A PKU Story

Once upon a time...

I was born.  :)  And when I was born they gave me a heel prick to test for various medical conditions.  It came up negative.  I was healthy enough and they let me go.  But something was wrong.  I wasn't eating the way I should, so they re-stuck me and checked again.  I had Phenylketonuria.

At first my parents were worried.  They were first time parents and on top of learning to be parents they had to learn to be PKU Parents.  It was difficult, and expensive.  But they learned.  And they did an excellent job. :) 

As a PKU child I became an expert at measuring things, looking things up in the big green book, and recognizing "good foods" and "bad foods".  I ate lots of fruits, and lots of vegetables.  I also had my medical formula and medical foods.  They were pretty expensive but, we managed.

Time passed and I grew.  I got involved in all sorts of things at different times in my life.  In my childhood I was in plays, I played soccer, and took ballet for a while.  In high school I swam, sang in choir, and took AP classes.  I found many interests and I grew up happily.

Now I'm at a University studying to be a Deaf Teacher.  I'm doing well in my classes.  I have friends, and I'm happy.

PKU affects my life.  It affects many aspects of my life.  I still drink my formula, and weigh things, and look things up in that old green book.  I have to say no when someone offers me a Reeses or something like that. 

But it's who I am.  And I like who I am.  In last week's clip the man talked about PKU being a part of him.  That's what I've been trying to say all along.  :)  PKU isn't a horrible awful tragedy and you should pity those diagnosed.  It's a style of life.  And I'm used to it.

Thanks!  See you later!