(sorry for the late upload…didn’t have my laptop at the hospital last night)

It was another long day and night (and day) in the hospital, but luckily, most of the kids behaved. During some downtime, I had the chance to hang out a little more with my friend D. D had a little accident a few weeks ago. My guess is that she crashed into some immobile object with her power wheelchair. Whatever the cause, a broken leg was the result. It didn’t slow her down the least bit.
Last night, I noticed that the cast was replaced by a brace and a neon-pink walking boot to cover it. D showed it off with the biggest of smiles…even big for D’s standards. On our walk around the unit, I couldn’t help but to look at all that boot (quite big compared to the very small person that D is) and laugh. I wasn’t laughing at D’s misfortune, of course. That would be cruel and I try to only be cruel on Monday’s and Wednesday’s. I was actually smiling at how D had decided that this brace would be a source of joy and amusement, rather than sadness or regret. I believe that disability and illness should not be hidden for it is a part of what makes an individual unique. But, it should not be the factor that defines that person. And, in many ways, it is how a person approaches their disability or illness that illustrates their true character. And, for D, this broken leg was just a way for her to express a fashion statement.