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Vicki was a beautiful baby; we always knew she would be someone special.
Although she developed normally at first, she had a mischievous streak.
When she was three months old, she could climb out of her playpen; she
had to be watched constantly.
When she was six months old, she could walk, and would climb on just
about everything.
When she was only two years old, an incident happened that revealed
to us that she had a genetic deformity.
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Vicki's Lymphedema in the leg. (10 years ago)
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She had managed to overturn a dresser on herself.
Although she was not injured, our mother noticed shortly thereafter that
Vicki’s left foot was a little larger than her right. She immediately
brought this to our father’s attention. Our father, who was a Physician,
doubted that this condition could have been caused by the dresser incident.
They brought Vicki to a Pediatrician, who diagnosed her with “Milroy’s
Disease”, also know as “Lymphedema”, the main symptom
of which is insufficient drainage of the lymph glands, usually affecting
the legs,
which eventually causes grotesque deformity.
By the age of three, there was a remarkable difference in the size of
her legs. |
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Around this time she became interested in swimming. Our two older sisters
were accomplished swimmers, and she naturally took to this sport. Our
parents encouraged this activity, and never made an issue that Vicki
was “different” from the rest of the family or “deformed”.
Around the age of three and a half, she took part in her first swimming
meet and earned her first ribbon. The swimming meet was televised, and,
as the youngest swimmer there, she caused quite a stir.
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Vicki went on to be a star athlete, not just in swimming, but also softball,
water polo, volleyball, gymnastics and basketball in her High School years.
She also studied Ballet and Acrobatics. She was one of the top ten water
polo players in the country, winning many ribbons and trophies; she was
MVP, Athlete of the Week, All-Journal, All-City, All-County, All-State,
and All-American in this sport. She was invited to be on the National
Junior Olympics Water Polo Team, but our family could not afford to send
her.
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Although her condition started to worsen, with repeated
bouts of infection, she worked various jobs throughout her twenties, mainly
in restaurant and office positions. She also completed a computer-programming
course. By then, it was already difficult for her to stand or even sit
for long periods of time, and the condition had spread to her right leg,
which, although never as badly affected as her left, was now also severely
deformed.
She now survives on government assistance, although she would prefer to
be working.
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Vicki is a beautiful, intelligent, talented person; it is a shame that
she is so limited by this disability. She has always been the one to
help a friend or family member in need. She can barely fit into a normal
size car with her disability, let alone drive, without risking exposing
herself to infection. She has to rely on family, friends, and public
transportation to buy groceries or get to medical appointments.
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On December 1,1998, Vicki gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named
Brichele Marinda, nicknamed “Breezy”. Although “Breezy’s”
father and Vicki are no longer together, he and his family have been
very supportive. Vicki turned out to be a wonderful mother. Thankfully,
Brichelle does not seem to have inherited her mother’s genetic
disorder, although she was a very early walker and talker, like her
mother. The fact remains, however, that Vicki is a single mother and
needs a lot of assistance. She can not afford Day Care for Breezy.
Here is a relatively recent picture of Vicki and her daughter and long
time friends Rose and Sharon.
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There is no known cure for Lymphedema,
but there is hope, and there are treatments.
Lymphedema
Vicki has to be hospitalized at least twice a year
for severe infections.
Lymphedema
During a recent hospital stay last year,
a Physician actually suggested amputation!
Lymphedema
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In January, 2001, Vicki began to undergo
“Manual Lymphatic Drainage”,
a very painful, long-term procedure, which only slightly relieves
some of the symptoms of her condition.
She recently discontinued these treatments after
a series of tragic events occurred this year. In January, after
a series of heart attacks, our father passed away. |
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Doctor Norman Borken, MD
(The kind family doctors who always made time to listen to his patients)
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As Vicki was very attached to Dad, she and “Breezy” spent
much of their time in the hospital, providing as much comfort and reassurance
that they could to both of our parents, until our father’s demise.
Vicki has never gotten over our father’s death, and has been suffering
disabling bouts of depression ever since.
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In February, our sister Sharon gave Vicki a car, barely large enough
for Vicki to fit her legs into,
so she could get back and forth to treatments on her own.
Keile and her mom Sharon
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In May, Vicki was to resume treatments, and our mother was to baby sit
for Breezy.
Mom had to be hospitalized, and Vicki was unable to proceed as planned.
In June, a truck ran through a red light, and struck Vicki’s car
from behind,
once again depriving her of transportation.
It became, once again, difficult for her to make therapy appointments.
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Our sister Marian, seen here with her husband, Richard, recently passed
away,
after extended hospitalization.
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Now for some good news:
we found out from her therapist that there is an extremely
costly surgical treatment, only available at Malmo University Hospital
in Sweden, that would allow Vicki to have a much more normal life.
If not for the progression of this strange, incurable, disabling
and disfiguring disease, Vicki could have gone on to the Olympics.
It was always her life-long dream to be a swimming and water-polo
coach, but now, she says, she just wants to have a normal life for
both herself and her daughter. Vicki may be a mother now, but we
all still know her as our “little sister”. |
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We Love you, Vicki; We Share Your Dreams...
Vicki, Breezy and cousin Zach
Breezy on Television
Vicki and Breezy on Magnum's Force
ABC Channel 10 Television
(January 19, 2004)
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