Kaylee

This is my little pumpkin, Kaylee! She is my life and my best friend. After losing several pregnancies, I was losing all hope on having a baby of my own. But it finally happened and I couldn’t have been happier. My pregnancy finally lasted past the 4^th month. We found out in the ultrasound about her arm. It was very shocking at first. I remember going home, laying on the floor of the room that was going to be hers and just crying and crying. Society has us all picture this “normal” little baby and how everything is just going to be so easy. And when you find out that everything isn’t what you picture, you become so hurt and a little mad. Not that I would wish a disability on anyone but you do stop and think (selfishly) “Why my daughter? Why my baby?” It took about a week for me to realize what I was actually going to have!

I then realized that I was going to have a child that I only usually read about. One of those children who are going to be able to accomplish anything despite what they may go through to get it; one of those children that everybody talks about when they complete a major task. That’s when I realized I was in for something spectacular! I started becoming more and more excited about her arm. I just knew that I was lucky to have God pick me for such a unique child.

Kaylee was born in 2000. Her due date was February 7^th but she was a little early. She weighed 4lbs. 15oz. She did great from the beginning. Her lungs were fine and she was perfectly healthy.

We got her first prosthesis when she was about 13 months old. I really didn’t think she needed it but everyone kept yelling at me to take her. I am not too educated on prosthesis so I’m not sure what this one was called (when she would reach, the hand would close). She hated it from the beginning. And I never wanted to push her to wear it! That was something that bothered me from the beginning. This is the way she was born. I am NOT going to be the one to give her the impression that the way she is isn’t right. I am not going to make her feel that she HAS to have something there. I think the world is so caught up on being and looking “perfect” they don’t stop and look at individuals feelings. (Remember: this is just my personal opinion!) She says that her “extra hand” is too heavy. She loves her arm and has done everything she ever thinks about. I have never seen her have a problem with anything.

Just the other day while painting her fingernails (cause you know, she is a princess … ha ha). She said “let me do it” and held out her little arm to hold the applicator. I put it in the little crease of her elbow and she painted like there was no tomorrow. She even did all her toes. Although being 3 years old, I did have to clean her skin up a bit! Me and my husband got a little teary eyed at that. Of course I called the whole family to share the news! People must think I am soooo silly to call and be so excited that their daughter can paint her own nails but it was so NEAT! She is amazing!

Never in a million years would I wish that she were any different. Don’t get me wrong, if there was a way, I would give up my arm in a heartbeat so my baby wouldn’t have to deal with the “being perfect” issue in this world today. And I know I am going to be crushed that first time she comes home from school crying that someone hurt her feelings or crying because she doesn’t have another hand. Hopefully I am doing the right thing by raising her with the outlook that everyone is different in some form or another and that these differences are not because the person chose to look this way…it is the way God wants us to be and although it may not be easily understood, there is usually a very good reason why each individual has their differences. Maybe God knows who can handle them and who can’t. Sometimes I go off of that a little and when other little kids ask what happened, I tell them that God thought she was so special that he kept a little bit of her up there for himself. They get a kick out of that.

There are no words to describe how much she means to me. She is and always will be my best friend forever!

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