Because she had a surgery to straighten her legs and it resulted in nerve damage. Due to the damage Hanna's feet are VERY sensitive and it it painful to wear shoes.
"Why does Hanna not have complete toes on one foot?"
Due to her contractures at birth, her left foot did not receive the proper blood supply so her toes did not completely form.
"Does Hanna have any feeling in her arms or legs?"
Yes! She has complete and normal feeling in her limbs. She can feel touch just as you and I do. She is just unable to move them because she does not have enough muscle strength.
"How do I 'hand' something to Hanna?"
Simply put it in her mouth. Do not worry about germs or dirtiness just put it in her mouth. This is how Hanna holds things so we do not worry about what goes in her mouth unless it's lethal of course!
----This is how she writes, colors, and paints!---
"How does Hanna go upstairs or to the bathroom or do other things that I do?"
Hanna does everything everyone else can do. You can go upstairs, so can Hanna. You go to the bathroom, so does Hanna. You walk, so does Hanna. Hanna just does these things in a little different way which usually requires the help of another person or device. But it still gets done!
I once read somewhere "differently abled" instead of DISabled. I try to use it when I can. It really should catch on, I like that so much more! I would love to start a movement of people being able to look at what someone CAN do and how rather than focusing on what they "can't" do. Maybe they "can't" according to the "norm" but if we could all learn to think outside the box, it would really change the way people view differences. Instead of there being a negative we can look at it as a positive thing and a new learning experience. We all have so much to learn from those who experience life in different ways! I'm learning more everyday!
NOTE: Do not take things out of Hanna's mouth unless she asks you to. This is the same as taking something out of someone's hands. You would not walk up to someone and just grab something out of thier hands, so it would not be appropriate to take things out of Hanna's mouth.
"What does Hanna comprehend?"
EVERYTHING! Hanna is very intelligent and a "typical" 6 year old with an excellent memory (mom cringes). She is very creative, opinionated, compassionate, stubborn, and talkative, she will talk your ear off! She feels happiness, pride, sadness, embarrassment, and other people's stares. She is aware of her differences but is confident in her abilities. Independence is also very important to Hanna. She is an 80 year old woman trapped in a 6 year old body!!!
"Why are Hanna's arms so skinny?"
Due to the lack of muscle in her arms they appear skinny. There is pretty much only bone inside so as she grows and her body grows, her arms tend to look very small.
"What is Hanna's prognosis?"
She is expected to live a long, healthy, normal life.
