Educate yourself and others during Spina Bifida Month
October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect, affecting about one out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States.
What is spina bifida? Itís a birth defect that results in the spinal cord protruding from a babyís back. The back can be surgically closed before or after birth, but damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis, hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), bowel and bladder issues, and other challenges.
What causes it, and how can it be prevented? No one knows what causes spina bifida, but women can reduce their risk by up to 70 percent by taking 400mcg of folic acid daily for three months prior to conception. Every woman of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin.
What are people with spina bifida like? There is a wide range of outcomes. Some are barely affected, some are severely disabled, and most fall somewhere in between. Some use wheelchairs; others use braces, crutches, or walkers; and some walk independently. Most have normal intelligence. Spina bifida is only one part of them and does not define them. They can become teachers, doctors, musicians, athletes or anything they want to be.
What do you do when you see someone with a disability? Instead of looking away, make eye contact and smile. Instead of shushing children who ask questions about a wheelchair or other differences, encourage children to ask the person about it, or answer with: ěSome peopleís legs donít work the same as yours, so they need help to get around.î Emphasize that people with disabilities are more like everyone else than they are different.
To learn more about spina bifida, visit www.spinabifidaassociation.org.
ó Heather Trexler
Salisbury
Grateful for honest people
I would like to express my thanks to the person who found my wallet last Saturday (Oct. 23) and returned it to the Dollar Tree store. It is so wonderful that we still have honest people. Many, many thank yous. May God truly bless you.
ó Reba Holt
Cooleemee
1st haircut is picture perfect
In a time when jobs are scarce, pockets are empty and stress is a way of life for so many, itís so good to know there are still many, many good people among us.
Yesterday (Oct. 19), my daughter and I decided to take her almost 1-year-old son for his first haircut. While we were waiting our turn at the Granite Quarry Barber Shop, we realized neither of us had our phone or a camera to capture the moment. There were several other customers waiting and overheard our conversation about coming back the next day to re-enact the entire ěhaircutting thing.î
One lady walked over and started taking pictures with her phone. A man went to his car and and got his camera as we watched all the attention our little Will was getting.
Thanks to all! Thanks to Karen Taylor for your photos. Boyd Morgan even developed the pictures and brought them to our house. Thanks to Mark Williams for the complimentary haircut. We were truly blessed by each of you. Iím glad to know angels still exist among us. God bless each of you.
ó Debbi Wood
Salisbury
Endorsement letters deadline
Letters endorsing candidates in the Nov. 8 elections must be received in the Salisbury Post newsroom by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, for publication before the election.