64: Parenting a Child with Symbrachydactyly | Natalie Fries

Natalie’s joy quickly turned to panic when she looked down at her newborn baby and realized that her hand was not fully formed. Now, several years and several surgeries later, Natalie talks about the incredible process of giving Brielle function in her left hand.

Quotes:

• “I looked down, I remember she was on my chest and I looked down, and here her little hand was all balled up and all fused together. And at that moment, my world just crushed.” – Natalie Fries
• “I had five different sonograms and we didn’t know anything was wrong.” – Natalie Fries
• “It definitely looks different, but it’s unique and that makes Brielle Brielle, and it actually strikes up some interesting conversations sometimes with strangers. It strikes up conversations with us as a family, just talking about how everyone’s different and it doesn’t mean that that’s a bad thing.” – Natalie Fries
• “Though our stories might be different, there’s so much that we have in common. And we really are a band of mothers.” – Emily Melious
• “There’s something about motherhood that takes us to a place we never thought we could go in our bravery, our courage, our love for someone.” – Emily Melious
• “I would love for her to, quote unquote, be normal and not have to deal with this, but at the same time, like I think that it’s changed our family. I think it’s changed our perspectives. I think that it changed my faith, and I would not change anything about it so far.” – Natalie Fries
• “Breathe, just breathe. Make sure you have a good community around you because it’s too hard to do this alone. You know, if you believe in God, rely on God. If you have an incredible relationship with your mom, call your mom. Don’t try to do this alone.” – Natalie Fries

Highlights:

• 0:53 – Brielle’s story
• 13:54 – What it means to be a Mother of Misfits
• 20:07 – Advice for moms getting a new diagnosis

Speakers: