My name is Wendy Packard. I am 42 year old wife. I am a native of Colorado. I wish I could tell you that I am your average house wife but that isnt exactly true. I am very unique in alot of ways. One of those ways that ditinguishes me as different is that I have a birthdefect called Spina Bifida. That means when I was born my spine wasnt fully developed so there are alot of nerves and tissues that were not connected so there are alot of complications that go with that.
Mostly internal complications are a part of what I deal with but as you can see I am in a wheelchair and have deformed legs and feet. I've been told that the upper half of my body is attractive although I dont exactly see what people see in me that gives them that opinion.
Most the time I do not have pain with the exception of nights when the nerves are dormant from not moving as much. I usually dont hurt unbareably but occassionally it does get overwhelming in which case I have a few pain meds.
Another thing you will find unconventional about me is I dont have very good coordination in my hands as they have a bit of cerebal palsy also my eyes are a tiny bit crossed.
Because of other internal complications I've had I have had 23 surgerys since I was 6 hours old. Most of the surgeries I've had are cosmetic but there have been some that have been life saving. The ones that have been threatening usually involved the shunt in my head which is there because of excessive water on my brain called Hydrocephalas. There have been very severe revisions to my shunt that I have had although most of them have not been.
Another thing about me is that I have been married for 9 and a half years to my husband who is a video editor. He is able bodied and still finds me attractive which blesses me because I have always thought I would only end up with someone with a handicap.
My mother and father are still alive both in their 60s. I have one brother and one sister, both younger. They were not born with any handicaps. My sister is usually pretty sickly but usualy its sinus infections and such, my brother is pretty strong and sturdy and is generally pretty healthy. I also have a sister in law by my brother and two nephews.
I am also married as of 2001 to my husband of 10 years at 32 years old. He is able bodied as well and I feel extremely blessed because I always thought that if I ever did get married that it would be to a handicapped person.
I have 4 years of college under my belt although no degree as of yet because of different circumstances that have pulled me away from finishing. I hope to someday get my counseling/psychology degree. Even though I havent finished I am satisfied with having as much as I did because it showed me that I have the intellegence that when I was born was discredited by doctors and other professionals.
My husband has also been a source of confidence for me. He makes me feel smart perhaps smarter then I really am and constantly encourages me to pursue things that will biuld on my strengths. I can also ask him anything and he doesnt make me feel stupid. When I have been convinced that I couldnt do something he will push me til I at least try my best.
My dream is to one day own my own christian counseling agency for people that are christians that have been hurt by the rest of the church. Often christians need help but are afraid to reach out because they are told they arent being godly or faithful enough and I would like a counseling agency that is a safe haven for people that need to heal.
Anyway thats my life in a nut shell. I hope to get to know you more as well and thank you for listening to my story.
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