In 1986, at 18 months, I was fitted with a prosthetic device, a decision made by my parents and doctors so that I would blend in and develop “normally.” But there was nothing empowering about forcing a toddler to wear a heavy and at times painful device.
I spent my entire childhood and adolescence trying to conform. I did just about anything to ease the agonizing pains of the stares, verbal taunts, and pointed fingers from my classmates. I wore long sleeves, I starved myself, I did whatever I needed to do to become invisible. By the time I was 8 years old, I had no self-confidence, and the hand I was wearing was making it harder and harder for me to fit in. So I decided I was better off without one. I didn’t need anyone to fix me. Because I wasn’t broken.
This story is from the August 14, 2023 edition of Time.
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This story is from the August 14, 2023 edition of Time.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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