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 I like doing it myself because my parents never even come in.

 

Eric, age 8

 

I wanted to from the start
I wanted to self-cath from the start, but the doctors said they didn’t want me to because of the infection component of it. But it is a long term thing, and I can’t have my mom do it every three hours – she is a teacher and I go to school. She is just not going to be there! So it was something I had to do. But I also wanted to do it, because it is less embarrassing and less awkward, and I can do it whenever I want to do it… Before it was annoying because I had to work around my mother’s schedule. So if I wanted to go out I couldn’t, because I would have to be cathed at seven. Whereas now that I do it, if I want to go out until nine o’clock I can either do it when I’m out or I can wait.

Jenna, age 16

 

No one has to check up on me
I think I feel more free now. I feel healthier. I feel more independent because no one has to check up on me and see what I am doing – because I feel like when people do that it just kind of makes me not want to do it. Like, someone tells me to go do something, I don’t like doing it.

Isaiah, age 17

 

 I remember I had a mixed feeling of being kind of scared and being kind of excited. I had been introduced to lots of kinds of bladder infections, and I remember I was so scared I would get one like everyday! But I was excited because at the time – this was just like two years ago – I always thought that that was a little more grown-up or something, to do it myself.

 

Ellie, age 8

 

Sleepovers
Dad: I think that we said that if you want to go and have sleepovers at someone else’s house, cathing is something that you had to be able to do by yourself.

Ellie: I’d want to go to the sleepovers and see what kind of desserts they have! And sometimes tell spooky stories – that’s another one of my favorites. Or pillow fights! I had my first sleepover when I was two, and then I went through all those years with no sleepovers until I was eight!

Dad: So now sleepovers are a big thing for her, you can tell! She wants them just about every weekend.

Ellie: And I get my wish a lot! I’m usually pretty good about hiding the cathing – whenever I’m at sleepovers we don’t change into our pajamas until much later and I do my cathing then.

Ellie, age 8, and father

 

Transitioning to independence
Jaya: I saw the doctor, and they thought I could do it by myself, or with help. But it took me a little while to be able to do it by myself…I kind of wanted to be more independent. When I started, the nurse helped me at school, then when I got a little used to it, she stopped and I did it by myself, she only measured it.

Dad: So for I think first few weeks nurse did it, and we were doing it at home, and then she learned it. Now we just help her, and we just help her wiping also, make sure she is clean, but she really catheterizes herself.

Jaya, age 8, and father

 

I’ve accomplished something
I first started I think a couple years ago. Before that mom or dad did the catheterization.

It sort of got in the way when I was doing something, and I really wanted to do it by myself. They had the idea for me to try and I started and now I can do it!

When I go to the bathroom, I really don’t get embarrassed much anymore, like when mom had to go with me. I feel better about myself because I’ve accomplished something… Before I couldn’t go over to sleepovers without my parents and it would be embarrassing…I would just not go. Now if I’m sleeping over, I just cath there.

Siobhan, age 9

 

 My parents usually did it in the first three months, but gradually they started to not do it and I started to do it myself and I learned…When they would do it I would just kind of pay attention, and I would try it every so often, and I would just gradually get better.

 

Henry, age 12

 

 A little bit more mature
When I was younger my parents did it, then they taught me how to do it and I just started doing it on my own. I felt more comfortable and a little bit more mature without having my parents do it for me.

Ethan, age 13

 

 I don’t remember learning but I’m glad I did
Looking back on it, I really don’t remember learning, but I’m glad I did because I’m very independent. Every day I go into the nurse’s office – I don’t have to go to the nurse’s office but it’s just closer to where I am. I try to figure out when to go, every three to four hours. I have to be careful what I drink sometimes, and if I’m going frequently then I know something’s wrong.

Kayla, age 14

 

That’s my goal in life
It feels wonderful to be independent! And just, that’s my goal in life, to not always rely on my mom…but to be honest, I still rely on her. She’s always there, so I say, “What about this and that?”

Alex, age 17