It's summertime, and you know what that means-everyone seems to be sick with that miserable upper respiratory cold that goes around without fail at this time every year. You know, the one you have tried desperately not to catch? The one where you tell yourself it's just a sore throat, and then before you know it, you're pretty sure you're dying from drowning in snot from the inside out? Yeah. That one. Having Osteogenesis Imperfecta makes catching a simple cold a major problem for me. Because my rib cage didn't develo[...]
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Parents of children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta are often charged with child abuse, simply because their kids always turn up with broken bones. My muscles can break my bones when they contract, making it seem like my bones break at random. You can see where, especially if a child has a lower severity of OI, parents are blamed when the child shows up hurt at school and can’t say how they hurt themselves. Well, my parents have also been charged with child abuse, though for a slightly different reason… My parents ar[...]
Having Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease, certainly poses some unique problems for those of us with short limbs and limited mobility. Here are ten gadgets/adaptive technological advances that help actual people with OI as well as other disabilities. 1. Wheelchairs: This one is pretty obvious, but most of us with the more severe forms of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Types 3/4) use electric wheelchairs for mobility. Most of us use one of Permobil's models because they are technologically the most advanced and e[...]
Because I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease, it's extremely important that I use a wheelchair that is not only stable but supports my crooked body in all the right places so that I don't break a bone if I hit a bump. My body is not standard. I have bends in all the wrong places, so my seating system has to be completely custom to be comfortable and effective. I have to be physically able to reach the controls and push all the buttons. It's important that every detail of my chair is tailored to my need[...]
Anyone who knows me knows that my idea of the perfect night involves being in the front row of a concert. I don't have a lot of hobbies besides painting (which usually feels more like work these days), but I absolutely LOVE listening to live music and attending my favorite artists' shows. Thanks to one of my aides and my aunt, I was introduced to country music at a very young age (much to my mother's dismay), and absolutely fell in love with it. That's not to say I don't like other types of music too, but I am definitely a c[...]
What is the first place you think of when you think of taking a summer vacation? I bet more than half of you instantly thought, THE BEACH of course! There's something about that beautiful blue water, the ocean waves, white sand, and sun that just lures people in. Kids love to run in the surf, build sandcastles and maybe throw a ball around while their parents love the relaxing sound of the ocean, a shady canopy, and maybe an adult beverage or two. Even the dog loves to play in the sand and the surf. There is something for ev[...]
Do you suddenly find yourself depending on others for basic necessities? It's hard, isn't it? When people meet me, they often say things like, "Wow, you break that easily? You're in pain all the time? That must be so hard. I can't even imagine that." The truth is, yes, there are days where it can be difficult just to breathe and the pain factor really sucks, but most of the time I have an underlying pain that I've adapted to over the years. Sometimes physical pain makes it hard to be me, but doesn't everyone have somet[...]
Today on Looking Up, I'd like to introduce you to a TRUE entrepreneur, Jane Hash, who just so happens to have Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type III like me. An activist, business owner, volunteer, podcaster, nutritionist, and blogger herself, Jane has truly done it all. Let's get started! Hey Jane! First, I want to start off with what exactly you DO...or maybe what you DON'T DO would be the shorter list! When someone asks you what you "do," how do you answer them? Thank you for asking that question because it’s someth[...]
Katherine, your real gift is in art and painting. Why don't you do that full-time? You would make a fortune! First, no I wouldn't, trust me. Ever heard the expression "starving artist?" Well, there's a reason for that! Very few artists make a real living from their art. Most of them have a "day job" or have some other source of income to supplement. In most cases, except for maybe the lucky few like George Rodrigue, if an artist's work is going to become truly valuable, it's not until after they've died. I mean, what is the[...]
Here's your laugh for the day. About a year ago, I caught a really nasty cold. When I get sick, I tend to break ribs and collarbones from coughing hard or sneezing repeatedly. Right as I was getting sick, my friend and I went to a Florida Georgia Line concert here in New Orleans. Now, yes, maybe I shouldn't have gone since I was already starting to not feel well, but if you've ever been to one of their shows, you understand why it was worth it! Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Frankie Ballard put on one heck of a show[...]