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, February 27, 2013

Anguish

I don't know what to say except that this is a really dark, dark time for Caroline.  She had a full blown breakdown last night, sobbing and raging for a long time, crying out, "Why me!?" over and over again.   Heartbreaking. The prospect of losing what is dearest to her, either from poor grades from so much missed school, or from denial by the doctors, is killing her.   I regret not homeschooling her this year.  I feel a lot of guilt over what I could have done that may have changed the course of this year.  I am bewildered by the silence of God.  Please pray for her not to lose hope or faith that God is good, that He loves her, that He will not always seemingly hide His face.  I was reading the Psalms last night, struck by how many times the writers cried out to God in anguish, asking how long they would suffer, how long God would stay silent.  I want her to experience the God of all comfort.
Posted by at

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sorry your family is suffering. You are not alone.

February 27, 2013 at 11:03 AM
katie said...

oh this is completely breaking my heart... sweet girl. i am stepping up the prayers for friends for caroline, and for peace for the rest of you. it is so hard to watch our kids suffer, and really be powerless to help them. it may not feel true at all but God is with you. He will never ever leave you no matter what. it's so hard to feel that in those super dark hours though.

comforting words from one of our favorite singers:
nothing is wasted. in the hands of our redeemer NOTHING is wasted. every broken piece is gathered in the heart of Jesus and what's lost will be found again.from the ruins, from the ashes, beauty will rise. from the wreckage, from the darkness, Glory will shine. "nothing is wasted" by jason gray.

February 27, 2013 at 9:44 PM
Megan said...

Thank you. Song after song on Klove today spoke the same truths. I so appreciate your words.

February 27, 2013 at 10:04 PM
Fighting for my Children said...

I am sorry. This is so heartbreaking. hugs and prayers to you both.

February 28, 2013 at 1:05 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)