Suzanne
My name is Suzanne, the mum of Dorothy, a gorgeous, 2 year old little girl and two bigger boys.
When Dorothy was born, as a third child, I thought everything will be as before, no surprises. It wasn’t the case. Firstly, we didn’t know that it will be a girl; after two boys I was pretty sure it will be another boy again. Secondly, no-one picked up on the scans that she has only two fingers on her right hand with many bones fused or missing. At first sight I didn’t believe my eyes.
I asked the nurse what is wrong with her hand. And this point things changed. We stayed in the hospital for a week while they carried out numerous tests to roll out other illnesses. While we were in the hospital, we were much more worried about the life-long medication, they suspected she will need, rather than about her hand. At the end, everything was fine and we were discharged.
If you just had a baby with a hand difference and you are sad about it, don’t be! You will see! It’s a richer life with many friends out there who will help on the way.
Having a baby with a hand difference, changed my life completely. Until then, I thought that all the parents who have a child with disability or illness are just sad about it and it’s better not to ask. With Dorothy I have learnt that you can be just as happy with a child who is a bit different.
And not just that, the child can be happy too! To be honest, I don’t really remember Dorothy being unhappy since she was born. I have also learnt that it’s OK to ask. Of course, it takes a couple of days to get used to the thought that I have a child who is a bit different, but after that it’s OK, it doesn’t offend me.
It is mostly the children who ask. I reply that she was born like that, they accept, and everything goes on as normal. I don’t remember anyone treating her differently just because she has only two fingers on her right hand. And she is coping brilliantly too. She works out a way how she can do things what the others do.
Dorothy (her name means present from God) is a beautiful, girly girl who love music, dancing and being a princess. And that is the way it should be. She widened my horizon and gave me a life experience, I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t had her. If you just had a baby with a hand difference and you are sad about it, don’t be! You will see! It’s a richer life with many friends out there who will help on the way.