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He’s not sick
Read more: He’s not sickHaving a child with developmental delays would force us to contend with our biases and those of our society, values that are deeply rooted and not easily shaken, like the worth we place on education, ability, achievement and strength. These are not bad things, mind you. Todd and I had top scores in this value…
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A Rare Diagnosis
Read more: A Rare DiagnosisA peek behind the curtain into a parent’s grief and what it’s like to receive a rare diagnosis for a child.
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We Found Something
Read more: We Found SomethingThis is the story of how we finally learned that our son, Isaac, has a rare genetic disorder and how the days immediately following that call unfolded. Shared here in hopes of spreading awareness and compassion.
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Still Not Knowing
Read more: Still Not KnowingThis post continues the story of our concerns about Isaac’s unexplained developmental delays and our search for answers. For more backstory, see my previous posts, “The Very Beginning” and “Not Knowing.”
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Interruption
Read more: InterruptionThis is what always happens. My earnest plans and intentions are sucker-punched by something entirely out of my control. It’s the story of my life since having children. Or more specifically, since having Isaac. I suppose every parent can relate, am I right? But good God, enough already.
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Not Knowing
Read more: Not KnowingIn my last post, The Very Beginning, I told the story of Isaac’s birth and the swarm of questions that began with his first breath. Here, I go back to the early months of “not knowing,” a gut feeling that something was different about Isaac that we couldn’t quite articulate. Fifteen years later, it is…
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The Very Beginning
Read more: The Very BeginningEven as I aim to bring awareness to PANS, which is a huge part of our family’s story, there is another, equally weighty story that precedes it: the swarm of questions surrounding Isaac’s birth and early development and his diagnosis with a rare genetic disorder at 15 months of age.
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Reflections & Resolutions
Read more: Reflections & ResolutionsI was prompted to think about Isaac’s progress in particular when one of the websites I follow put out a request for PANS/PANDAS triumphs. Our big one is this: In May of 2023, Isaac completed his 23rd round of IVIG. It may be impossible for us to know what complete healing will look like, but…
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Intro to functional medicine
Read more: Intro to functional medicineMore accurately, this post is an introduction to functional medicine through the lens of our family’s story. If you don’t know what functional medicine is, as I didn’t until a few years ago, I will introduce it by describing the process that led us to work with a functional medicine doctor and the benefits we’ve…
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Reflections on Thanksgiving
Read more: Reflections on ThanksgivingAs much as I love Christmas, with all of the decorating and gift-giving and festivities, Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. And not because of the history and pilgrim stories that we now recognize are not so innocent, but because of the way most of us celebrate it, around the table with family, or…
Gray Colored Glasses 