The Hazards of Growing Up Painlessly

Summary:

1. Young girl in from Patterson, GA feels no pain
2. Started when she was born, did not cry to anything (broken ankles, diaper rashes)
3. was around 2 when a doctor finally diagnosed her with "Congenital insensitivity to pain"
4. Condition was so rare, doctors basically said "Good Luck!"
5. Went on many shows and appeared on many magazines in 2004 (GMA, People)
6. Still feels emotional pain, just not physical
7. Rare case that has its benefits and problems as well

Opinion:

       The first moment of her life was not one filled with tears and disbelief, but more along the lines of no tears, no cares and no pain. Ashlyn Blocker has a rare case diagnosed 21 months after she was born with "Congenital insensitivity to pain". Medical to English translation: she doesn't feels any physical pain whatsoever.

       Tara, Ashlyn's mom, said that she knew that something was wrong when Ashlyn had a terrible diaper rash and never cried once about that or the time she had pink eye at two years old, or how about the time when she broke her ankle and ran on it for two days before her parents noticed something was wrong. She has never had to endure physical pain in her life, which can help if you accidentally put your hands on a cars muffler, but it can also have its disadvantages as well.

       Firstly, Ashlyn's parents had to take extra precaution to ensure that she would severely injure herself without her feeling anything. The wrapped her arms up to make sure she wouldn't bite her arms, had to have someone keep an eye on her every time she was on the playground at school. Secondly, she has never had to endure physical pain, so therefore, she cannot learn from what she can and can't do; something that concerned her parents when she was little and still concerns them today.

       Of course, with such a rare case, all of the top American companies wanted to get their hands on this girl and her story. Shows like Good Morning America and magazines such as People were banging on the door to get some information straight from the source.

       But through all of this, the now thirteen year old Ashlyn Blocker lives a normal early teenage girl life. Dancing on her bed to "Call Me Maybe", going to school and having friends that have a friend who can still feel emotional pain and suffering.

       She is just like all of us, just without any scars (literally).

Nick Bell