The Role of IDP In My LifeThe Role of IDP In My Life

Katiejane E. MorganKatiejane E. Morgan

February 6th, 1989, nearly February 6th, 1989, nearly twenty years ago I entered this twenty years ago I entered this world with the weight of it upon world with the weight of it upon my shoulders. With obstacles my shoulders. With obstacles piled left, right, front and center piled left, right, front and center to stand where I am today the to stand where I am today the young woman I am, some might young woman I am, some might tell you, is nothing short of a tell you, is nothing short of a miracle, remarkable or miracle, remarkable or astonishing. Yet, I am only astonishing. Yet, I am only capable of standing here due to capable of standing here due to the few special resources and the few special resources and individuals that fought to prove individuals that fought to prove these predictions wrong, these predictions wrong, including the amazing including the amazing individuals through the Infant individuals through the Infant Development Program of British Development Program of British Columbia.Columbia.

Born ten weeks premature Born ten weeks premature with a condition known as with a condition known as Hydrocephalus (a build up of Hydrocephalus (a build up of spinal fluid on the brain), my spinal fluid on the brain), my prognoses was anything but prognoses was anything but favourable. Being placed into favourable. Being placed into the care of the Ministry for the care of the Ministry for Children and Families, finding Children and Families, finding a home willing to take on an a home willing to take on an infant as ill as I was, an infant infant as ill as I was, an infant that was not suppose to see a that was not suppose to see a day of life, was a difficult day of life, was a difficult process. However, the couple, process. However, the couple, who would become my mother who would become my mother and father adopting me as and father adopting me as their own, came into my life. their own, came into my life.

Little did they know they Little did they know they would soon face another would soon face another difficult setback as I, this difficult setback as I, this infant was rushed back to infant was rushed back to Children’s Hospital failing to Children’s Hospital failing to breath properly, and later breath properly, and later diagnosed with the RSV diagnosed with the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).

To a premature infant with To a premature infant with weak lungs as I had, my weak lungs as I had, my chance of survival was slim, chance of survival was slim, no doctor thought I’d leave. no doctor thought I’d leave. Once again I was out to prove Once again I was out to prove them wrong.them wrong.

Six weeks later I would go home Six weeks later I would go home with my mother and father, I with my mother and father, I was still ill, odds still very much was still ill, odds still very much so against me. My parents were so against me. My parents were told I would never walk, never told I would never walk, never talk, never live life to a standard talk, never live life to a standard of a so-called “normal” human of a so-called “normal” human being. My mother told me; I being. My mother told me; I would walk, I would talk, I would would walk, I would talk, I would live a life being whoever I live a life being whoever I pleased to be. This is when pleased to be. This is when Infant Development came into Infant Development came into my life and along with my my life and along with my mother told me I would walk, I mother told me I would walk, I would talk, I would live a life would talk, I would live a life being who I pleased. Was this being who I pleased. Was this task going to be easy, not by task going to be easy, not by any means but, overcoming any means but, overcoming those obstacles was a must and those obstacles was a must and here I am today capable of here I am today capable of walking, talking and living my walking, talking and living my life being who I strive to be.life being who I strive to be.

My life is not free of obstacles, My life is not free of obstacles, nor is yours, or anyone else’s. I nor is yours, or anyone else’s. I have many Neurological based have many Neurological based conditions that I will live with conditions that I will live with for the remaining years of my for the remaining years of my life. During my grade eleven life. During my grade eleven year of high school one year of high school one condition causing tremors condition causing tremors progressed and once again I progressed and once again I was challenged to prove to the was challenged to prove to the world I would graduate, not on world I would graduate, not on time, it might have taken an time, it might have taken an extra year but, time does not extra year but, time does not matter. Accomplishing a task matter. Accomplishing a task against all odds is the most against all odds is the most rewarding experience one can rewarding experience one can have whether you are that have whether you are that individual facing the obstacle individual facing the obstacle or the one who guides the or the one who guides the individual through.individual through.

Without the Infant Without the Infant Development team in Development team in my life I would not be my life I would not be looking to the future, looking to the future, standing on my own standing on my own two feet. two feet.

If IDP was not around If IDP was not around during my infant during my infant years who knows years who knows where I’d be today. I where I’d be today. I have nothing but the have nothing but the utmost respect and utmost respect and gratitude for a team gratitude for a team who gave me the gift who gave me the gift of life. of life.