Hi there everyone!

Its so strange to hear the parents point of view of this disability! Im 23 years old and have suffered with the condition since birth. Unfortunately it was not spotted until I was 18 months old the doctors thought my mum was just a paranoid mother when she told them she thought there was something wrong! nice.....

Any way, Ive had about 7 operations, pin and plate etc, had that done twice as the lovely doctors did it wrong the 1st time. When I was 18 I had a major operation taking part of my pelvis out and grafting it onto the side of my hip to limit the chances of dislocation. It was an awful ordeal and I lost almost 2 years of my life trying to recover, and tbh my problem hadnt got any better from it!

I have no intention of having a hip replacement as its best to hold on to your actual body parts for as long as possible, as Im sure ur all aware of! I can walk and go out and party etc, same as any 20 something! and though It does affect me (eg when I went to New york last year, I ended up having to get a wheelchair as I was in so much pain from walking around, but Im one of those people who try and do as much as they can to the limit...not sure if thats good or not!lol!) I try and forget about it, and have to remind my friends to slow down where were out and about.

I was bullied about it in school because of my limp etc, but those people soon left my life and I am surrounded by real people now, not idiots! and all of those people are losers now (I have found out via facebook) and I now have a degree and am an editor for a television company pretty much as soon as I left university. so remind ur little ones of that, or remind yourselves. As such ordeals have made me want more from my life and do better, and things can be better, but it does help if people are aware of problems.

I have had an awful time (in my teens) trying to get jobs as no one would touch me with this disability, so I lied on my applications and said I was fine and suddenly got jobs. Unfortunately thats the way things are, it needs to be changed but sometimes we have to play the game to get work, which can be the same for anyone I guess....

I dont know what state my hip will be in 10 years time, but your can say that for any 'able' bodied person, as anyone could end up in a car accident or have many other bad things happen to them etc....so just remember that!!!!

Hope all are ok and good luck to yourselves or little ones!
Im contactable at jomichelle86@googlemail.com if u want to say hello!

Big Love!
xxx