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!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Vacation Tomorrow--California Dreamin'

Well, tomorrow we leave at 7:05 am to fly to CA for our big California Adventure.  I am really not convinced that bringing Caroline is the right thing.  She has been awful again today.  She just never smiles, is never happy, always angry.  Bill says a vacation in a fun place like Sea World and Disneyland is just what she needs.  I am concerned her mood will just continue and she won't be able to enjoy it and will make everyone else miserable.  If that happens, she and Bill will fly home early (my desire).  I want to be together as a family but I am over her attitude.  Her sisters are sick of her too.  Meridell says that beds are opening up next week, so I hope that when we get home, she will be able to go immediately to Texas (or Georgia).  We are all feeling that we have reached the end of tolerating her misery.  She needs help fast.  Pray that there might be a break in these clouds.  
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2 comments:

domandkat said...

So the insurance approved it?

April 10, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Megan said...

Well, the insurance hasn't officially approved it, but when you look at Caroline's history, Meridell told us she would definitely qualify for their program because she is pretty complicated and behaviorally challenged enougth that it affects every area of her life. I think we have a good case.

April 10, 2009 at 7:55 PM

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