Gastroschisis Support in Australia
Brand new support for parents with Gastroschisis babies in Australia!
This is what it is all about, support, a reach out from parents who have experienced the gastroschisis condition first hand and are willing to help others. There is no reason why any of our hundreds of members here can`t occasionally stop by the Gastroschisis Support Group, Australia and help out with a few answers there as well.
Like me April has been inspired to help, so stop by and add your stories to her website too.
Dean
412 members of gastroschisis.co.uk
Just over 2 years of this website has seen it grow beyond the normal forum of gastroschisis members into a very close nit community of parents that have experienced the condition into a very supportive and protective group that will always look after those new to the condition.
We (all members and me included) have never sought funding, nor will i ever seek renumeration for this website as i like you search for the answers or answer to the question we all ask: WHY?
Thank you one and all for all of your hard work for the Gastroschisis condition, whether you are raising funds for looking into research or you are looking for advice, or somebody to talk to in the same situation or looking for answers or like me you want to give answers. We are still here… if you are feeling low.. isolated… is this happenning to me.. is there anyone else out there feeling the same way i do… who can put my mind at ease…
YES WE CAN
We have 412 members on this site right now that can hopefully help you guys new with the Gastroschisis condition..you are not alone we are HERE.
There are a number of us that have experienced Gastroschisis firtst hand,from a parenting point of view and those of us growing up with Gastroschisis, through to the exceptional few that were pioneers in surviving the condition from more than 40 years ago… just ask.
If you are new to this site i originally started it as i have previously mentioned as a search for answers for my own daughters entrance to the world. Tanisha is nearly 8 years old (11th December), but as i write this i am still discussing the whys and what for`s …. even now we still discuss as to why the geneticist never quizzed me as the father about my history … nor asked me for a sample of one of my locks of hair.
Why as the father and obvious genetic route and trackback was i not asked about my social involvement?
Sure, i had never taken drugs, yes i smoked, no i never lived anywhere near a nuclear smoke stack or chemical waterworks and no i never went to Mars but …… i was never asked….. why?
For and behalf of all parents and soon to be parents of www.Gastroschisis.co.uk
Dean
Having "belly buttons" made as an adult!
Hi all,
I thought readers of this site might be interested in my story about plastic surgery to give a ‘bellybutton’.
I was born with Gastroschisis in 1979. As a child I was extremely self-conscious of the scar that went from side to side and made my belly look like a smiley face!
So at 12 years of age I had plastic surgery to get a belly button created.
From what I understand, they basically folded in unscarred skin over my prominent scar (that still showed stitch holes!) and used invisible stitches, and formed a belly button shape.
The stitches either side of the ‘belly button’ got infected because I was sent home from hospital too soon, and I remember applying bandages and cream to the infections for weeks. I actually missed the first ~3 months of high school for this operation, as I couldn’t walk for a while (too much downwards pressure on the belly).
I was always very shy about my body and scar, and felt completely abnormal. I strongly believe that if I didn’t have this plastic surgery done, I would have had a more difficult time with close relationships. I am self-conscious as it is, and having a fake bellybutton makes me a little less sensitive about my scar but I am still shy in that regard.
As an adult, I’ve become overweight. I notice (and remember it being the case at age 12) that fat has always gathered around my middle quite obviously above the scar. I assume this is because there’s less ‘stretch’ in the scar region. I’d be interested to know if others are the same. Being overweight with a fake belly button, really makes me shy!
I’ve also got fertility issues but that’s a whole other post!
I’m so glad to have found this site, it’s amazing how little information there is about long-term effects of this condition seeing there’s like 1 in 5000 babies with it.
Cheers,
Kate

