US$5 a year per person. Studies from developing countries suggest that significant number of patients with epilepsy receive traditional therapy even when access to medical services is readily available. It is definitely a positive step to take in understanding the truth when it comes to epilepsy rather than listening to myths and cultural beliefs.

Stigma

Shame is widespread amongst epileptics as well as other negative emotions. Some aspects of the stigma that go along with epilepsy are “Fear of a seizure, injury, death, and embarrassment; of loss of employment, educational opportunities, or a driving license; or of limited marital prospects and social horizons. Sahni mentioned that with respect to family and friends, overprotection and restriction of activities interfere with their daily lives, as they are often seen as socially and intellectually less capab le than the remainder of the population. Many perceive negative public attitudes as a greater burden than seizures”. Jallon suggested that many health professionals often are ignorant about epilepsies (their causes, diagnoses, treatments and psychosocial aspects, and that it may rank with leprosy and mental illness in regards to the stigma. In China, epilepsy has been reported to threaten the aspirations of the entire family as well as the opportunities of the individual with epilepsy. Some parents even object to their children playing with a person with epilepsy. It is understandable then that many people try to hide their epilepsy.

Ignorance is hazardous and can cause a loss of self-esteem in a person with epilepsy. India (until recently) and other countries have laws that discriminate against people with epilepsy–for example, with regard to marriage, employment, and insurance. Engagements are often canceled. The parents of epileptic girls have to give heavy dowry at the time of marriage, even if the boy is handicapped. As a result, many girls do not disclose their problem before marriage. They take the medicine secretly. One of the most important aspects of a normal life and aspirations of young men and women is to have a family and children, Yet in India, persons with epilepsy were denied this fundamental right by prejudiced legislation enacted as late as 1976. Unbelievable but true, 18 states in America provided eugenic sterilization of people with epilepsy until 1956. Until the 1970s, it was also legal to deny people with seizures access to restaurants, theatres, recreational centers and other public buildings. It is understandable then that developing countries are still under a cloud of prejudice for the epileptic and their need for proper education regarding the disorder.

Remedies

Current remedies in third world countries are numerous. In Fadiman’s book, it was believed that the epilepsy of a baby girl was caused by the loud noise of a slamming door that frightened her soul out of her body. The parents felt the only way to get her soul back was to beckon the shaman who would sacrifice animals, ride on an imaginary horse over mountains and call her soul back. When they were faced with the seemingly cold American medical personnel who took vials of blood from their baby and prescribed medicines that seemed to make the child sicker rather than better, they felt more comfortable sticking with the traditions they had become accustomed to.

There is a plethora of horror stories about the treatment of people with epilepsy in underdeveloped countries. In certain parts of Nigeria an epileptic is forced to drink a mixture made of cow urine, thrusting their limbs into a fire, or rubbing pepper into their eyes and face. They also undergo dietary restrictions since they believe that the excess foam in the stomach rises to the head ultimately resulting in seizures. In Cameroon they believe that epilepsy is contagious, as do many inhabitants of other African countries. Treatment generally entails visiting a healer and undergoing dietary restrictions to help prevent the production of foam in the stomach since they believe that excess foam in the stomach rises to the head ultimately resulting in seizures. In India and China they practice Ayurvedic medicine, which focuses on opening the heart and mind, relieving the stresses and negative energies that are causing the seizures. This is done with enemas and purgatives, as well as ingesting purified butters (ghees) and oils. Chinese folk medicine for epilepsy, known as Dan Fang, suggests drinking a young girl’s urine and eating fresh human brain or goat’s heart. In Nepal, bystanders who witness a seizure will often spray water on the forehead of the person experiencing the seizure or make him or her smell a leather shoe. In the Netherlands in 1996, a person was whipped and put into isolation because her seizures were thought to result from magic. So much needless suffering has resulted from ignorance in regards to the true nature of epilepsy.

While four-fifths of the potential market for anti-epileptic drugs is in the developing worlds, up to 90% of people with epilepsy in developing countries receive no treatment at all. There may be various reasons for this, but poverty may be viewed as the root cause of the treatment gap. Lack of education regarding epilepsy also appears to be an epidemic. Everyday conditions for most of the worlds poor are radically different from the experience of the western hospital outpatient. The primary concern of families is often subsistence, and this shapes their attitudes to health and their contact with health services. Poor female literacy, often associated with underdevelopment, is an important influence whereas cultural and religious beliefs may also impinge on health related attitudes and practices.

Sahni indicated that herbal therapy is the most popular form of traditional medicine in Africa which includes mixtures of plants having an anti-seizure, antipyretic, or antibacterial effect. Spiritual healers are also common since epilepsy is thought to be related to a visitation by the devil, to witchcraft or to spirits. Scott pointed out that people might not seek treatment with antiepileptic drugs if epilepsy is not seen as a condition that can be treated by western medicine. There is a need to know that traditional healing is not the best or only way to remedy all disorders.

Dealing with it

There are many roadblocks that need to be cleared in educating the developing countries of the world regarding epilepsy. Palmini expounded “whenever doctors do not take the time to explain to epilepsy patients and their families the characteristics of the disease and the concepts and bases of treatment, there is a great risk that treatment failure will ensue”. The patient must be treated with respect and given every chance possible to live a normal life. “People with epilepsy need more than drug treatment because their local cultural context adds a social and economic burden to the physical burden of their seizures. The education of health workers, patients, and the wider community is therefore essential.” Appropriate interventions must consider the medical, developmental, and psychosocial needs of people with epilepsy, as well as being financially, geographically and culturally accessible. It seems like an insurmountable problem, but with continued effort it can be improved.

Hospitals in Wisconsin and Minnesota allow shamans (spiritual healers) to come in and perform healing rituals at the patient’s bedside. This puts them more at ease and willing to accept other forms of treatment from foreign doctors if they are shown respect for their own beliefs. A survey done at a Medical School in Nigeria showed that 40% of medical students were not sure that epilepsy was not contagious. It is clear that the dedication of doctors working in the public health system in developing countries mirrors the level of respect that society has for its members, whatever the social stratum. Thus, it is imperative that social changes do occur in these countries to enhance greater mutual respect. There appear to be few studies in developing countries aimed at professionals dealing with epileptics and conducting collaborative studies could enable epilepsy awareness groups to evaluate and compare the success of their medical education programs by appraising cross-cultural differences.

I have a niece who has epilepsy and has been able to marry and have five children. She takes medication daily and tries to do all that her doctors advise, but she still has seizures on occasion, which is a worry for her and her family. A third of people with epilepsy have physical or cognitive difficulties. Whether or not seizures can be controlled, people with epilepsy need to resume as normal a life as possible. This requires a holistic assessment and formulation of an action plan with the community. People need to be educated how to treat someone who has a seizure to alleviate the possibility of injury to anyone.

As with any chronic disorder, if it is proven to be so, medication and visits to the doctor need to continue. The treatment and rehabilitation of people with epilepsy is a long-term matter, and so it is essential that services, once started, continue in a predictable way. It also impacts societies as a whole, since our safety can depend on whether an epileptic when driving is taking his/her appropriate medication.

One of the main ideas in Fadiman’s book was the lack of ability to translate an idea from the American doctors to the Lee family. Even when they had an interpreter, some things just were not understandable according to their life experiences. That is why it is very important to try to understand a culture, including their spiritual and medical beliefs before trying to force new remedies on them.

Although many steps have been taken to try and reduce the stigma attached to epilepsy, more must still be done. A project in China is underway. Some of the key aspects of the programme are focused on knowledge, attitudes, and practices. It is intended to bring about a change in traditional and cultural attitudes so that stigma of epilepsy is reduced and more people are prepared to receive treatment.

Many misconceptions abound in the minds of people throughout the world regarding epilepsy even though it has been proven to be a treatable neurological condition. The challenges are great, but efforts on many levels are being put in place to alleviate unnecessary suffering for epileptics and their families. Education as well as awareness of different cultural beliefs and better communication between patients and the medical personnel can bring epilepsy into the 21^stcentury.

Sources Cited

Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997.

Jallon, P. “Epilepsy in Developing Countries.” International League Against Epilepsy Workshop Report, Epilepsia 38 (1997): 1142-1151.

Murthy, J.M.K. “Some Problems and Pitfalls in Developing Countries” Epilepsia44:s1 (2003): 38-42.

Nag D. “Gender and epilepsy: A Clinician’s experience”. Neurol India 48 (2000): 99-104.

Pal, Deb, Arturo Carpio, Josemir W A S Sander. “Neurocysticerosis and epilepsy in developing countries.” Neurological Aspects of Tropical Disease. (2000): 137-143. JNNP. March 16, 2006.

Palmini, André. “Medical and Surgical Strategies for Epilepsy Care in Developing Countries,” Epilepsia, 41 (2000) S10-217.

Press, Anna. “Ignorance is not Bliss: Epilepsy in Third World Countries,” Epilepsy Ontario (2000) March 16, 2006. http://epilepsyontario.org/client/eo/eoweb.nsf/

Reynolds, Edward. “Sudden death in the shadows of epilepsy.” BMJ (March 7, 2006): 349-350 http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/385/349

Sahni, Puja. “Epilepsy in Africa and the African American Community.” Epilepsy Ontario. March 18, 2006

---“The Importance of Cultural Competency and Epilepsy,” Epilepsy Ontario: Multicultural Outreach Projecthttp://epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/Multicultural+Outreach+Project.

Scott, Robert A. Samden D. Lhatoo, Josemir W.A.S. Sander. “The treatment of epilepsy in developing countries: where do we go from here?” Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2001): 79.4.

Symonds, Patricia. Calling in the Soul. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 2004.

“Epilepsy: social consequences and economic aspects.” World Health Organization February 2001.

Trances and Guided Imagery

• Trances and Guided Imagery

Changing Climates in Retirement

Bees buzzed around basil blossoms and passion fruit tendrils. Our little raised bed garden boasted chives, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and green peppers amidst rosemary and thyme. Then we retired and moved to the desert in the valley of the Rocky Mountains. I grieved for all our little plants we had left behind.It was late October and autumn leaves were scattered all around the sidewalks as trees shed their glory.

A week later, the earth and all the plants were white with fluffy snow. We had been living in Polynesia for most of our married life. My husband raised bananas and root crops popular with the islanders in a plot nearby. How would we be able to adjust to a climate with four seasons? We had been spoiled with year round moderate weather, and had concerned ourselves with bolting plants on the hottest days or fighting off occasional insects and blight.

I had cherished every afternoon weeding and nourishing our small backyard garden and then harvested lettuce, green onions, kale, cucumbers, Swiss chard and beetroot for our dinner. It was a very satisfactory way to get exercise and eat healthy. Moving to the desert meant short days and purchasing most of our food.

I was delighted to find that my daughter-in-law had sensed my grief in leaving behind our gardens. She had gotten us a beautiful orchid, aloe vera in a pot, and a small potted banana plant with a new shoot protruding from the soil.

I now find pleasure in keeping my new plants watered and watching them grow inch by inch. We have started a compost pile with the autumn leaves, rabbit manure as well as vegetable and fruit peelings. We look forward to the early spring when we can begin our new garden and educate ourselves about raising crops that are suited to our new climate.

The USA has been divided into zones according to hardiness by the USDA.

You can go here:http://www.garden.org/zipzone/index.php?img=nwusa

and check your location.

According to our zip code, our new hardiness zone is 6 B. It also gives suggestions of what you can do month to month, which is very helpful. It gives a regional report from the National Gardening Association.

We joined a gardening association and get a helpful magazine each month.

I Am Not Spina Bifida, I Am Lily

I am Loved

My grandma said she loved me before I was born. That is truly conceivable, since she was there together with my parents and siblings for my first sonogram. My family was giddy with excitement to discover if they would be adding a new sister or brother to their tribe. The sonogram Monitors were well placed so all could see me wiggle around inside my mother’s womb. The technician shared in the exuberance of the little crowd, and started the magic machine which could reveal images of me. Oohs and aahs were uttered as my tiny hand, foot or other little body part was recognized. Mommy, Daddy, my sisters, brother and Grandma saw images of my cute face, and discovered that I would most probably be a little girl. At first there was so much joy and anticipation, until a sudden hush fell over the room.

What about me?

The tech had noted classic characteristics of Spina Bifida, a birth defect in my spine and brain. All of a sudden, a doctor entered and suggested that grandma take the children to another room, while my Daddy stayed with mother. What had been a very happy occasion turned into tears and worries in an instant. My poor mother lie there emotionally injured. While grandmother tried to entertain my brother and sisters, a well-meaning physician shared the blatant facts with my parents. My spirit was housed in a broken and bent physical body. He encouraged them to abort me (calling me a fetus), since the likelihood of my being severely handicapped was imminent. What? What about me? My spirit was strong! I would be good and try to not cause too much trouble.

My "condition"

My parents thought about it only for a brief moment, and declared that they could not abort an innocent baby. Just the thought of it (to them) was bizarre and inhumane. They mustered up the courage and determination to raise a less than perfect baby. Years of operations, medical bills, daily cathetering, wheelchairs, were only part of what they faced. They were given a glimmer of hope that there was a possibility the defect could be fixed in utero, but it was highly unlikely. It was later confirmed that the defect was at L7, so the operation was impossible. My families hopes and dreams for me were sorely challenged, but they never wavered in their faith that my spirit would be strong.

I am Lily

I am Lily! I was born December 15, 2008 with all my fingers and toes, and an adorable little face with bright blue eyes. My spinal cord had not developed properly, and was partially outside of my back, encased in a little sac. I was adored and loved as much, and even more (out of compassion) than most babies. My family supported me through many years of medical procedures and daily, even hourly extraordinary care. Now I am five years old. I have my own pink wheelchair, and can go faster than most people can walk. I have great upper body strength developed from many years of pulling myself around by my arms and hands. I love to sing and dance. Yes, I dance in my wheelchair. My parents took me to dance lessons to learn how to be graceful and meet other children like me.

I can do it!

http://elayne001.hubpages.com/hub/I-Am-Not-Spina-Bifida-I-Am-Lily
I spent much of my earthly life on the floor, on my skateboard, on the couch or in my hot pink chair. There is also a gizmo called the kangaroo which helps me jump around. I attend preschool and I am very witty. My parents got me a great playground that I can climb by myself and go down the slide. I have worn braces on my legs since I was tiny, because I have club feet. My upper body is a size larger than my lower body since the lower muscles are not used. My grandma used to pinch my legs to see if I could feel anything. It is okay, because it doesn’t hurt. My grandma thinks I am a bit bossy, because I always tell her what to do, but she usually does it anyway.