It has been an interesting few months. Between gearing up for our move to a different country, combating some health issues, adjusting to life with three kids, and just living normal life we have had a few curve balls at us. One of those curve balls was something I have been fearful about since before any of our children were born. In order for this to all make sense let me go back in time and give you some background.
When I was three years old I was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome. My case was moderate, but because there was not a lot of research or information back in 1993 there was really little to nothing that the pediatrician could tell my parents. They were simply told that I would "grow out of it" and that i could "control my ticks." Those words still frustrate me because they could not be farther from the truth. For those of you who may not know what Tourettes is, here's a brief picture. Tourettes is a neurological disorder in which the brain sends signals that basically get confused, resulting in a visible and vocal "tick." These ticks range is severity from constant to only happening when triggered. They can be anything from repetition of words that make no sense at the moment, to hand flapping accompanied with a noise of some kind. There are literally hundreds of variations of ticks. Those with Tourettes also battle internal issues as well such as severe anxiety and depression, OCD, and several other mental health issues. Growing up with Tourettes was a challenge, but one that I worked to conquer. When kids asked why I flapped my hands and hummed I would explain that it was just my tick, it was a part of who I was. Most people paid no mind and it was just a normal every day thing. As I got older, however, my ticks changed. There was a point where my tick would cause bruising on my chin, and I clenched my jaw leaving me in excruciating pain on a daily basis. Resisting a tick was horribly painful. While I wanted to be open and just explain to everyone what was going on, it was nearly impossible and I felt locked into this box that no one understood anything about. As a married adult I realized that having children came with the risk of them having tourettes too. Obviously my desire to have kids was stronger than my fear, but I poured over research and met with neurologists and a geneticist to see what the likelihood was and how we could take preventative measures. Six months ago my oldest started showing signs of tourettes, and my biggest fear, as a mother, became a reality. After meeting with a pediatrician and a neurologist his diagnosis was finalized, and our whole world changed. A child with tourettes is still a child, but they are a child who will face challenges that other people may not understand. Seeing my son with tourettes breaks my heart, and it took me several weeks to not blame myself for what Easton will fight for the rest of his life. Now we are in a different stage, a stage of realizing how amazing our child really is and how even more amazing he is with tourettes. Without it he would not be the wonderful, amazing, smart little boy that he is. So now, I am on a mission. A mission to educate other about tourettes, a mission to be honest and open about what I have fought for my entire life, a mission to support other military families who may be facing the same challenges as we are. Here is the beginning of a new chapter, and I am so excited to see where it takes us.
0 Comments
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |