Osteogenesis imperfecta

A protective bubble of my own: Sandy's story

I’ve always known my parents would forever see me as their baby. And being their little girl, I knew that it would be hard for them to watch me leave for college to live in a dorm, all by myself. I appreciate their concerns and love, but it didn’t change the fact that after high school I was ready to be on my own. As a kid with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (O.I.), a brittle bones condition, I could not wait to get out from their protective bubble, which I had lived inside of for 18 years.Growing up there were many milestones that I watched my friends and two unaffected brothers experience while I sat on the sidelines. Whether it was learning to walk, learning to ride a bike, taking karate lessons, going to sleep away camp, or getting a license  – it seemed that I had grown up constantly waiting for my turn. I’d be rich if I got a nickel for every time I heard, “Some day when you’re stronger you’ll be able to…” or “When your bones are stronger we won’t worry as much” and “You probably shouldn’t do that, it’s not safe for you.” [Read the rest of Sandy's story]