Mother's With Wheels

9 Feb 2011: Over a year ago, I became friends with a girl from America who, like me, has brittle bones, also known as OI. Her name is Kara, after dating her partner Adam for 9 years, they married almost 2 years ago. Adam also has brittle bones and they both use a wheelchair to get around.

They decided to add another member to their little family, which consisted of Adam, Kara and their two Bulldogs: Bailey and Obie Nugget. Kara fell pregnant in 2009 and beautiful Hannah was born in June last year. Since then, Kara has blogged about her life as a wheelchair mum on her website www.wheelermom.com

Luckily, Kara was able to make it all the way to 9 months of pregnancy and Hannah was delivered via a scheduled caesarean section. Kara attributes being able to go full term in her pregnancy, to the fact that she swam throughout the 9 months, and also having swam a lot of her life, which is a great source of physical therapy for people with brittle bones. Kara is also a former Paralympian, having represented America in swimming.

Other mothers who have brittle bones, may need to have their babies taken out via caesarean a lot earlier, because most people with more severe forms of brittle bones are smaller in stature (like myself), the growing foetus puts too much pressure on our tiny organs and among other things, breathing complications can occur. But, as in the able-bodied world, everyone is different, and a specialist should be able to advise what the best process would be for each of their patients.

As I said earlier, I have been Facebook friends with Kara for a while now, unfortunately though, we haven’t met in person, as she lives in America and I in Australia. Even though we are separated by so much distance, I still feel a personal connection to her and her family, as I do with many other of my fellow brittle bones friends. Every time I read an update on Hannah or see a new photo or hear about something she has accomplished or learnt, I feel very proud.

I think it’s so great what her and Adam have achieved, and they are trying to bring Hannah up as, what many would call ‘normal’ as possible, despite the shocked looks that they get from the community when they are out and about with her. Kara, Adam and Hannah’s adventures, are beautifully captured in February’s issue of New Mobility Magazine, where you can read their full story, click here: http://www.newmobility.com/articleViewIE.cfm?id=11807

Kara has a great way of handling all of the obstacles that come her way and I hope that one day I can speak to her for advice on how to adapt things in my life and home, so I can look after my own baby as easy as possible.

Hannah's first Christmas


Hannah


Hannah


Hannah's first captured smile


Like a sleeping doll


Kara, 9 months into her pregnancy


Kara and Adam, on their wedding day


Kara, Adam and Hannah at Hannah's Christening


Such a poser


Kara and Adam on their wedding day