Back to the beginning...

 

Welcome to my blog!

So you might have found me because you already know me, or you might be interested in the additional challenges parenting with a disability brings. Or maybe you've come to have a laugh with me through the challenges I face and to share in the moments of glory I achieve. Well, however you found me, and why ever you're here, welcome!

For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting me, my name is Laura and I am 38 years old. I suffer from a plethora of disabilities such as complex PTSD, Rheumatoid Arthritis and HEDS. This has left me as a wheelchair and crutch full time user for the past 2 years.

At the beginning of my disability journey I was very resentful, wondering why me, and when the real me was going to come back. As the time has gone on, I have found myself more resilient, more accepting and more embracing of the challenges being disabled brings. This sense of acceptance has given me more strength and purpose, and for that I am very grateful.

My partner an I have been together for 2.5 years, and fairly early into our relationship we talked about having a child together. I already have two children, a 16 year old boy and a 15 year old girl from my previous marriage, but having never said never, and the prospect of this wonderfully different, new relationship made me feel that familiar wanting of having a child of our own, a child we shared through our love together.

When I first became disabled I had to put any thoughts of parenting a baby well out of my mind. After all, I could barely look after myself and my teenagers effectively, but as time went on, and the acceptance that I can still do things, I just have to do them a bit different came into play, so my attitude changed. It changed from a "how could I ever do this" to a "I can do this, we just will have to find a different way".

So here we are. At the time of writing this I am 24 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby. I wont go into the reason or rationale of my PTSD, but a rainbow baby is a baby who comes after a great storm has been suffered, and for me that storm was the cause of my PTSD. I am a survivor, and I am proud of it.

For after every storm is a rainbow of hope...