Geneogram and Specific Family Patterns - Essay Example

However, my weight never impaired my ability to function as I have always had many friends. My aunts and uncles on my father’s side exhibit symptoms of poor diet and low activity. Perhaps learning this behavior was modeling others in my family. Yet I have always considered myself to be a happy individual. This pattern was not something I notice until I performed a geneogram.

My sister and I both had our first child at a young age. I believe genetics placed increased stress on both of our pregnancies. My mother, sister, and I all carry the gene that is associated with the development of the sickle cell. My mother currently suffers from this disease. Knowing that this disease is present in the primary females in my family brought increased stress on both my and my sister’s pregnancies. My niece was later born suffering from sickle cell. My maternal grandparent’s first child died shortly after birth. However, the cause of death was never quite known in full.

In further my stress levels were elevated during pregnancy as I had begun my second year of college. During this time period, I was told that my daughter suffered from Down syndrome. This was concluded through an ultrasound. Due to my religious background, I decided that I would not participate in an amniocentesis test or terminate my pregnancy as this is what the doctor advised. A miraculous blessing occurred when I delivered my son via c-section to discover that he did not have down-syndrome or any form of a disorder. Instead, I had a healthy baby that was perhaps the greatest blessing in my life. Perhaps I am most thankful for the religious upbringing my family provided me. If it were not for these religious beliefs I may not have had the greatest blessing in my life, my son.

Further examination of my genogram demonstrates the strong genetic tendencies towards diabetes exhibited in my paternal genetic composition. The genetic tendencies towards diabetes were first exhibited through my paternal grandfather. My grandfather appeared to be a healthy man as he exercised and maintained a healthy diet. My father and his siblings have developed this same illness. Due to advances in medications that have evolved my father and his siblings are able to control their illness with medication. However, I believe that there is an environmental factor associated with the development of this illness in my aunts and uncles. My aunts and uncles exhibit a poor diet and lack of exercise.

In both sides of my family, high blood pressure is present. In my paternal aunts and uncles, high blood pressure is present. My maternal grandfather suffered from high blood pressure as well. In addition, my mother and one of my maternal aunts suffer from this illness. Perhaps this illness can be associated with the environmental aspects exhibited by our culture.

I come from a family where I am the first generation born in the United States. Cultural traditions have helped shape my life. My parents initially felt pressure upon moving to the United States. These pressures were to assimilate to the cultural differences. I believe my culture has impacted my life for the better. In further, I attribute my hard work ethic and desires to succeed to my culture and family history. My parents came to this country in hopes of bettering both their lives and the lives of their children. My mom was a stay-at-home mom who worked hard to raise her children. My father worked many jobs in order to support his family. Later when the children were grown my mom returned to school and became a psychiatric nurse. I believe her choice of profession is best demonstrated in our cultural values that emphasize helping others. Through these beliefs, I have found myself returning to school to pursue my education, raise my son, and work. I could not imagine my life without the influence my family’s cultural beliefs have provided me.

From a family perspective our cultural beliefs and interactions have helped shaped my development. This genogram helped me to realize the social interactions that my family exhibits and the cultural influences presented. In further, I have learned pertinent information about strong genetic tendencies in my family. Through the use of a geneogram I have discovered new information about myself that I never realized.



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