Posts
•12:06 AM
I grew up not really knowing I was different. My parents died when I was young. I was raised by my aunt who adopted me and my four other brothers. She was a busy woman who didn’t really have a lot of time to spare. She went from being a woman who was single most of her life to raising five children ages 4 to 13. I began to show symptoms of NF at about 12 or 13. I was seen by all sorts of doctors and students, poked and prodded and asked an assortment of questions. Not a lot was done about my NF. I saw the doctor for regular check ups but no big deal was ever made about my tumors. I went to public pools with my friends, showered after gym class, changed in th locker rooms all the usual things that most children did. I never made a big deal about the tumors and neither did anyone else.
Yes, people asked about my tumors once in a while but I didn’t think much of it. No one ever really commented on the tumors and they were and still are quite noticeable. I didn’t even get the first inkling of being different, until I was denied entry into the Air Force. Fast forward nearly 25 years, during which time I had only seen about four or five other people with NF and then it was only in passing. Along comes the internet, with its Twitter and discussion boards and all of a sudden I’ve become privy to the lives of hundreds of others with NF. It opened my eyes to the fact; there are many people with NF who lead lonely lives.
If you have NF, it is just a small part of who you are. It is not the end all be all. Hiding out, waiting for a cure or for something to change will not make you happy. Your life is passing you by. Don’t wait until it’s too late to start living. There are people who are going to stare at you no matter what. You will even get the occasional stares. There will always be people who will judge you by how you look. That is no reason to hang your head. Stand tall and be proud. Look life in the eye and shake its hand.
Until next time I wish you
Love, peace and understanding.
