My own personal experience- Parenting with several chronic illnesses All my illnesses have been a result of medications used for crohns,and Crohns Disease itself. My daughter is now 17 years old, I have been told by many that this is a very self centered age, and she will change. I hope she does. According to therapists I have spoken to , a child can either react to a parents chronic physical illness with anger and resentment,or as a caring ,nuturing person towards the ill parent, and others. Unfortunatley my daughter has reacted with anger and resentment. I have spent so much of her life in hospitals, I know shes afraid I will die, and unfortunatley for some of us affected severley enough with the disease, this is a very real possibility. My families reaction has just encouraged her negative non supportive and cold approach to me. My biological father decided after meeting my daughter as a child only twice that the surgeries and medical problems I have are just "too much for him to handle", therefor eventhough he lives close by in FLA -6 months out of year,he has totally cut off any communication,and has never seen my daughter or myself again prior to when she was 4 years old. Often when I am in hospital,not one family member will visit, this can be very lonely. My family who lives out of my state, never call.This is part of the reason I hate hospitals, they are so lonely, especially when I see others in hospital who have lots of family visiting and caring. I don't have friends much anymore, as I have been very ill, and really isolated. I do hope my daughter will mature enough to care more about me. I do know she loves me. As stressful as things have been , my daughter and I do have our fun - she has a great sense of humor!As far as the cooking issue - LOL- I keep giving in on that one and cooking for her.She beat me in scrabble for the first time this year. Unfortunatley until we are all aware of Chronic physical illness, and start to make an effort to listen and care, I am sure there are more family members out there, possible friendships,ect,that are like my family, there will be too many people like myself who are rejected. Just because someone is physically ill, by no means does that mean, they have nothing to offer, I have a good heart, and am willing to be there when others need me, somehow my family has completely overlooked this. January 24 - 2002:Life can be so amazing at times, it can just turn sometimes for the worst, sometimes for the better. A girlfriend of mine did a complete turn around, from a totally self centered person, she has become this totally caring warm supportive person!She after years of unhappiness,is now really happy, she found a really nice man, is engaged and I am so happy for her. This support comes at such a good time also, because I will be having more surgery.I have already had most of my rectum removed,the rest has to go now too, I have a tare inside me its very painful.I will also be having my uterus removed,but not my ovaries,so I will not go through menapause yet!My uterus is stuck to my small intestine.Both of these problems are results of what crohns disease does. I also have the a few of the most incredible internet phone friends.We have been talking for 3 or 4 years now. I am now 43, my daughter is 18, she has been accepted a top college full scolarship,she will become a pharmacist. I guess I am alittle nutty as I can get excited about my fish giving birth- yes one of my hobbies is breeding guppies.When in a really bad mood, my cats are fantastic at doing things that are so insane- they have me laughing! Sometimes when it seems that I am just so alone, all the sudden friends come around and occasionally a family member.I am very grateful for many of the friends I have had in my life, the ones I have now, and the new ones to come along. *Please sign my guestbook. It makes me feel wanted!:)
