Hi,
I was born with Vacterl association. [The VACTERL association (also VATER syndrome) refers to the non-random co-occurrence of birth defects Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiac defects, Tracheoesophageal fistula and/or Esophageal atresia, Renal anomalies and Limb defects. The reason it is called an association, rather than a syndrome is that while the complications are not pathogenically related they tend to occur together more frequently than expected by chance. In general, the etiology of "associations" are not defined.]
I had a tracheoesophageal fistula, cleft palate, limb defects (a radial club hand and other defects), and vertebral anomalies.
At least a dozen surgeries later I was in art school and having severe pain & killer headaches. I was 21 and diagnosed with Chiari 1 malformation, I had to have my skull and spine fused down to C5.
Most recently I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder and this coupled with the skeletal anomalies I was born with I am loading the functional use of my good hand.
I'm only able to draw a few hours a week, or work on my jewelry or other creations which makes things very slow going.
Anyhow, that, in a nutshell is me. It's nice to meet all of you.
-L
