Mum always said I would walk down the aisle sucking my thumb.

Stephanie Marshall was born on the 29th March 1983. The first thing she does: inserts her right hand (thumb, knuckle and nail) into her small slobbery mouth. Over the years she finds that her thumb starts to develop a lump from teeth friction. Thumb sucking becomes more refined through the years - the right finger starts to extend over the bridge nose for extra comfort.

Steph gets invited to her first ever sleepover, Steph cries at friend's front door when realising her secret thumb sucking could be found out. Steph declines all mention of a sleeping over for the next four years in fear of her embarrassing secret. She decides to never tell a soul about her obsession with her juicy pink thumb, Steph feels dirty. Step's mum tries to bribe her daughter to remove digit from mouth with promise of new sledge.

Dentist advises brace to correct years of dental abuse; brace lasts three months as plastic retainer restricts thumb contact. Steph tries to kick the habit cold turkey this does not happen and Steph starts to believe her mum was right and she will be slobbering over her nice white dress on the big day.

Stephanie Marshall

Your comments

"I suck my thumb and, after many years, have come to the conclusion that those who know and care about you will only occasionally think of it as a minor quirk, while those who don't know you will only think of you according to their stereotypes. As such, suck your thumb because it's very gratifying in ways no one but a thumb sucker will really know but, if you must do it in front of others and you care what others think, only amongst friends. Myself? I've been known to suck my thumb in public but usually only for a short "pick me up". :)Hey, lots of adults suck their thumb!" h from NY, Sept 2007.