A legend called Granny

When my grandmother was 8 years old, she was diagnosed with osteomyelitis. Many of you may not know what this is. I’ll be honest and say that only in my older years did I come to know much of anything about this disease. Because as a child, my grandmother’s straight leg was just that, a straight leg. But it’s much more than that now

Legends can be two things, mythical-like stories or people who represent some part of history.  My grandmother represents the latter, and although you won’t read about her in any famous history books, she takes up a large chapter in the book of my family’s history.

If I was going to name the chapter, I would call it ‘Babs’. That’s her nickname. I’m not sure where it originated from, I don’t think she is either, but it fits. She’s not your typical lady. She walks the line between utterly polite and as she likes to put it, ‘bad’ but I’d say strong. Both work, but I guarantee you, she would not be the woman she is today without a little bit of punch.

Osteomyelitis is a deterioration of the bone. In 1930, there wasn’t much in the way of treating this disease. And so, in order to stop the bone from deteriorating, they fused the joints of Granny’s right leg together. As you can imagine, this limits certain activities. Bike riding, ice skating, riding roller coasters. Further than that, it makes a normal 8 year old girl stick out. For most, this would be devastating and I’m sure my Granny felt just that, especially on her worst days: devastation. However, the story doesn’t end here. There wouldn’t be a legend named after this woman if she didn’t floor us all with her capabilities.

There are many people that would take a diagnosis such as this and break down; lose their purpose. There are some who would look it in the face and battle it; not become a victim of the disease. And then there are some, who would face it with enough strength to surpass all records; cross all of the lines. Be They would be labeled a ‘survivor’. That’s my grandmother.

If you’ve never seen someone tend to a garden lying down, then you should meet my grandmother. If you’ve never seen someone swing from a tree rope with a straight leg, then you should meet my grandmother. If you’ve never seen someone learn to swim with only the use of three limbs, then you should meet my grandmother; she would amaze you.

As a person, she has defied many odds. She has taken a bad circumstance and made it disappear. As a woman, she has represented strength, fortitude and vigor; she put her whole heart into everything. As my grandmother, she has created a legend that will be told for generations to come, just like it was told to me.