It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” E. E. Cummings
Tumour Humour from Katie Wilks on Vimeo.
When I watch this video, I find it hard to believe that this is my daughter.
Erin has taught me so much about courage and strength. Yet I know that she was the little miracle baby that I was given twenty six years ago today. They had told me to abort her for she would not be born normal. When I hear her laughing in this film, I think back to those words... no she was not normal... she was amazing!
I had been very sick during my pregnancy due to ulcerative colitis, something that I knew nothing about until a few months before I found out that I was pregnant. I remember spending eleven days in the hospital being treated for a severe case of the debilitating immune disorder. They sent me home with multiple drugs and I remember looking at some of them that said do not take if you think you may be pregnant. By the time I found out I was pregnant, I was already three months into it.
I remember sitting in the doctors office and hearing him say, " the results are positive... I will make the arrangements for your abortion." I was faced with a very difficult decision because I had taken some extremely heavy drugs trying to get the disease under control. Yet there was a small life inside of me wanting to be born. I took a chance on life and decided to go ahead and bring her into the world. My doctor refused to continue to look after me because he feared the worst. I remember being 6 months pregnant and had no family doctor. I was afraid for I knew that I was facing some scary times ahead.
I did find another doctor and she was the most caring wonderful woman whose calm nature reassured me. On July 10th 1988, I heard Erin cry for the first time and my doctor said she was normal. I have never been the same and I made a promise that I would do everything in my power to bring her up to be a strong, independent and kind young woman who would be able to look after herself in case something happened to me.
In the past year she has been lived through an experience that I consider to be another miracle. Last year at this time she was scheduled to go in for a brain tumour operation. In fact she was scheduled to be operated on her birthday but it was put back due to another young woman needing an emergency surgery for a brain tumour as well. The operation was a success but Erin was left with many life changing adjustments to deal with on a daily basis. She has went through some incredibly difficult days in the past year but an amazing young man stood beside her and helped her through her dark days. A little dog called Baxter helped her heal with a thing called "puppy love". Erin faced each day with courage and the determination to get through it all without being labeled a victim. She fought to get her life back to a somewhat normal existence despite the limitations that will now be a part of her life. She was able to run the 5 kilometer Montreal Sprint which raises money and awareness for the Brain Tumour Association of Canada.
If I had listened to my doctor that day when he told me I had to abort my baby, Erin would have never had a chance to grow into this woman who has taught me so much about life. I always said she was my gift in this life.
Happy 26th Birthday Erin!!!
Erin has taught me so much about courage and strength. Yet I know that she was the little miracle baby that I was given twenty six years ago today. They had told me to abort her for she would not be born normal. When I hear her laughing in this film, I think back to those words... no she was not normal... she was amazing!
I had been very sick during my pregnancy due to ulcerative colitis, something that I knew nothing about until a few months before I found out that I was pregnant. I remember spending eleven days in the hospital being treated for a severe case of the debilitating immune disorder. They sent me home with multiple drugs and I remember looking at some of them that said do not take if you think you may be pregnant. By the time I found out I was pregnant, I was already three months into it.
I remember sitting in the doctors office and hearing him say, " the results are positive... I will make the arrangements for your abortion." I was faced with a very difficult decision because I had taken some extremely heavy drugs trying to get the disease under control. Yet there was a small life inside of me wanting to be born. I took a chance on life and decided to go ahead and bring her into the world. My doctor refused to continue to look after me because he feared the worst. I remember being 6 months pregnant and had no family doctor. I was afraid for I knew that I was facing some scary times ahead.
I did find another doctor and she was the most caring wonderful woman whose calm nature reassured me. On July 10th 1988, I heard Erin cry for the first time and my doctor said she was normal. I have never been the same and I made a promise that I would do everything in my power to bring her up to be a strong, independent and kind young woman who would be able to look after herself in case something happened to me.
In the past year she has been lived through an experience that I consider to be another miracle. Last year at this time she was scheduled to go in for a brain tumour operation. In fact she was scheduled to be operated on her birthday but it was put back due to another young woman needing an emergency surgery for a brain tumour as well. The operation was a success but Erin was left with many life changing adjustments to deal with on a daily basis. She has went through some incredibly difficult days in the past year but an amazing young man stood beside her and helped her through her dark days. A little dog called Baxter helped her heal with a thing called "puppy love". Erin faced each day with courage and the determination to get through it all without being labeled a victim. She fought to get her life back to a somewhat normal existence despite the limitations that will now be a part of her life. She was able to run the 5 kilometer Montreal Sprint which raises money and awareness for the Brain Tumour Association of Canada.
If I had listened to my doctor that day when he told me I had to abort my baby, Erin would have never had a chance to grow into this woman who has taught me so much about life. I always said she was my gift in this life.
Happy 26th Birthday Erin!!!
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