Hello!!

[cutie patooties mom]

Hello everyone,
I am the parent of a beautiful little girl who is 11 and has SB L3-L4. I am so excited that I found this site because I always have questions on how to handle different situations. For example... She is at the age of puberty and has a male Dr that looks at me like "DUH!" when I ask personal questions. Another delima is that she can walk with KAFO's and a walker but gets upset when I ask her to do it for a few minutes to get exercise and weight bearing. She LOVES her chair. Should I continue to push her on the walking until she is 18 and old enough to make her own choice? I am afraid that when she gets older she will want to walk and ask me why I did not make her do it now.
Thank you

[angel]

Hi,

Welcome to the group. I am 31 with sb myleo L4/L5. I have an 11 year old son that has SBO.
You are going to find that a lot of people on here are pro walking. It is good exercise, it keeps the door open for them. My son would rather me make him do anything other than exercise. He walks with out aid but his muscles are still weaker than average. I make him walk to school (5 blocks) or ride his bike when the weather is good. His doctors were amaized at how his strength has improved since we made this rule. I have always felt that i would be cheating myself if i didn't walk as much as i could because i have the option to and others don't. I walk with crutches (no braces) and use a wheelchair to do all my housework and for long distances. Keeping her active is a must for mental and physical reasons.
Some doctors are straight forward medical issues only. Some (like the one my son has) is awesome. She studies all aspects emotional, physical, sexual, social. She wants to know about everything and will answer any question for us.
There are a lot of us here who have SB so if you have questions we will do our best to give you some kind of answer.
A little background on me. I am married, as i mentioned before my son is 11 years old (hitting that early puberty stage to) I live in PA but origionally from mississippi where my entire family still lives. I moved here when i got married. I drive, take care of my home and family and i am a small business owner.

Glad to meet you,
Angel

[cutie patooties mom]

:19a:Glad to meet you too, Angel. Thank you for your answer. I just have guilt about being the "mean Mommy" but I know that she is too young to know what she might want in the future. Thats why I needed this support site... to see what people with experience have to say. And by the way, we live in Louisiana, right next door to your Mississippi.

[misty]

I say push your child to walk. My mom did that to me and now I think I'm the toughest girl on the planet! Not just physically but mentally too. I don't back down from anything, and it's because I had to do the tough stuff right from the beginning. I can tell you that life is not going to throw her an easy ride as she grows up, but if you make her strong now, she will be fine!

[cutie patooties mom]

Thanks Misty! She just knows how to push the right buttons. When the tears start rolling out of those big brown eyes .... But after I make her do it she is so proud of herself!

[angel]

My son sometimes thinks i am the meanest mom in the world. I make him do the things that need to be done weather or not he likes it. Remember you have to be the one to take charge and make sure she does what she needs not what she wants. The exercise will pay off big for her!!

Angel

[misty]

Thanks Misty! She just knows how to push the right buttons. When the tears start rolling out of those big brown eyes .... But after I make her do it she is so proud of herself!

I know, I pouted and cried too! It's okay, she'll be stronger for it in the end.

[hengly]

Hello im also knew to this and I have a beautiful son named Gylbert who is 6 with L-3 spina bifida.... i would love to make friends on here that have kids with S.B so i have someone who could relate to me...

[Barb]

Welcome...we can all relate :11a:

[cutie patooties mom]

Thanks y'all. I've really been strong for the past two days with encouraging (translate that to "making") her to try and walk. She gets so mad! I know that it will give here many benefits like you said. You just reinforced that with your comments. It helps so much knowing what a person who has been through it would suggest. :3a:

[Dodger67]

Welcome!
You've come to the right place for all your questions ans sharing. But you've forgotten to tell us your and your child's name.
I'm Roger, 40yo, male, South African, SB @ L1/2, no HC.

[cutie patooties mom]

Hello Roger,
My name is Bronwyn and my daughter is Gabrielle. She is 11 and has SB L3-L4with HC. She has Chiarri II and had a trach for 18 months as a baby because of it. I also have a son who is 8 years old.
Nice to meet you.
Bronwyn