From the time we are little, society tells us that our mother, father and other family members are our “family.” No ifs, ands or buts about it. We are constantly told by society that the woman who gave birth to us is automatically our “mother” simply because she gave us life. For a long time, it didn’t seem to matter to others that the woman who gave birth to me was rarely physically or emotionally present for me (the child she’d created). It also didn’t seem to matter to folks that she’d regularly tell me I was sick and would need *her* care 24/7. However, on some level, I was very much aware that something just didn’t seem to add up between when I was in her care and when I was in other people’s care.

I was born at 26 weeks (6 months to be exact). I have Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) as well as cerebral palsy. I was forced to have numerous leg surgeries and numerous eye surgeries as a child in my mom’s care…which I have been told in my adulthood were likely all pointless.

My cerebral palsy is mild, though neither of my disabilities stop me from living a full, enjoyable life. I’ve been on what I’d term my healing journey since the fall of 2017, going full no-contact with my mom for 6 years now. That has been the best decision I’ve ever made, and I am incredibly proud of how far I have come/where I’ll go in my future.