I’ve always loved kids. When my husband and I started dating, our Olive Garden dates would include at least one game of peak a boo with the booth behind us. “There’s a baby behind me isn’t there?” he’d joke.
Kids. They’re the reason I write children’s books and the reason I studied Child Life. They’re the reason I advocate for children to star in my original musical, “Fall Risk.” They’re the reason most of my campaigns relate to pediatrics or special needs. Most memorably, it’s the reason my husband and I have had many heartbreaking discussions about my body as it relates to children.
HEALTH
As a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient and bilateral lung transplant recipient, here is a list of factors and considerations that we must take into account:
•Can I carry a child (as a woman)?
•Can I carry a child (as a CF patient)?
•Can I carry a child (as a bilateral lung transplant recipient)?
•Can I carry a child (as CF-related diabetic)?
•Can I carry a child (as a kidney disease patient)?
•Can I carry a child (as someone who manages at least 3 creative works simultaneously)?
•Would the baby be healthy during my pregnancy and post-birth?
•Would I be healthy during my pregnancy and post-birth?
•Where would my health need to be?
•What are the risks to baby?
•What are the risks to me?
•What are the chances of me coming to full term with a healthy baby?
•How much would surrogacy cost and would we consider this?
•How much would adoption cost and would we consider this?
•How long would it take to get pregnant, and at what point would we require medical assistance?
The answer to these questions individually have been answered: Yes! It is possible for a healthy woman, or a CF patient, or a transplant patient, or a diabetic, or a kidney patient, or a working lady to have a successful pregnancy. Once you combine all of these scenarios, however, it gets complicated.
There are certain transplant medications that must be stopped prior to pursuing pregnancy. I’ve tried this a couple of times. Unfortunately, after the medication clears my system and I wait the additional (recommended) 6-8 weeks, I get sick. Then, I have to restart the medication and wait for my infection to clear. Repeat.
Only one doctor (in North Carolina) has allowed me to ask all of these questions without a pessimistic or judgmental narrative.
Until Jared and I figure out the specifics, we decided to “throw the spaghetti at the wall” and pursue all of the ways that we could care for a child. As of right now, foster care won!
COLIE CREATIONS AND CHILD LIFE
I was born with cystic fibrosis (CF), but I wasn’t diagnosed until age 5. Once I finally was diagnosed, I already had five years worth of lung scarring. Meaning, many of the years that proceeded (especially middle school through college) were spent in an isolated hospital room. The good news is, I had the BEST mom. Pinterest did not exist back then, nor did the colorful children’s hospital, but my mom MADE them exist. She, along with many child life specialists (“play therapists”) filled my life with colors, pretend games, songs, pictures, light, and fun. This level of support and imagination led to my present day advocacy and begged for similar storytelling platforms. It’s why I received my certificate in the Theory and Practice of Child Life in 2019. It’s why I started my nonprofit, Colie Creations, to provide patients with different coping mechanisms, storytelling platforms, and support.
Puppets and puppies and poems. Oh my!
ENTERTAINMENT
I never outgrew TV shows like “Bear in the Big Blue House” or books like “Little Critter.” It makes sense that I’d want a little buddy who loves the same things. I also enjoy filtering grown up topics into a kid friendly voice. My mom taught me. Now, I’ll teach others!
Want to take a trip to the aquarium? Yes, please!
TRAUMA AND LOVE
Everyone has some level of trauma, and some people have a high pain tolerance. Regardless, a support system and coping mechanisms are essential. I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been like without the things, so I find great joy giving these to traumatized children. They deserve love and joy just like everyone else, maybe more. Definitely more.
In the next article, I’ll answer the most requested question… FOSTER BLOG: HOW?