Episode Seven

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Maggie Woods is an attractive 46-year-old mother of two. When she strides into a room, heads turn. 'I am extremely vain. I don't like the thought of getting wrinkles.' The size of a small child, she knows the affect she has on people but it doesn't bother her because she has been dealing with it all of her life. Episode seven of This is Me will tell the story of Maggie Woods, who despite her small stature gets on with her life.

In the 1962 Maggie's mother was prescribed a drug to stop her morning sickness and as a result of taking this drug Maggie was born with short arms and legs. She is one of the 31 people living with Thalidomide in Ireland today.

She has and is determined to live her life like any other person. Her home is called 'Little Woods' and it resembles Lilliput. She drives a Mercedes which has been adapted for her needs and she loves it. She loves the freedom it gives her. It's when Maggie steps outside of her comfort zone she becomes very aware of her height or lack of it.

She wishes she didn't get so much attention. "It wouldn't be anything that I would thrive on, but even when I go out I like to dress up and look good. I stand in front of the mirror and say Mrs Woods you look good today". She knows herself and what she is about. One of the most immediately noticeable things about Maggie is that she is more comfortable in her own skin than most other 'normal sized' people.

Her sons Kevin, 19, and Daragh, 17, are her pride and joy. To them she is just like any other mother, they wouldn't change her for the world. She sometimes wishes she had filmed herself when she was bringing the boys up. People always ask how did she did it.  

She has a personal assistant for the last five years and that one hour in the morning means she can wear the clothes that she loves. She has to have different PAs to do different things. But putting her make-up on is the one thing that she always does herself. 'I feel when I have my make-up on that I am complete, that's it, ready to face the day.'

Maggie Woods doesn't feel 3ft 8", she feels 5ft 10". 

Links:

Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA)
22 Lea Road
Sandymount
Dublin 4
PH: 086-9151235

email: THALIDOMIDE@eircom.net
web site: www.thalidomideireland.com

 
Irish Wheelchair Association
Áras Chúchulainn
Blackheath Drive
Clontarf
Dublin 3
Tel: 01 8186 400