About our Daughter

I am mother to four wonderful daughters, ages 17, 19, 21, and 23, and wife to the greatest husband on earth. God has given us a special child to raise one who was diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder at the age of seven, though she showed signs of it from the age of fifteen months. She also has ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder (sensory seeking), Dyslexia, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder-NOS, all typical comorbidities for a bipolar child. In spite of the trials, she enjoys lacrosse, running (finished her first marathon in October of 2014!), and reading and writing her own books. I will share with you the many joys and sorrows we have faced and will face in the future with the hope that you may find better understanding about this mental illness caused by both chemical and structural abnormalities in the brain. I desire that you will be encouraged by this blog if you are also dealing with a bipolar child. Thank you for reading and sharing in our journey.

How Did You Know She Was Bipolar So Young?

I wrote a long explanation of how we came to this bipolar diagnosis in a child so young under my post of March 19th of 2009. If your child or a child you know bears similarities, please seek out a good psychiatrist and don't wait for "things to get better." Often they will simply get worse, and the longer a child is unmedicated, the more damage their brain can accrue. Early diagnoses and treatment are key to providing these children with a chance at a successful life later as a teen and an adult.
Never change, start or stop a medication without the approval of your child's physician!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

You Might Need "Starfish"

There is a great online website/resource for educational advocacy for kids with all kinds of neurological challenges called STARFISH. I have posted a link to their site on the right hand side of my blog. Check them out! Very impressive source of information and actual help as you navigate the public school system.

6 comments:

Anna said...

This finding friends and getting along with others was such a trial with Beth when she was young. It still is.

I kept her where she was figuring that she had to learn to cope. wherever you go there you are was my motto.

She suffered more than I knew. If I had to do it over again I would move her to a smaller school and a church with more youth activities.

I am sure that reasonable people will disagree on this issue. Good luck in whatever you do. I know that your heart is in the right place.

Anonymous said...

Megan-
Help!! Our son is in acute care hospital for second time in two months. He has been on waiting list at Merridel for 3 months and still no bed. We are waiting for a bed as well at Inner Harbor, Ga but they said almost a month. His doctor does not want him to come home right now but we need a placement asap. Do you know of anything we could look at. It is so scary to think of him in a place that is not safe or very helpful and there are so many stores of abuse and harsh discipline. Feeling so overwhelmed right now. Anyone out there with any recommendations would be so welcome!

stephanie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Megan said...

Hi Darren! What state are you in? I am so sorry you have to go through this. There is another RTC in Texas in San Antonio called Laurel Ridge Treatment Center. They looked really good and we were considering them as well. Have you gone to the CABF website for lists of RTCs? They have great resources.

You are right to be selective about where you send your son. We wouldn't send our dd to anywhere but a place that was top notch. There is one here in our town but it has a horrible reputation, so we traveled half way across the country for Meridell.

Megan said...

Also, Darren you should join one of the online CABF support groups. They are a WEALTH of info from other parents who have been through it all and can give you recommendations.

stephanie said...

Megan-
we live in Virginia also. I will do what you suggested and go onto the CABF website. Thanks so much.