FUOUAY-V ARENA
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Parents of Birth Defects Children
Find Help by Coming Together
% firsts WifiismssG'
Social Worker
March of Dimes Birth
Defects Center,
St. Louis Children's Hospital,
St. Louis, Missouri
“1 can talk to a friend or a
relative or someone here at
the hospital and they will lis
ten. But they don't under
stand because they iiaven't
experienced what I go through
every day.”
These words, spoken by the
mother of a child born with
severe hirth defects, best ex
plain the concept underlying
the formation of parent groups
at many March of Dimes
Birth Defects Centers across
the country.
Birth defects strike 260,000
babies each year in the United
States. This means one every
two minutes. Birth defects
range from those which can
be corrected easily to the
tragic malformations that can
destroy « mind or body.
No one is prepared for the
shock of learning that his
baby has Ireen born severely
handicapped. When it hap
pens, making the years ahead
suddenly seem long and com
fortless, lKith husband and
wife need someone who under
stands their heartache and
confusion
Doctors, social workers and
therapists can guide parents
as they look for new direr
The Store
Os
Personal
Service
Mason's
mm store
Phone 522-4666
Re*. No. 1256
Fuquay-Varina N. C.
THE CAROLINIAN
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\ /\ J 202 S. Main St Fuquay-Varina, N C
POPE’S
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FUQUA Y ERWiN
NASHVILLE jPITTSBORO
LILLINGTON LOUISBURG
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WAKE FOREST APEX
2EBULON SMiTKFIELD
WENDELL OXFORD
14
tions Increasingly, however,
many couples are turning to
each other for support in
many ways.
Emotional Support
The Parents Association
for Spina Bifida and Hydro
cephalus at St. Louis Chil
dren’s Hospital was formed
about two years ago with the
support of the Center social
worker Spina bifida is a de
feet in which parts of the ver
tebrae ( making up the spine)
fail to fuse during the early
months of life following con
ception. The condition can
range from minor impairment
of the legs to paralysis, and
often occurs in conjunction
with hydrocephalus (“water
on the brain”).
Since many parents must
travel a considerable distance
to attend the monthly Birth
Defects Clinic,and most fath
ers take a day off from work
to do so, parents meetings are
also held once a month on the
evening of clinic day More
than a dozen couples attend
regularly, and all parents who
come to the < ‘enter with a
newborn child receive an in
vitatjon The letter outlines
the group’s objectives.
To help our children attain
their maximum eupahili
ties;
To help promote and pro
vide emotional support
and a [retter understand
ing of our children;
To promote fellowship and
good will among mem
bers of tlie association
At many sessions, educa
lional talks are presented
During the past year, speak
ers have included a neurosur
geon, a physical therapist, a
urologist, an orthopedist, an
occupational therapist, a rep
resentative from the »St. Dmis
County Special School Dis
trict from the program for the
Orthopedically Hand icapjied.
w | see v ifff
TWIN CITY
RADIO
and APPLIANCE
COMPANY
Fuquay-Vanna. N. C.
Phone 552-471!
and the executive director of
local chapter of 'Die Na
tional Foundation Man’ll of
Dimes The Center social
worker, of course, attends ail
meetings
Two Way l earning
The medical and paramed
ical professionals have all
been from the staff of the
Birth Defects Center ami
many parents fee! that this is
an important factor
“After a doctor speaks at
our meriting," says one moth
er, “we have a little closer
feeling to him. It becomes
easier to ask questions. I sup
pose it’s because here we’re
people, not just the patient’s
parents.”
The relationship can lie re
ciprocal Many of the Center
staff members feel they have
learned more about the fam
ily problems through discus
sions at the meetings.
Meetings art; believed by
WILLIAM'S
slk FOOD
N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina
Phone 552-2111
•*““ — ——-
Mack’s Variety
Store, Ine.
MAIN STREET
Fuquay-Varina, N. C.
* 1,1 1— "■ •
Stroud Pontiac*
Ruick, Inc.
420 N. Main St.
Fuquay-Varina, N. C.
Telephone 552-2201
Shop At.,.
PARKIS’S
FURNITURE
STORES
Fa*n*?
Vafin*, N. C.
... And SAVE
Clothing
&
Shoes
For The Family
CRICKEATEER
Suits and Sport
Coats
BASS WEEJUNS
SHOES
London Fog
ASHWORTH’S,
INC.
Fuquay-Varina, N. C.
emm, lu >~
qaidaasn tram »aei»l wurkxr Srata William*** (right!, arc ths
«»«aa*U»l ingredient* at maciiagt es parent* wha*c children have hirth
detect*.
some to provide a very useful
kind of informal group ther
apy. learning from one an
other how to face these prob
lems and to deal with them
constructively is one of the
most important functions of
the group.
When a new couple attends
their first meeting, they im
mediately become aware that
they are not aione. The group
makes them feel “at home”
discussing questions that a
parent might be reluctant to
Talk about with a neighbor
for example problems of uri
nary and bowel control for
their child.
Empathy Not Sympathy
The meetings have followed
similar patterns around the
country. Participants empha
size to each other that these
meetings are not sympathy
sessions Bather, those at
tending unite in mutual in
terest, assist new parents
KESLER’S
LADIES' A CHILDREN S
CLOTHING ANO SHOES
Fuquay-Varina, N. C
CAROLINA FEED
COMPANY
Fuquay-Varina, N. C.
NEW AND USED MOBILE
HOMES
New A Lined Furniture
And ApMlhuuscw
IK 4 MOBILE
HOME SALES
Located at Intersection of
Mifi&ways
491 and 53 at 5 Points
Fuquay-Varina. N. C,
TeL: 352-8192; 552-2228
VARINA FARMERS EXCHANGE INC.
Feeds-Seeck-Fertifuers-lnseciicides
SEED CLEANING
GENERAL FARM SUPPLIES
Fuquay Varina, N. C, 27526 Phone 552-2236
“ COLOR TV’S ' "
Televieon and Radio Repairs—At! Appiiances Repaired
Free Pick-Up and Delivery' Free Estimates and Appraisals
We Sell add itrpan ah Maxes and Models—New and Used
LOWRY AND SONS
LOW PRICES AND FAST SERVICE
APPLIANCE SERVICE AND SEWING CENTER
_ Call: 552-2311 Day or Night
Ransikll Brothers
Quality Merchandise Reasonably Priced
CLOTHINf FOR MEN AND BOVS
SHOES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
2?3 S. Main Si , Ph. 552-2216 Fuquay-Varina. N. C
"ZaJasTMITCHEU. CHEVROLET
C 0„ INC.
** itn S. Main St. Fuquay-Varina. N. C
Phone 552-4844
with information and moral
support, and discuss ways to
develop better community
understanding of the problem
of handicapped children as it
relates to society.
Although the purposes are
much the same, not all groups
are organized alike. Some ac
cept parents of children with
any birth defect Some are
therapeutic and operate en
tirely under professional so
pervision. Other groups meet
informally, often at private
homes However, most seek
professional assistance at
some point, frequently from
a social worker
Many parents say that the
difficulty of facing the initial
shock seems to he made
easier by talking to another
parent One father, whose
child is now six, describes his
feelings when he sees a new
family arrive at the clinic
“1 see them in the hall and
want to help. I want to show
them things aren’t as had as
they might he 1 know what
they’re in for and it’s easier
if you know what to expect
Now, through the parents as
social ion, we have a channel
to provide reassurance to
these families.”
SHOP AND SAW IN
El'QI AY-VARIN \
Bank of Varina
Member F D.l.f.
WAKS
1460 KC
Phone 552-4001
552-5611
aMcleaners
I LAUNDRY
183 DEPOT ST.
Fuquay-Varina