Katie Piper Instagram – Todays #MindsetMonday comes from @littlelady2you, “I was born 2 weeks late in Hope Hospital, in 1975. I spent a lot of time in hospital due to several chest infections, one of which lead to pneumonia. Also, I was in the children’s hospital a lot because they didn’t know what was wrong with me, so they said the reason was ‘failure to thrive’. When I was 18 months old, we went to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to see Professor Tanner, he knew I had Russell Silver Syndrome (RSS) because of my features.
Russell-Silver Syndrome is a rare disorder. The main characteristics are poor growth before and after birth and low birth weight. I only weighed 3lbs 8oz when I was born. My head was large compared to the rest of my body: my mum said I looked like ET (you have always got to have humour). Feeding was difficult because I had bad reflux, hypoglycaemia, curving of the pinky finger, a triangular face, a small jaw, and one side of my body was longer than the other. The average female with RSS grows to 4 feet 7 inches; I am only 4 foot 2 inches. From birth until I was about 2 years old, I spent a lot of time in the hospital. At one point, I was in there for 26 weeks when I was 18 months old because I kept vomiting.
People can be very patronising and would quite often pat me on the head and say isn’t she cute. By sharing my story, I’m hoping that people will have a better understanding of RSS because everyday in my life I have to put up with people pointing, staring and making comments. I have had people trying to take photos or film me, which I find very rude and upsetting. After school I went to college then met my husband we married then 12 months later we had our son who is now 16 years old. Sadly in 2010 I lost him and became a widow at 35 years old. My son has been a young carer from an early age in his life, I am very proud of him. I hope sharing this helps people have a better understanding of RSS and see it doesn’t hold me back, I wouldn’t let it. I am in a job I love.
I have great family & friends that support me. RSS is who I am so I wouldn’t want to change that, let’s be kind to each other.” | Posted on 05/Aug/2024 22:22:46
