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!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Update on Daniel

My nephew Daniel has developed pneumonia from being on the ventilator or perhaps from aspirating something before the EMTs found the car wreck.  They were upside down in water or something like that I hear, so he may have ingested creek water.   He was the only one injured at all.  At this time they are calling him a partial quadriplegic, meaning he has limited use of his upper body.  The swelling around his spinal cord needs to come down before we know for sure what mobility he has retained in his arms.  He can feel some sensation in his legs, but can't move them, which is apparently typical.  Right now we are communicating with him using a letter board to which we point and he nods to signal as we spell out words.  Very tedious and frustrating for him and for us.  My sister and her husband are so exhausted.  Watching the agony on their faces when waves of grief overcome them is truly heartrending.  No parent should ever have to go through this.  We know that God has Daniel in His hands and has a great purpose for his life, however changed his future seems.  My own family been through so much with Caroline, but this is a whole different level of suffering.  I am thankful I can be here with them until Friday.  They will need all the support and prayer that we can give! Thank you for praying.  We of course want a miracle that he will walk again, and we pray for a miracle, knowing that this may not be God's plan, but trusting in His goodness nonetheless.

10 comments:

NikDuck said...

Oh Megan, I can only imagine the overwhelming grief your family is feeling. I'm praying for you all and for a miracle to be done in Daniel's body. Glad you can be there for your sister. Love, Nicole

Accidental Expert said...

Daniel and your entire family will be in our prayers. I am so sorry you are all going through this.

Meg said...

Oh gosh, I am so sorry to hear about this. I'm glad you can be there to help and be of support and I wish your sister's family all the best.

Anna said...

You are a blessing to your sister and her family. I pray for a miracle as well and for strength for your family.

Kristen said...

Sending tons of prayers towards Daniel and your entire family.

domandkat said...

Megan,

You mean he can't talk either?

K@

Adria said...

Thank you for the update, Megan. It's hard being so far away, and not knowing what's going on, or being present to give support. There are tons of people in CA praying for Daniel. My heart is with him, and all my extended family.

~Adria

Anonymous said...

Check into hyperbaric oxygen therapy as it can boost healing on some of the spinal cord that may be "sick" and not yet permanently damaged.

Megan said...

Kathryn, Daniel can't talk yet because he is needs the respirator and doesn't have a speaking button put in yet in the tracheostomy. He may get that soon or if his chest muscles get strong enough he may be able to breathe on his own eventually.

Anonymous said...

My heart goes out to your family. I'm glad you can be there with them.