Reply #62: as a 12 yr old i broke my neck and was in a neck brace ..in those days

[flyarm]

it was a huge metal brace..that held my head up,,and was half way down my body front and back..and with a big metal plate both sides and a big metal chin..i was teased horribly..after spending 6 months in a hospital in traction..

but i didn't care that i was teased ..i was just so thrilled that i wasn't paralyzed..

i knew how lucky i was..

and my mom was incredible, telling me over and over ..the sticks and stones stuff..

sometimes i would cry..when i was alone..but i still knew how lucky i was..

i had a roomate in the hospital, that died of cancer..and i loved her, even though i couldn't see her..as i was in such a state of traction..with my head pulled back...but we talked..ahhh we talked...and sang Beatles songs..."I want to hold your hand!!" ..she was beautiful ..her voice was beautiful.. she was also 12, my age..i grew up fast that year..so i had no hate for anyone..i just knew they didn't know what i knew..how fragile our lives were..

i learned to laugh at those who teased me and bullied me..

it did make me shy for much of my early youth..but when i grew out of that..well..now i am hell on wheels!!

i thank my mom for understanding and telling me daily how beautiful i was ..with or without the brace..

she would hold my head to help me wash..and she would tell me over and over how beautiful i was..

that is what mattered to me..and that is what helped me grow without scars internally...unconditional love..

p.s.thank you mommy...i miss you every day..and hope i am half as good a mom..your legacy lives within me..

fly