Everytime I go to the dentist, I always think about Lauren. I always think about the inevitable question that is asked "are you flossing? How often?". In a previous post I remarked how this was equivalent to taking Lauren to therapy and having the therapist ask "did you do the exercises? How often?". Both are a dread. Winding string around your fingers till their blue and see sawing it inbetween your teeth is one thing, but to try and get Lauren to stand with her back against a wall, put objects in a container and to use her spoon purposefully is even more dreadful.
The dentist said I have healthy teeth and gums. So even without daily flossing, I am not seeing tooth decay and gum disease. The dentist told me that other folks, who with brushing and flossing 3x a day, still get cavities and gum disease because genetically, they have bad teeth and gums to begin with. Since genetically my teeth and gums are healthy, if I flossed, I'd be able to bring them to their fullest potential. The dentist actually told me this!
I always hate hearing the word "genetics". Because it always reminds me of Lauren and her genes and how they are not "right". Her analogy would therefore lead me to draw the conclusion that even with all the therapy we are doing with Lauren, this may not impact or change the genetically pre-disposition outcome, whatever that may be. That her potential is already set by the genes and try as we may, what may come will come.
Of course being a engineering geek doesn't help either - I'm the typical engineer, rooted in science and hard facts, a belief of nature over nurture.
It be interesting if we had two of Lauren - one engulfed in the world of early intervention and treatment, and another one, just left alone to develop on her own - how differently would they turn out? Well since we only have 1 of Lauren, and even when I try and leave her alone she always comes crawling and clings on to me like no tomorrow, she is doing therapy with my fingers crossed for a better tomorrow.
Hi there! I found you on BBC. Naomi is my second child, and is my little delayed darling as well. I’m always saying that we need a bunch of Naomi’s – some to serve as a control group and various ones to run through our PT, ST, and HBOT therapy experiments. Glad I’m not the only nerd out there ;-) Must be an engineer thing. I worry that her story is already written in her genetics too. But I’m always amazed at just how elastic their little brains are. Seems like our little ones are surprising us and their doctors all the time. So, I’m finally starting to think that maybe they really are writing their own stories, and what we do makes some sort of difference. Here’s to hoping, huh? Anyway, just wanted to say hello and an enormous congratulations on the walking!
ReplyDeleteJen
(Naomi’s mom)
Yes, but just like flossing- you can reach your full potential. Without it you may be okay.... but not a good as you could be.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for genes.... A and her have the same "issue" but they are opposites on nearly everything. Only thing in common is genes, lowtone- though his seems WAYWAY worse, and the fact they are delayed- but he is excelling where she is more delayed and visa versa. Not to mention physical- he had heart issues- no cleft palate, Seizures when he was little little, Askew feet, A White matter defect and an enlarged frontal lobe....
If you were just looking at symptoms you would never know they had the same diagnosis! BTW one of the DS children in my area.... is completely "normal" in everything but looks. Genes can surprise you sometimes...