Adaptation.
10:36 PM Posted In husband , students Edit This 17 Comments »
PFFD. It the grand scheme of things...it's probably not that big of a deal, but, in my little corner of the world, it's something we know well. PFFD stands for Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency. Or, I like to refer to this as "Stumpy McStumperson".
Let's go back a little ways. Not very long ago I ran across this boy that I thought seemed pretty cute, cool, arrogant, whatever you may call him. I really liked him and I wanted to get to know him better until my friend Weslie said, "isn't it crazy when Tyler takes off his leg to go swimming?" Well, imagine my surprise to hear the words "Tyler" and "TAKE OFF HIS LEG" used in the same sentence?!?! What could she POSSIBLY be talking about? After learning about his physical disability, I thought I would just call it quits. I didn't know him that well, we hadn't been out on a date yet, it would be easy for me to make a clean break, or, so I thought. At that point in my life, I honestly thought I was too shallow to date someone with a physical disability. I suppose I was just trying to see me for who I thought I really was, not someone I wanted to be. Nonetheless, I quieted my inner voice and decided to give Tyler a chance--and look where we are now...just a couple years later and we are happier now than we have ever been.
No one really knows what causes this birth defect; all we know is that it is environmental, meaning it is something that the mother has been exposed to during her pregnancy. I think, because he is my husband, that I sometimes take for granted the life he lives. I treat him just like I would anybody else in the world, but I sometimes forget that he is not anybody else in the world. Every time he wants to relax he has to take off his prosthesis, but if he wants to get up to get a drink, he has to put it back on. It malfunctions sometimes and currently is not working correctly which sometimes makes him a little anxious, as it should.
I guess the reason why I am talking about this is to say that my husband is a pretty amazing guy. I make fun of him A LOT, I am his toughest critic ALL THE TIME, but I love him more than anyone in this world ever could. He has done more in his 25 years than most will ever do in a lifetime. He has seen and photographed more of the world that I could ever imagine seeing. He is truly an amazing man that I am proud to be married to...most of the time, JUST KIDDING!!!
ANYWAY-- the REAL reason I am posting this is to tell you why he is so amazing...The other day, my students were reading a story about a little girl with CP (Cerebral Palsy). Our "essential question" for the week was; How do people with physical disabilities adapt to everyday life? Well, who better to talk about this than my husband?!?!? So, my husband came into my classroom full of starry-eyed young women to tell them what life is like without a leg. My girls had the BEST questions and thoughtful responses, one even asked if not having a leg ever made him want to cry...and I could answer that one, sometimes I want to cry. Sometimes he wants to cry. Sometimes, but only sometimes.
I wouldn't change one single thing about my husband. He is my love, my best friend, but most of all, my hero.
Let's go back a little ways. Not very long ago I ran across this boy that I thought seemed pretty cute, cool, arrogant, whatever you may call him. I really liked him and I wanted to get to know him better until my friend Weslie said, "isn't it crazy when Tyler takes off his leg to go swimming?" Well, imagine my surprise to hear the words "Tyler" and "TAKE OFF HIS LEG" used in the same sentence?!?! What could she POSSIBLY be talking about? After learning about his physical disability, I thought I would just call it quits. I didn't know him that well, we hadn't been out on a date yet, it would be easy for me to make a clean break, or, so I thought. At that point in my life, I honestly thought I was too shallow to date someone with a physical disability. I suppose I was just trying to see me for who I thought I really was, not someone I wanted to be. Nonetheless, I quieted my inner voice and decided to give Tyler a chance--and look where we are now...just a couple years later and we are happier now than we have ever been.
No one really knows what causes this birth defect; all we know is that it is environmental, meaning it is something that the mother has been exposed to during her pregnancy. I think, because he is my husband, that I sometimes take for granted the life he lives. I treat him just like I would anybody else in the world, but I sometimes forget that he is not anybody else in the world. Every time he wants to relax he has to take off his prosthesis, but if he wants to get up to get a drink, he has to put it back on. It malfunctions sometimes and currently is not working correctly which sometimes makes him a little anxious, as it should.
I guess the reason why I am talking about this is to say that my husband is a pretty amazing guy. I make fun of him A LOT, I am his toughest critic ALL THE TIME, but I love him more than anyone in this world ever could. He has done more in his 25 years than most will ever do in a lifetime. He has seen and photographed more of the world that I could ever imagine seeing. He is truly an amazing man that I am proud to be married to...most of the time, JUST KIDDING!!!
ANYWAY-- the REAL reason I am posting this is to tell you why he is so amazing...The other day, my students were reading a story about a little girl with CP (Cerebral Palsy). Our "essential question" for the week was; How do people with physical disabilities adapt to everyday life? Well, who better to talk about this than my husband?!?!? So, my husband came into my classroom full of starry-eyed young women to tell them what life is like without a leg. My girls had the BEST questions and thoughtful responses, one even asked if not having a leg ever made him want to cry...and I could answer that one, sometimes I want to cry. Sometimes he wants to cry. Sometimes, but only sometimes.
I wouldn't change one single thing about my husband. He is my love, my best friend, but most of all, my hero.
17 comments:
I'm so proud to know you. You are a really really wonderful person and I am so happy for you and where you are in your life. :)
This almost made me cry too. I am so glad that you took the time to get to know the boy! He never told me about the school visit. I guess he did not think it a big deal. I am proud of both of you. BEV
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