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, December 22, 2010

Back Up to Number 2, But Keep Voting Though Dec. 31st!

The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation has regained its number 2 position for the Pepsi $250,000 grant, (yay!) but keep voting every day all three ways over the holidays.  Go to www.cabf.org. to sign up for daily email reminders.

2 comments:

MichelleinPa said...

Hi Megan - I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you sharing your life with this blog! I read it daily and so many things are EXACTLY what we go through in our house and family. You are an amazing writer and have the ability to get your words/thoughts across very clearly. So many times I think that is exactly what I was thinking! Thank you! We also have a 14 year old daughter who was first hosptalized one year ago and we are navigating through this system of learning everything we can about this disorder! At the same time we manage the normal stuff that everyone else handles is life of other kids, careers, marriage, a house, etc!

Megan said...

Hi Michelle. I am so glad that you find this blog encouraging. This can be a lonely journey and I am thankful for people like who who make it a little easier!