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!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Surprise Mid-Terms for Caroline

Great. Caroline missed this whole week of school because she was sick, and apparently it was a week of review for mid-terms in every subject. Not good. Thankfully she had math tutoring today, and was able to review the things that she is weakest in. Spanish will be hard, because that is her hated subject. I think I will ask the Spanish teacher to allow her to take the exam on Friday instead of Tuesday so I can review with her. I did speak with the assistant principal about the mean texts and and we hope that Monday will show an improvement in behavior for these two "mean girls." It's too bad that here Caroline is at her most stable in years, and yet she has to deal with a stupid situation like this. Nothing ever goes just right for her it seems.
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2 comments:

Cinda said...

Ahhh, Megan. As the John Lennon said (and likely borrowed from someone else), "Life is what happens while we make plans for the future." You have certainly had some challenges recently! But, you are a good, excellent, stupendous, caring, loving, thoughtful, etc. etc. mom. I think part of momhood is questioning ourselves a good part of the time. I wish I could come in there and establish a "school-wide positive support plan." It has the most positive effect on school environment than any other program. Although the school doesn't have to implement 504 given it is private it is still against the law to allow bullying. But, a fine line as you know. I read with interest to see how this will all turn out. One step forward, a couple back and then, hopefully a jog forward! Take care.

January 9, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Megan said...

Thanks Cinda! Yes, we will be so disappointed if we end up having to withdraw Caroline because of this stupid situation. She has begun to get that "look" on her face that I haven't seen in a long time, an "I am giving up on being able to make this work" look, which in the past has meant switching schools. This is the most frustrating part. When she is doing well, I want to almost believe she isn't bipolar, just a normal kid. But this whole school thing is a constant reminder of how she isn't "normal" and she herself begins to ask why am I so different and slips into depression. Oh I hate this mental illness!!!!!

January 11, 2010 at 8:58 AM

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