Me
I’ve only ever broken one bone, my nose. Can that be counted as a broken bone even, isn’t it just cartilage? When I was about six years old I was leaning over my Nan’s fence at the top of her steep front garden. I think I’d spotted a bug or something just below and was taking a closer look. Next thing I knew, I was lying face down half way down the garden with my nose crushed firmly against a large stone, possibly even a brick.
Everyone said I’d fallen, just leaned to far and went over the fence. My memory may be foggy from so long ago, but I knew I was pushed, and I knew who pushed me. But I’ve never told, and I’m not likely to now. Who cares anymore.
I broke my nose and had two lovely black eyes!
Star!
Star is not my daughter’s real name. I gave it to her because that’s what she is. For 18 months starting from just before her 7th birthday, she had to undergo countless scans, hospital appointments and operations. She did it all with a smile (well mostly) and that’s why she’s my Star.
She has a condition called Elhers Danlos Syndrome but back then she hadn’t been diagnosed and we didn’t know what was wrong. EDS is a connective tissue disorder and it caused Star to have a craniocervical instability. This meant that her neck became unstable and she was unable to keep it upright. It also caused one of the bones in her cervical spine to chip and break.
My little girl had to have many scans and visited the operating theatre five times in total. She had to wear a halo brace twice. This is a contraption which holds the neck straight in alignment while it heals, it is a metal crown which is screwed into the skull and attached to a plastic body. She wore it for three months each time. She surely is a star just for enduring that. People actually thought we were able to take this off at night! Bathing her was fun as we were unable to get the vest wet so I used to wrap her up in black bags.
It seems like such a long time ago now, although she still bares the scars.
This is my post for today’s Blogtober prompt, Xrays and Broken Bones.
Oh Wow Star, you are an absolute inspiration for being so brave and strong. I hope you are now recovered as best as possible x
She’s currently doing great and we know she has her ‘head screwed on’ quite literally 😉 x
I have never broken a bone, so will say yes you can count a broken nose as a break :). Your Daughter is a star, it was thought my Daugher had EDS at one stage, so understand it completely x
on reading your post yesterday about your daughter I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind x
I hadn’t realised why she had the halo, nor that she had it twice. Bless her, she really is a star x
I now consider her lucky, because most people with EDS who get cranial instability have it happen at a much later stage (late teens/early 20s) and Drs in this country refuse to operate x
Star really is a star after everything she has been through. I remember starting to follow your blog when Star had her halo.
Hi Anne, a broken nose sounds painful, it’s making my eyes water just thinking about it!… I can see why you nicknamed your little star, Star. It’s amazing what children can go through without bearly a grumble. That neck contraption does not look comfortable in the least!
xx
Wow, what a trouper she is. Aren’t kid amazing in their resilience sometimes? #ABloggingGoodTime
she was truly amazing throughout the whole thing and barely remembers it now, despite the scars.
She is incredible. you must be so proud of your daughter X #ablogginggoodtime
I am, thank you x
Sounds like you’ve both been through a lot. #MMBC
perfect name for your little girl, what a brave girl, so much to face at such a young age. Kids seem to find a strength that as adults we struggle to find, they make us grow so much, they teach us so much! She and you are inspirational, thank you for sharing this blog post with #ABloggingGoddTime