Josh's Story
My name is Josh, and I'm 15 years old. I was born with spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect caused by the spinal cord developing outside the spinal column, and nerves and muscles below the defect are damaged. Because of spina bifida, I can't move my legs. I can't control my bowel or bladder either, and I have a shunt inside my head that maintains the correct pressure in my brain.
But enough of that stuff! Let me tell you more about what it's like. If I could somehow walk and run, I would play every sport I could fit into my schedule. But I can't have my way, so I just accept my limitations and try to do all that I can. There are lots of things that are tedious about having a disability. I don't like being left out of exciting events simply because I can't get there in my wheelchair. Taking medication every day isn't fun, either. Interrupting my day to catheterize (not to mention finding a private place to do it when we're out of the house) is a real pain, too.
I love to play sports with my family. We play soccer, baseball and kickball in the backyard. I pitch and I get to be the goalie. I play tennis and basketball, swim, ride my bike, bowl, ski and drive horses. I also like to play cards and board games, use the computer and watch sports.
So as you can see, there are lots of things I can do. I try to focus on those and keep my sense of humor. I need to learn how to be more independent, so that I can spend more time away from home. For example, I'll be starting high school this year, and I'll have more opportunities to join in activities. Thinking of this makes me sort of nervous, but I think I can do it.
I've found that it's easier to laugh at my mistakes than to worry about them. I hope that my teachers and classmates will remember that the best way to treat a kid with a disability is just like any other kid.