Being Born Different

“Nadia Goodwin eats her first cake as a one-year-old.”

My mom had appendicitis when she was eight weeks pregnant with me. The medication they gave her had adverse effects on me. My parents were notified that something was wrong while at my mom’s fifth month ultrasound.  

The nurse noticed something was wrong with my arms and had to call in the doctor. My mom thought I was sucking on a thumb but, the nurse realized that I didn’t have any signs of hands.  

They weren’t sure how I would look like or if I would be born missing more than just hands and feet. Mom got put on bedrest and her second pregnancy at 23 years old became a high risk.  

Apparently, I played peek-a-boo multiple times. The doctors and my mom thought she was in labor multiple times leading up to my birth.  

When the time came around a team of doctors assisted with my mom’s cesarean section (C-Section). They had no idea how bad it would be. Luckily, the only thing affected were my hands and feet.  

Growing up, I had no idea that I was different. My parents never treated me differently from my siblings. Any friends I made didn’t care or even realize that me looking different meant something.  

The moment being different started to actually mean something was in middle school. It was a shock to the system. I went from playing with my friends to being an outcast.  

I realized that I didn’t look like anybody else. I realized that my ability to do something had started to be judged upon by my friends.