There are so many different types of AMC out there, not one of us is the same.
Just like you ordinary folk we all face different struggles and offer up a unique blend of abilities. Just in a way more obvious to the world. We can’t rob a gas station and hide. They would so find us. Rest easy Mom, I have no criminal activities planned for 2012. {wink}
I have gotten the chance to meet some awesome girls with AMC through this blog and Facebook. I thought it would be fun to share some of their stories too. Maybe they will more closely relate to your world. Or maybe they will offer up a new perspective that touches us all. Regardless, these ladies are awesome and I’m super honored that they would humor my plea to share their story with the cyber world.
I sniffed out Sheree Clampit through a Google Alert setting. The article grabbed my eye and I opened it up. I loved that her journey with AMC had led her to be finalist for the Pride of Australia Courage Medal. I thought she was cool. She had cute boots! So I found her on Facebook. We became cyber friends. Now, I’m giddy to share her story:
Sheree Jenifer Clampit don’t wear it out! I came into this world (Australia and I am an Australian Citizen), on 11/03/1994 at 6 Pound 7 with a rare disability called Arthrogryposis, Multiplex, Congenita. (Arthro-gry-posis), (Multi-plex), (Con-genita) OR lets make it easy and abbreviate it to AMC.
There is no simple definition that comes with this disability so I’ll do my best and tell you the meaning of the larger medical terms, AMC: A rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and Fibrosis.
Congenital or also known as Congenita, this means a physical abnormality that is present at birth.
A contracture is a permanent shortening of a muscle or joint.
Fibrosis is a word from Cystic fibrosis but I’m not 100% sure if people with AMC could get this, I do know that there is a chance that someone with AMC can be born with Cerebral palsy but luckily I wasn’t that severe.
I have the most common of Arthrogryposis where all of my joints are affected, such as; hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, feet and knees. My fingers are tight from short tendons so I can’t straighten most of them, my wrists are bent from the same thing, I have no muscle tissue in my elbows and only a slight bend in my knees, I also have short tendons in my toes.
Of course I can’t remember everything about myself as there is just so much to remember, I STILL even have to ask my mum what happened with some of my joints and why they aren’t working properly, you never stop learning about this disability there is always something that you could miss.
I have had 22 operations in my life, straightening my knees and turning them around the right way using long pieces of wire that went from my inner leg right to the other side. Having plaster from my waist down was to straighten my hips, as one of my hipbones was higher than the other. Releasing tendons in my ankles as I had clubbed feet.
Clubbed feet is when someone’s feet are turning outwards just like being bow legged but the opposite way. Loosening the tendons in my toes, fingers and wrists, my surgeon did put muscle tissue in my left elbow to make it bend, but it never worked out the way he wanted. I COULD go on for ages, I don’t know about you though but all this medical talk is boring me just a bit.
Shall we talk about family?
Ok well family is the most important as they helped me in anyway possible and they did a good job. My mum and dad were told that I’d never walk so at the age of 2 a surgeon was going to chuck me in a wheelchair and hope for the best (keep in mind that his brain capacity was nothing short off a gold fish). My mum and dad decided that they weren’t going to give up so they spent the next 3 years bending over helping me to walk and doing walking exercises with me, by the time it came around for me to start school I was able to walk.
Two years later my sister Natalie was born and has always been a cool sister! She treats me like she treats anyone else and that’s the way I like it.
About me?
Well I’d like to think I’m a nice person, caring (I care a little too much sometimes), I can be too generous as well, I apparently have a good sense of humor for e.g. You can get some disabled people/”normal” people who have an attitude like an asshole, rude and an ”its all about me” type thing, but I have fun picking on myself for a laugh, I don’t mind making a fool of myself, people say I have an ”I don’t care what people think of me” attitude because I really don’t. I love having fun, I hate moping around depressed. I’m not a massive shopper because of my height and shoe size, its not that fun, I’m 4”3 and a size 12 shoe in kids.
I do give myself big challenges, I just finished my year 11 and 12 at TAFE and got accepted to do Certificate IV in Youth Work. My view in life is that, don’t complain about what you don’t have when others are worse off than you.
I am who I am, Sheree Clampit and I will remain the original me!
xoxo
My leg is not broken... 