I was flipping through a Woman’s Day, from 2006.
I stumbled across an interesting photo
and a heart-warming story about:
Rose Siggins.
When she was two, her mother – under the advice of doctors, removed her legs. She was born with a rare genetic disorder known as Sacral Agenesis.
Of her physical condition, she says:
"If you take a Barbie doll and remove it's legs, the region you are left with is what I have. I have all the female working organs, the only reason I sit shorter or more compact, is because I'm missing
four sections of my spinal column".
Rose’s school struggled to accept what was normal for Rose. They forced her to wear prosthetic legs, until, in 8th grade, she rebelled. The school noticed her stubborn nature and her reluctance to release her skateboard. They realised that Rose was stronger than they were. They relented and Rose moved around with her skateboard.
Rose loves cars. In fact, she’s a racing driver! Since the age of three, she has spent time in garages. They have become her haven, a safe place... a thinking place.
She got her first car at 16. Her father helped her to insert hand controls, so she could drive herself around.
A 1968 mustang, which she rebuilt, is her race car.
Since 1999, Rose has been married to Dave Siggins, a mechanic. Together, they have two children, which has stunned the medical profession. No other woman with Sacral Agenesis (Rose’s genetic disorder)
has ever given birth.
After Rose’s mother died from cancer, Rose has taken on the responsibility of caring for father and brother. After a life of smoking, her father depends on oxygen and suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia. Her brother will always have the mental age of an 8 year old and relies on medication. He needs constant supervision and tends to be violent.
After a quick look at her Facebook page, it seems that Rose really doesn’t see herself as anything different to anyone else. She says: "A lot of people with disabilities feel that life owes them something, and I was raised in a way that no, no-one owes you a dime. The world doesn't owe you anything, this is what you have and you use your resources and you get through life. My personal opinion is, get up and go for it, just do it."
Sounds like good advice.
Caudal regression syndrome or sacral agenesis is a rare genetic disorder in which there is abnormal fetal development of the lower spine means that all or part of the lower section of the spinal column has failed to form. Sacral agenesis genetic disorder occurs at a rate of approximately one per 25,000 live births.
Sources:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/342544_
UK Channel 5 "Extraordinary People" series
http://www.mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk/misc/rosesigginsbaby.html photo with car
http://www.forum.breakbeat.co.uk skateboard shot
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