Catrin Griffiths Taith Fawr y Dyn Bach

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-I'm James Lusted.

-I'm 26 and I have diastrophic

-dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism.

-I live at home

-with my parents and brother Phil.

-Phil has the same condition.

-I don't allow my disability

-to hold me back.

-In fact, I hate the word disabled.

-In this series, I'll travel through

-Wales to meet disabled people...

-..to experience life

-through their eyes.

-I'm used to the journey

-from North Wales to Cardiff now.

-My girlfriend

-is at university there.

-But today, I'm meeting

-Catrin Griffiths, not Chloe.

-I'm looking forward to meeting her.

-Catrin has spina bifida.

-She goes regularly

-to the gym to keep fit.

-I've been coming to this gym

-for three or four months.

-I try to attend twice a week.

-I feel better about myself

-and more alert afterwards.

-It's important

-with my disability too.

-My legs don't have the same strength

-as other people's legs.

-I try to work on them.

-It aids my walking from day to day.

-Stairs aren't such a problem.

-It definitely makes a difference.

-That's enough for one day!

-I'm going for a shower

-if you don't mind.

-While Catrin gets dressed,

-I arrive in Cardiff.

-I've been told to meet her

-at Llandough Hospital, not at home.

-We're in a hospital.

-Neither of us is ill.

-Why are we here?

-Aha!

-I volunteer with the hospital radio.

-I've done it for over a year.

-I present a two-hour show

-every Monday evening.

-That's why we're here.

-Do you enjoy it?

-Do you enjoy it?

-

-I love it. I love radio.

-I've been doing it for a 18 months.

-It's very enjoyable.

-I hope listeners

-benefit from it too.

-If it does, it's a bonus.

-OK, five seconds.

-Welcome to Rookwood Sound. You're

-listening to me, Catrin Griffiths.

-I'll be here until 10 o'clock.

-Plenty going on in the show tonight.

-I'll let you know after this song.

-This is Peaceful Easy Feeling

-by the Eagles.

-Spina bifida occurs...

-..when a baby's spine doesn't

-form properly early in pregnancy.

-The most common reason is lack of

-folic acid in the mother's diet...

-..before or after conception.

-Doctors advise women thinking

-of having a baby to take folic acid.

-The government considers including

-it as an additive in food.

-KNOCKS ON DOOR

-Hello, Catrin, how are you?

-Hello, Catrin, how are you?

-

-Hello. How are you?

-Fine, thanks.

-A cuppa?

-A cuppa?

-

-Great. Thank you.

-Your condition is called spina

-bifida. What exactly does that mean?

-I was born with a hole

-on the lower part of my back.

-I had surgery

-when I was about a week old...

-..to close the hole.

-Spina bifida can be

-on different levels.

-Sometimes, the hole

-can be higher up the back.

-It can affect mobility.

-I'm fairly mobile with crutches.

-I don't have any balance at all.

-I can't stand

-without leaning on something.

-I have no feeling in my feet

-or in part of my lower leg.

-There is evidence that folic acid

-prevents spina bifida.

-The government wants it

-as an additive in bread.

-What is your opinion?

-From my own experience...

-..it's not all that clear-cut.

-For example, if Mam had taken

-folic acid before having me...

-..it isn't guaranteed

-that I wouldn't have spina bifida.

-I don't think it's 100% effective.

-Nevertheless...

-..as regards the idea

-of having an additive in bread...

-..apart from the fact people might

-think it's a nanny state policy...

-..I don't see any problem.

-If it helps prevent spina bifida...

-..and the problems it can cause...

-..there's no harm in it.

-My parents' dream

-was to bring me up normally.

-Did your parents

-have a similar dream?

-Definitely.

-I was never allowed to make

-an excuse of my disability.

-I couldn't get out of doing chores

-such as the washing up!

-I'm extremely independent too

-and always have been.

-I told them once

-I wanted to play rugby.

-There was a sports

-tournament in the village.

-I said, "I won't go in the scrum.

-"I'll stay outside,

-in case they need someone."

-They said, "We know you. You'll

-probably be first in the scrum.

-"We won't let you do it. We never

-say no, but it's no this time."

-I think that's the only time they

-said no because of my disability.

-But Catrin was a determined girl.

-Her condition

-didn't hold her back...

-..when she had to defend

-her brother in school.

-When Barry started primary school...

-..someone must have been nasty

-to him during the first few weeks.

-Barry was upset.

-He was only about five years old.

-I heard about it.

-I looked for those children

-and threatened them with my sticks!

-I was only seven or eight.

-It's really funny.

-Mam thought it was hilarious.

-It's really funny looking back

-as he's a professional wrestler!

-He lives in America and he's huge.

-Catrin, like me, has an adventurous

-spirit and likes to travel.

-In 2005, she travelled

-around Canada on her own.

-It was the best

-experience I've ever had.

-It changed my life

-and my perspective on life.

-There isn't anyone to whom you can

-complain when you travel alone.

-You just have to get on with it.

-It changed me in that respect.

-I had a similar experience.

-I went to Sydney in Australia

-about three years ago.

-When I went to the airport...

-..my bags were bigger than me!

-People looked and wondered

-how I'd manage with them.

-But I did it.

-Yes, I surprised myself

-at how much I could walk...

-..to get around and go sightseeing.

-When I returned home, I was less

-bothered by what people thought.

-I spent three months in Canada.

-That was an achievement.

-Independence is

-very important to Catrin.

-She moved to Cardiff

-to live on her own.

-She has started a relationship.

-She wants new clothes to go

-on a date with her boyfriend, Dan.

-So I'm going shopping with her.

-I have trouble finding shorts.

-They're usually too long.

-I have trouble finding

-ones that fit well.

-I'm the same with trousers.

-I don't know about you.

-I know where to shop now.

-I'm in my 30s.

-I know where to shop

-and the length I want.

-I've started to look online...

-..if I want clothes

-or trousers of a certain length.

-They can be more expensive.

-Your grandmother

-does your alterations.

-Yes, Nain alters clothes for me.

-Yes, Nain alters clothes for me.

-

-She's good to you!

-Yes, I'm very grateful.

-Nain does a very good job!

-Like many men, there's only

-so much shopping I can bear.

-So we went home to put our feet up.

-We had a good day,

-but we didn't buy anything.

-It's not like me at all,

-as Mam would tell you!

-I have problems with shoes.

-Do you have that problem?

-Yes, mine are made to measure,

-like yours, I guess.

-I had pink shoes this time.

-There's a choice of sorts.

-In the past, I've had

-to ask many times for shoes.

-I wear the same shoes every day.

-So I go wear them out quickly.

-There's a hole in this shoe.

-These aren't old.

-They're less than six months old.

-Wow.

-I order more.

-But I'm told I can't have more

-because I've had two or three pairs.

-I know they're only shoes

-and it isn't the end of the world.

-But it's part

-of your independence...

-..to be able to go out

-without worrying about shoes.

-As well as problems with shoes,

-I have trouble with my feet.

-They can be painful.

-Do you have that problem?

-I have no feeling in my feet...

-..below the ankle.

-I have to be very careful if I have

-blisters or pressure sores.

-That has happened.

-Within a week,

-I was in hospital having treatment.

-I had to stay off

-my feet for four months.

-It was serious. I was really ill.

-People don't realize

-how difficult it is...

-..to find

-comfortable shoes that fit...

-..that are good for your feet

-and don't cause sores.

-We're very grateful

-that we can walk.

-Yes, definitely.

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-My condition affects my feet.

-It can cause problems

-because of the way I walk.

-Unlike Catrin, I can't look after

-my feet because I can't bend down.

-So every now and then, Tracey

-the podiatrist comes to treat them.

-Hi, Tracey, are you alright?

-Hi, Tracey, are you alright?

-

-Hi, how are you?

-Fine. How are you?

-Thanks.

-Mam treated my feet

-before I found Tracey.

-I was getting older and didn't

-want Mam fiddling with my feet.

-I'll just get everything out.

-We'll have a look at your tootsies.

-My feet are totally different.

-Sometimes, they're very sore.

-But after a rest, they're fine.

-I walk in a totally different

-way from everyone else too...

-..sometimes on the side of my foot.

-The skin on the side of my foot

-can get hard and rather painful.

-Tracey makes sure

-everything is alright.

-She clears away any sores...

-..to make sure I can

-walk without pain...

-..and I can carry on

-like everyone else.

-Lovely little feet.

-Right, hobbit feet!

-Nothing wrong with that!

-I've been seeing James

-for about two years.

-He's got feet that cause problems

-because of the joint structure.

-It's called talipes or club foot.

-It's really important that James

-has his feet looked after regularly.

-He can't do them himself.

-The hard skin and callus

-might break down...

-..and cause a bit of ulceration.

-The pain would be the biggest

-thing he'd have to deal with.

-If he didn't have

-those regular treatments...

-..it could be quite

-detrimental to James's health.

-My feet feel much better

-after Tracey's treatment.

-I'm ready to meet

-Catrin's parents...

-..to ask how her condition

-affected the family.

-Hello, James, how are you?

-Come in.

-Come in.

-

-Thank you.

-I had no idea

-until the night she was born.

-The doctor came back and said...

-..that they were very sorry they

-hadn't realized there was a problem.

-They were going to assess her to see

-if she should go to Alder Hey.

-I wasn't sure how to take it.

-I wasn't upset at the time.

-All I knew about the condition...

-..was that someone from Porthmadog

-had a child with spina bifida.

-Sadly, the child had died

-the previous year.

-That was all I knew

-about the condition.

-The doctor came to the room.

-He said, "I think it's now

-time to move her to Alder Hey.

-"Will you be going with her?"

-I remember thinking,

-"My god, what do I do now?"

-Should I go with my child

-or stay with my wife?

-I decided to stay with my wife...

-..and follow the next day.

-I'm still not sure

-if I made the right decision.

-But that's what happened.

-Dr Morris arrived and asked...

-..if we wanted to christen Catrin

-before she went to Alder Hey.

-She had to leave immediately.

-I said I'd like her

-to be christened.

-The only people present were

-Dr Morris, me and one of the nurses.

-She was christened

-before she left for Alder Hey.

-I was moved to a ward on my own.

-Of course, it was full

-of mothers with their babies.

-I heard them cry.

-I found that rather difficult.

-I wasn't sure how to deal with it.

-I passed one of the women

-on the way to the toilet.

-She asked, "What did you have?"

-Talking to her was one

-of the hardest things I had to do.

-I had to say that Catrin

-had spina bifida...

-..and she'd been taken

-to Alder Hey Hospital that night.

-After six weeks in hospital and

-successful surgery on her back...

-..Catrin went home

-for the first time.

-Malcolm and I went

-to fetch her in the car.

-We were very happy of course.

-I remember looking at her in the cot

-in the car and thinking...

-"..I'm going to bring her up

-as normally as I can.

-"I want her to have a full life."

-I suppose

-it was a promise to myself.

-What are your hopes for Catrin?

-It's obvious

-she leads a full life now.

-She has a much better

-social life than me!

-I'd love to see her settle down.

-We're happy that

-she's going out with Daniel.

-They obviously

-enjoy each other's company.

-That's all I want for her, really.

-Almost a year ago,

-Catrin met Daniel on the Internet.

-Many people find partners

-in this way nowadays...

-..because they lead busy lives.

-I started online dating

-about four years ago.

-It wasn't a great experience.

-There wasn't much choice.

-So I gave up.

-Then about 18 months ago...

-..I thought

-it might be a good way...

-..just to meet different people.

-I put a full profile...

-..with one line

-saying I had a disability.

-Not everyone reads the full profile.

-After chatting to someone

-for a few weeks...

-..I thought I should come clean...

-..and make sure they were aware.

-It was interesting.

-Some people were fine about it.

-Other people said,

-"That's not what I'm looking for."

-No-one was unpleasant.

-It sometimes made you think,

-"Oh! OK, fine."

-We could have been chatting

-for a week or more.

-Then they changed their mind...

-..and decided

-they didn't want to carry on.

-I mentioned the disability

-to Dan quite early.

-He was totally blase about it...

-..saying, "That doesn't matter,

-it won't make a difference at all."

-We obviously got on well and could

-talk about anything by that time.

-I asked, "Why don't you

-ask me out on one date?

-"If it doesn't work,

-it doesn't work.

-"We don't have anything to lose."

-She made me laugh. She's very funny.

-We get on very well.

-We have a lot in common.

-I saw on her profile she was

-disabled. It didn't bother me.

-It's not something that

-I really thought about at the time.

-When we met up...

-..obviously I noticed she was

-on crutches and stuff like that.

-But it never really came up

-as a problem or anything like that.

-When we first met, she told me

-she wanted to go abseiling.

-So I arranged abseiling for us.

-The disability certainly

-didn't stop her doing that.

-It never stops us doing anything

-we want to do together.

-I think we have a very bright future

-together. We get on very well.

-So things are going

-very well at the moment.

-I moved to Cardiff

-to be with Catrin.

-I'm looking forward to spending a

-lot of time in the future with Cats.

-Like Catrin, I've been very lucky

-to meet someone special - Chloe.

-We met about two years ago.

-It was the day I carried

-the Olympic flame.

-Chloe came to support me.

-We started to chat

-and we got on well.

-We've had all kinds

-of response from people.

-The only negative thing I've heard

-from people about dating Jay is...

-"..You're average height - dwarfs

-are meant to go out with dwarfs.

-"This isn't right."

-Actually, Jay is no different

-to any other average height person.

-He's full of personality.

-Honestly, nothing wrong

-with it, in my eyes.

-At times when I was a teenager,

-I thought a lot...

-..about whether or not

-I'd have a wife and a family.

-I wasn't sure if I should be

-with another dwarf or not.

-Because of my faith, I prayed.

-Who was there for me?

-I discussed with my family

-about who was out there...

-..and would they be

-ready to be with me.

-But I kept the faith.

-Here she is. Chloe's here.

-I found her.

-It was completely unexpected.

-But it's a real dream come true.

-Meeting Catrin and her family

-has been a pleasure.

-Catrin is full of beans.

-She doesn't think twice about doing

-anything despite her disability.

-The word disabled

-isn't appropriate for her.

-Her determined, positive attitude

-is similar to mine.

-She showed me that everyone

-can realize their dreams...

-..with the right attitude.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead