Re: A message from Aucott.

[Guest guest]

Just a response as I couldn't help but think it. No hard feelings

towards you or you're having had the surgery or any who may be

considering it rather my response is towards the reason you say those

other than dwarfs shouldn't have it because " you're opposed to them

having it and they're taking away the time of the doctors " for those

who really 'need' it.

You say they are really taking away the time the doctors could be

using on those who really need the surgery (ie. dwarfs). However,

since it's an elective surgery, one not of necessity or of need even

for dwarfs, would that statement of yours really true then? Unless,

of course, the surgery is a necessity for us because dwarfism is a

life threatening condition and that threat can only be lessened or

removed if we do have the surgery? Since it's not, my point is then

those who are not dwarfs but still 'choosing' to have the surgery you

yourself 'chose', albeit for cosmetic reasons or for vain ones, since

it was an 'elective' choice for you and not one of necessity why

can't it be for them? Why, because they can look at you and say the

same thing. Use the same reason you used against them, dontcha think?

They can say, " Hey shorty, it's a well known fact that you've told

the whole world that you didn't really need the surgery but you

wanted it, so why can't we? "

Don't me wrong, Gillian, I'm glad you got it because that's what you

wanted (not needed, key point here), and if it made you happy then

I'm happy:). I just thought of the ones who you say are taking up the

doctors time for their surgery when the doctors could be doing lp's

instead, but since it's not even a necessity for us to have it done

then why can't they have done as well?

luv, grady;)

ps-Now, I'm not talking of those who 'need' the surgery to correct

one limb from being shorter than the other due to a birth glitch (I

hate the word 'defect' and I couldn't think of a better one at the

moment), to help them walk better and evenly, or those who broke a

leg as a kid from a sporting event or car accident or some other

mishap as they do 'need' it. So, if anyone has the right to complain

about who is taking up the time of " the few doctors out there who

know how to do it well " it would seem to me to be this group more

than any other, even more so than the dwarfs. Now, it's true that it

wasn't out of 'vanity' as to why you had your surgery, but it wasn't

out of 'necessity' either as the folks in this paragraph can say it

is and would be right for saying it is as well.

Dear ,

Thanks for making us aware of this article; it was interesting

indeed. Though this may come as a surprise to some on this list, I

am strongly opposed to cosmetic limb lengthening. There are a couple

of reasons for this, but the main one is the few doctors who know how

to do this well are far too busy with people who really need them to

lengthen these people and it is wrong to make those people wait even

longer than they already have to just because someone around 5'5 "

cannot live with himself at that height and feels he needs to be

taller. People may also be interested to know these people are the

majority of people I hear from in response to my statement on ELL

that Dan has posted on the website. I won't respond to them, but they

keep writing nonetheless and eventually find someone to help them.

Gillian.

[Guest guest]

My opinion of the whole surgery is this: I was born

this way, apparently god wanted me like this, why

change something he created. I will not have it

done,for these reasons. I am old enough now and have

been thru alot in my lifetime, why change my life, my

size, or my body. Who's to say what the side effects

will be? I have alot of friends that know and like me

for who I am. When I was younger I always wished I

were taller, but not now, I enjoy being little. Ya,

it's harder to get a job, but we adapt to that. We

have adapted allo our lives, at least I have, and

accomplished so much because of our size, why change

it. Is it because we're tired of being teased, so

what, be positive about that, I have, everybody gets

teased for something no matter the shape or size or

color. Our life is a challenge because we're little.

Which makes it even better. For this I will not

change. This is my opinion. Dede

--- gradysir <gradysir@...> wrote:

> Just a response as I couldn't help but think it. No

> hard feelings

> towards you or you're having had the surgery or any

> who may be

> considering it rather my response is towards the

> reason you say those

> other than dwarfs shouldn't have it because " you're

> opposed to them

> having it and they're taking away the time of the

> doctors " for those

> who really 'need' it.

>

> You say they are really taking away the time the

> doctors could be

> using on those who really need the surgery (ie.

> dwarfs). However,

> since it's an elective surgery, one not of necessity

> or of need even

> for dwarfs, would that statement of yours really

> true then? Unless,

> of course, the surgery is a necessity for us because

> dwarfism is a

> life threatening condition and that threat can only

> be lessened or

> removed if we do have the surgery? Since it's not,

> my point is then

> those who are not dwarfs but still 'choosing' to

> have the surgery you

> yourself 'chose', albeit for cosmetic reasons or for

> vain ones, since

> it was an 'elective' choice for you and not one of

> necessity why

> can't it be for them? Why, because they can look at

> you and say the

> same thing. Use the same reason you used against

> them, dontcha think?

> They can say, " Hey shorty, it's a well known fact

> that you've told

> the whole world that you didn't really need the

> surgery but you

> wanted it, so why can't we? "

>

> Don't me wrong, Gillian, I'm glad you got it because

> that's what you

> wanted (not needed, key point here), and if it made

> you happy then

> I'm happy:). I just thought of the ones who you say

> are taking up the

> doctors time for their surgery when the doctors

> could be doing lp's

> instead, but since it's not even a necessity for us

> to have it done

> then why can't they have done as well?

>

> luv, grady;)

>

> ps-Now, I'm not talking of those who 'need' the

> surgery to correct

> one limb from being shorter than the other due to a

> birth glitch (I

> hate the word 'defect' and I couldn't think of a

> better one at the

> moment), to help them walk better and evenly, or

> those who broke a

> leg as a kid from a sporting event or car accident

> or some other

> mishap as they do 'need' it. So, if anyone has the

> right to complain

> about who is taking up the time of " the few doctors

> out there who

> know how to do it well " it would seem to me to be

> this group more

> than any other, even more so than the dwarfs. Now,

> it's true that it

> wasn't out of 'vanity' as to why you had your

> surgery, but it wasn't

> out of 'necessity' either as the folks in this

> paragraph can say it

> is and would be right for saying it is as well.

>

>

>

> Dear ,

>

> Thanks for making us aware of this article; it was

> interesting

> indeed. Though this may come as a surprise to some

> on this list, I

> am strongly opposed to cosmetic limb lengthening.

> There are a couple

> of reasons for this, but the main one is the few

> doctors who know how

> to do this well are far too busy with people who

> really need them to

> lengthen these people and it is wrong to make those

> people wait even

> longer than they already have to just because

> someone around 5'5 "

> cannot live with himself at that height and feels he

> needs to be

> taller. People may also be interested to know these

> people are the

> majority of people I hear from in response to my

> statement on ELL

> that Dan has posted on the website. I won't respond

> to them, but they

> keep writing nonetheless and eventually find someone

> to help them.

> Gillian.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Grady,

As always, you make some interesting points. Sure, some of the people with

congenital anomalies and LLD can make the same claim about me and I would

respect that, but to date not one has. At the same time, these same people

share my opinion of cosmetic lengthening. As everyone here who has read

anything I have written previously knows, for me the decision was all about

being able to function independently in a world designed for people at

least five feet tall. I wanted to able to drive a car without extension

pedals, reach the top shelf in a supermarket and take care of my basic

needs without assistance. I know many believe that is an excuse I hide

behind and I really did this because I could not deal with being small, or

my mother made me do this because she could not deal with me being small,

but nothing could be further from the truth.

Everyone knows LPs do not " need " to be lengthened, I have never said they

do, Dr. Paley has never said they do and none of his other LP patients who

have been lengthened have made that claim, but there are a couple of

differences. This can help LPs in other ways than increasing their

height. It can correct varus or valgus, reduce or eliminate the sway back,

and help in other areas I am forgetting right now. Taking care of such

issues early on can help prevent the need for surgery later on in

life. Also insurance covers LPs who want to be lengthened, but not people

over five feet who just want to be taller so clearly they see a difference

as well. The people I am talking about are a different breed

entirely. For starters they are taller than I am today before they begin

and the " condition " they have been labeled as having is a height

neurosis. " Neurosis " by definition is a disorder of the mind or emotions

and should be treated accordingly. Of course, with ISKD now available

cosmetic lengthening is going to become much more commonplace, but such is

life. And it is not that I want doctors to stop doing this so they have

more time for LPs, there are not enough LPs who do this to make them the

real issue, rather so they have more time for those who really do need them

-- the kids who are at risk of losing their limbs without this procedure.

So, Grady, I understand the point you make and it has been made before, but

I do think there is a difference. LPs do not need this the way the kids

born with congenital anomalies do, but the benefits and reasons for having

this are very different for us than for people over five feet tall. As

always, just my opinion. Gillian.

[Guest guest]

Good job Grady!!!!!(-: I do too, as long as I'm not

made a fool, lol.Dede

--- gradysir <gradysir@...> wrote:

> I agree:). I just love turning the tables around on

> people is all, to

> make them think:Þ.

>

> luv, grady;)

>

>

> > My opinion of the whole surgery is this: I was

> born

> > this way, apparently god wanted me like this, why

> > change something he created. I will not have it

> > done,for these reasons. I am old enough now and

> have

> > been thru alot in my lifetime, why change my life,

> my

> > size, or my body. Who's to say what the side

> effects

> > will be? I have alot of friends that know and like

> me

> > for who I am. When I was younger I always wished I

> > were taller, but not now, I enjoy being little.

> Ya,

> > it's harder to get a job, but we adapt to that. We

> > have adapted allo our lives, at least I have, and

> > accomplished so much because of our size, why

> change

> > it. Is it because we're tired of being teased, so

> > what, be positive about that, I have, everybody

> gets

> > teased for something no matter the shape or size

> or

> > color. Our life is a challenge because we're

> little.

> > Which makes it even better. For this I will not

> > change. This is my opinion. Dede

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

>>but the benefits and reasons for having this are very different for

us (lp's) than for people over five feet tall. As always, just my

opinion. Gillian.

Or so you say, the benefits and reasons are different for us (lp's)

as compared to them, but that is my point: The reasons for their (the

over five footers) wanting it are just as valid and beneficial in

their mind's eye as it was in your's. If not, why not? Not Judging.

Just thinking. Just asking. So, if their reason is not as valid or as

beneficial as your's, then tell us why their's isn't and >>>ONLY<<<

yours is as compared to their's? Just don't say that their's isn't,

because they can do the same of your's.

I feel that the " reasons " issue is subjective, from whoever's point

of view you're looking at it from.

Now, if it's for vanity or for cosmetics only as you say it is for

them (the over five footers), can you say that you also know their

hearts on wanting and choosing it as well? Why, because there may be

other hidden and personal reasons just unique to them as to why they

want it too. Plus, they may not want to nor do they have to explain

to you or any other for that matter as to why they may want the

surgery too.

Again, Gillian, more power to you for having had the surgery. Just

like the Sheryl Crow song, " If It Makes You Happy, " I am happy too

with you:). However, then they (the over five footers) should be free

to know that same feeling if they so chose or want the surgery as

well. No?

luv, grady;)

[Guest guest]

Grady,

I understand your point, but I can't agree. The difference is there are

some physical and functional benefits from lengthening and correcting the

deformities (and I use that term strictly as a medical one, if someone

wants to give me a better one please do because I have yet to come up with

one) such as varus, valgus and the sway back of certain LPs. There are no

such benefits from lengthening people over five feet tall and when these

people write to me many admit right away that they are doing this strictly

for vanity or because they are not comfortable being as " short " as they

are. If cosmetic surgeons want to start doing cosmetic limb lengthening

then that is fine because that is their profession, but the best of the

best in this field of orthopaedics should be appealing to a higher

calling. That is all I am saying.

As I say in my statement " While I do not believe this procedure is cosmetic

for people with dwarfism, I do believe it is cosmetic for people over five

feet who just desire to be taller. Such people need to realize how lucky

they are and understand that this procedure is mainly used to help people

with severe deformities, people who are at risk of losing their limbs

without it, and people with limb-length discrepancies, along with helping

those little people who want to make their lives functionally easier.

Accordingly, I do not believe that those people over five feet should be

considered for this procedure, though some doctors are willing to help

them. Personally, I just do not think they need it, and beyond that, since

the best doctors are so busy, doing so only forces someone who really needs

-- and wants --the procedure to wait, and I do not believe that is

right. " That is what I believe. I know there are people out there who

disagree with me and that is their right and I respect that. As always my

comments on any aspect of limb lengthening are just my opinion. Gillian.