Marigold is 2 months and 2 weeks old. So about this time 2 months ago I received the news about her PKU. It's amazing how much I've learned the last two months, both about being a parent and about PKU. I've learned that it is not as scary as I thought. I've learned that she WILL have a normal life, and be able to do everything she wants, some things just may take extra effort. Most of all I learned just how much I can love someone, and that I would do anything for Marigold.
I've talked to dozens of parents of children with PKU in the past two months, and I've spoken with a few adults with PKU. We all would surely agree that our children (or ourselves) are capable of achieving whatever they may want in life, if they follow their diet. Sure, I still get a little sad sometimes when I think of how Marigold may feel different or get teased when she is older, BUT WHO DOESN'T AS A CHILD!? I got teased for being too skinny, for having crooked teeth, for being a vegetarian, for my initials... for tons of things! Marigold is going to get teased, there is no doubt about it. I just need to do my best to make sure that whether she is teased about her PKU or when someone calls her "Goldielocks" because of her name that she does not become too insecure about it.
I realize that I am blessed to have a beautiful, smart, healthy (YES! HEALTHY!) baby girl. Really, what if it had been CF, or a tumor, or what if she had any sort of fatal condition? That would be devastating! PKU isn't though. It makes her unique, it is what helps to make her her. Her beautiful, perfect little self.
It took me two months to get here, but I am no longer devastated by PKU. It's just part of life now.
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