Sunday, March 7, 2010

Should pics of our precious childrens scars/surgeries be posted for all to see???

I just read a very interesting posting, from an adult CHD'er. It was received by others, in many different ways... this is my thoughts on it:

Should we be posting pics of our children's scars and surgeries where EVERYONE can see them? Many adult CHD'ers are saying "NO"! The thought behind that is... our children will grow up to be hurt by what we thought was innocent. We are so proud of our children, we want what is best for them... and we by no means, EVER WANT TO CAUSE THEM PAIN OR GRIEF!!! It never crossed my mind, being that I did not grow up with computers... that when our children are older, friends or enemies will be able to access these things. And potential employers will be able to also. It is so sad, that we have to worry about these things... but obviously, we do! Adult CHD'ers are having trouble getting jobs, and even worse... getting medical insurance. That is so sad for me to think of... after all, we view our children as heroes... why wouldn't the rest of the world view them, the same way? I would want to think, that NO employer... would decide NOT to hire my child... because they see them as a liability, due to their heart defect!!! But, it seems that these are issues that our kids will grow up to experience. Oh, if I could change the world!!! But I can't... all I can do, is give my child the tools to survive in this world!
I myself, grew up with a horrible self image... I never weighed 100lbs. till I was in 10th grade, but... I thought I was fat! I was popular, but I never thought so! I always had boyfriends, but I felt unwanted! So, if I felt this bad as a girl growing up... I have to take these issues about my child seriously! After all, I will never know what she feels like to have those scars in the middle of her chest! I will never know what it feels like to put a bathing suit on or a prom dress... and be ashamed of those scars. To me, they are so beautiful... She is so beautiful!!! But what will she feel like? Who better, to get those answers from... than someone who truely knows?
I will have to think very hard, about the words of this adult CHD'er! I will have to learn more about the computer and if I can post things now, but be sure to never give them to the hands of someone who will abuse them. Can I post a movie to youtube now, erase it before she grows up... and not worry about it? I do not know that answer! If I write her name, somewhere on the web... can anyone google it and find it 10, 20 yrs. from now? I do not know this either?
I am talking about this, so that others in my shoes... who have never thought about these things until today... will have a chance to think about it now, and come up with their own best answers. I do not know, what the right answers are... all I know, is that it breaks my heart sometimes.... to think of how hard my Jilly's life will be someday. And I do not mean the physical limitations, I mean the mental ones. I will teach my daughter to be proud of herself, but you can not control your child's emotions! Yes, you can help them to grow up with a possitive self image... but that does not mean that others are not going to hurt our children with their horrible teasing, or hurt them as adults by refusing them a job based on their health issues. No, it is not legal... but really, will our children be able to prove that it is happening? No, not unless they meet some coward who openly tells them, this is why they are not hiring them... most cowards are not brave enough to do that!
So, from this day forward... I will try to figure out, what is best for my child! I want to give her every opportunity possible! And I do not want to hurt her!!!

1 comment:

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