- Spina Bifida – L4
- 43 Surgeries
- 100’s of hospital stays
- Permanent Sigmoid Colostomy giving me back quality
of life which I am so deeply grateful for that gift
- Arnold Chiari Malformation
- Hydrocephalus (no shunt at this time)
- Bilateral Orthosis (leg braces on both legs)
- Bodycasts (1 at the age of 5: 8 months; Again at age 6: 10 months) for hip surgery.
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter (Catheterize 3-4 times daily)
My past experiences also included the following:
Spinal cord surgery performed with unexpected life threatening complications afterwards.
This resulted in severe bacterial
meningitis.
Emergency
procedure performed to reopen the surgical sight to clean out the infection.
No anesthesia used due to critical state (105 fever, severa pain, etc.) presenting
a higher risk of death if they were to put me under anesthesia at the time.
In order for the wound to heal properly, it needed to be packed with gauze soaked in
1% Clorox Bleach and 99% Saline Solution.
The wound could not be surgically closed as it needed to heal from the bottom up fully open. (with
sterile packing and wrapping around the torso at all times) to heal from the bottom up for 8 months.
The wound was approx 6 inches deep and approx
4-6 inches wide.
Packing needed to be performed 3x/day: 8am/3pm/8pm
My mother (a nurse) was given a choice. I could stay in the hospital for several weeks until it
began to heal or they could teach her how to pack the wound and send me home. She made the selfless, loving decision to bring
me home…and perform the packing herself…for 8 months. My parents made selfless decisions and endless sacrifices
for the past 38 years in regards to my care. I will always be forever grateful and count my blessings for their sacrifices
each and every day.
And…despite the challenges I have face, my greatest challenge?.....PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The after
effects of all that I have mentioned above have been more debilitating then any of what I have mentioned above. It has left
me with countless “phobias” (I say it this way b/c there is reason to believe that Chiari may have something to
do with what I am experiencing as well. TBD)
That literally have
turned my life upside down and have now resulted in needing consistent assisyance performing daily every tasks (i.e staying
alone in thunderstorms or ever a dark sky is impossible for me at this time causing me to have to plan each and every day
who will be with me and when, driving anywhere outside my local area, unable to drive over any bridges of any size, and so
much more the list is endless).
The result? I found myself in a very deep, dark place. On my knees, in my basement running from sky that was quickly
turning dark as I had done so many times before. This time was different. I am convinced that at that moment my ego had run
its course (that’s the voice that beats you to the ground telling you can’t overcome or manage any of this without
experiencing inner pain) and my spirit’s voice was finally heard. My life has never been the same since.
Should you ever wish to know the
details of that moment, please feel free to reach out and ask. For now, those details will be revealed to all when I complete
my first book that I have now set out to write. I thank God and my spirit for being with me on this journey every step of
the way.
Find the lessons in your yesterdays, the gifts in today,
and the possibilities in tomorrow...God Bless.
Claudia De Mauro M.S.,Ed./Life Coach
Owner & Founder
of Move Through Your Challenges
www.movethroughyourchallenges.com
mtyc2@optonline.net
1 800 718
6040
