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, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving

I am so grateful that Thanksgiving went very smoothly this year. Caroline did great, even with the noise and chaos of four little cousins added to the mix. So proud of her! Such a contrast from last year when she was inpatient for a month and we had to drive an hour and a half north to bring Thanksgiving dinner to her, all of us sitting around a table in a very drab room in the hospital. I tried to dress up the table as best I could, but it was a hard day. Leaving her was painful, knowing she probably had another few weeks to go. Last fall was simply awful.

I am thankful that a year has passed since then, and for many other things: I am thankful that she was able to go to the fantastic residential program at Meridell that changed the direction of her life; for the wonderful private school that accepted her afterwards knowing she might be difficult; for our church family that has been so supportive and caring; for my own family and their acceptance of our bp child, and their constant encouragement; for my many, many friends who love us unconditionally; for my fellow bloggers and followers who remind me I am not alone; and most of all for our faithful God, who has held us close every step of the way, carrying us when we could not lift our heads, "...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..." Philippians 1:6
Posted by at

4 comments:

Corrie Howe said...

These are great things to be thankful for. And great reminds of God's promises to us.

November 27, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Unknown said...

Hi, my name is Amy and I have a thirteen year old daughter who has had all kinds of diagnosis-ADHD, anxiety(OCD), and possible bipolar. We have tried to get her help here in Phoenix for the last four years and still she has had the right combo of medicine for only a brief period of 4 weeks. We also have hada terrible time getting her the right kind of help and a true diagnosis. Finally after she became a dangerous threat to our 6 month old baby and a constant torment to our 7 year old we resorted to sending her to a therapeutic Christian boarding school last month only to have it close its doors this month due to finances. she is home and everyday it is a struggle. We are searching for a place to get her the help she needs that we cannot get her here. We are looking at Meridell. Do you have anything helpful to tell us that would be wonderful. thank you for this blog as it is encouraging to know other moms at there who deal with similar things. Thanks, Amy

November 28, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Cinda said...

YEAH! I so don't like to say, "I know what you mean" but, I do, in a small way. We have these markers in our lives and unfortunately it seems that with BP the markers can be hospitalizations and moods off the norm. I am so happy you are all in a better space this year.

November 28, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Megan said...

Hi Amy! I couldn't access your blog, but I want to say that I feel for you, and know how stressed out you must be. If you read my earliest postings you will see how we found out Caroline was BP. Please check out Meridell Achievement Center in Texas--I have a link to it on this site. Your daughter probably needs more than just behavioral therapy which is what a lot of the boarding schools focus on. Meridell was wonderful for Caroline and it changed her life. Let me know what you find. With kind regard, Megan

November 28, 2009 at 9:19 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)