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!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Back to School, Part-Time, Holding Steady

I haven't been writing because I have been sick and before that I was super crazy busy from about mid-March.  Lacrosse season and soccer season are in full swing, so adding the games and practices to our crazy family schedule has put me behind in everything, including doing our taxes!

Caroline has started back to school, one period added each week.  So far the results have been mixed.  Some days she has gotten the migraine aura of the visual disturbances, and some days she hasn't,   while wearing the special prismatic glasses.  I thought this would happen.  I have a feeling that we aren't going to see a miraculous "cure" or perfect solution to her sensitivity to florescent lights, or the projectors.  Not sure at this point of she will finish out school at the public high school this year.  We will see how this week goes.   If we don't see major change, we may just have to homeschool the rest of high school.  I can't even think about what to do about college yet.  One bridge at a time.

She is in heaven with the lacrosse side of things.  She is wearing a rugby helmet, the only one on the team who does.  So far, no injuries, no collisions.  She is making some amazing goals.  We are so proud of her!  We pray that her season continues concussion-free of course.

For those who have commented recently, please know how encouraged I am when you comment here.  I do read them and sometimes I don't have time to reply like I want to.  You are blessing to me and I hope this blog is a blessing to you!  We are in this together!!  For us it has been ten years and God has been so good to bring us stability now for the last four years or so.  I believe this kind of stability can  be found for your child as well, with lots of trial and error and the right help.  It might take years, but I really believe if you keep pursuing and advocating, solutions can be found.  Not a cure, not perfection, not even a truly"normal" child, but a much improved quality of life, for your child, and for your family.


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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am on Blogger less often these days but I still like to keep up with your family. I am happy your daughter is still going strong! I hope she still flourishes at a university but if not that is what the campus disability services are for.

April 8, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Megan said...

Thanks ,In the Pink,. We shall see where life leads Caroline. She is a strong fighter and I think she will succeed.

April 9, 2013 at 3:59 PM

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