The Yahoo Chiari Support Group is a wonderful and informative place for anyone with or knows someone with Chiari of any type. We, the group members, know what this is and how it feels to have Chiari or to have a family member or friend with Chiari. We are not all bitter and pouting. We have our share of the crying and complaining e-mails, but we do have the 'odd' topics come up too. We, as everyone does, like to laugh and get into silly conversations. This is one of those conversations that made us feel better with laughter and not so alone with a strange 'symptom.' This topic was about extraordinary abilities due to our loss of some senses. I have heard of the blind having a heightened sense of hearing or taste, but this was not like that at all. Most of the group is smart, but have a problem concentrating or taking tests. Most of us love to read and would rather read than anything else. There are other senses that are 'heightened' such as: hearing, smell and taste. Family and friends find us nuts, but others with Chiari just see us the way we are only slightly abnormal. Everyone is slightly abnormal.
What follows is
a copy of an e-mail that was sent to the group from Anni in Transylvainia, NC.
She made many people feel so good with her comment. I was one of them and I
asked if I could include her e-mail here, I received a yes. I hope that I am
doing her justice with these comments. Her words also reflect what I think the
world should adopt when they feel someone is abnormal, weird, funny-looking, or
unlike themselves.
Take Anni's
words to heart and think about them before you pass judgment of someone that is
not like you.
Dear Friends,
Now, that we know that we are gifted with extra sensitive senses, we should be relieved. Our houses (probably) are not haunted, we are not imagining things, and we are not crazy.
WE ARE GIFTED! WE ARE SPECIAL! WE ARE TALENTED!
So what, if ever others see us as wacko...they can't enter this sense not yet numbered. We see, and smell and hear in unique ways. We are generous, we give love. we have humor, we understand pain and fear and we embrace hope. We are brave. I'm proud to be among such wonderful people. We are rare creatures of special intelligence, amazing sensitivity, remarkable insight and many unusual talents. I bet we have high IQ's. We have been cursed with a monster and have become wizards. WONDERFUL WIZARDS. Magic!
Anni from Transylvainia, NC
Amen Anni!!