Life Challenge

I have four children and I would like to share with you a story about my younger son whose life took an unexpected turn ten years ago. I am proud very proud of all his accomplishments despite an illness that changed his world. 

My younger son did well in school and was on a post high school reading comprehension in 7th grade. In 8th grade they had seen some behaviors and instead of telling me what they saw, they decided he was on drugs and I had to go to a conference where I defended my son. I grew up in the 60's, I would know if he was using. Money wasn't missing, he didn't disappear at odd  hours, his eyes weren't glassy and he tended to  be in contact with  his friends over the computer and phone not on street corners. He didn't even walk home from school. He failed 9th grade and his post high school reading comprehension level had dropped in two years to  a 7th grade reading comprehension level.

He was diagnosed with adolescence onset petit mal epilepsy when we moved to Florida in 1997. He was placed on depakote and some students and school staff treated him like he was stupid as the medicine doped him up. He was thrown into lockers and I had to run to the school to get him often. He had to give up ROTC, riding his bike, using the computer, watching tv in the begining, everything he loved. In time, he was able to go back to using the computer and watching tv but being able to ride his bike took a few years.  The school wanted him to ride a special bus and he refused. The school  wanted him to have a special escort to his classes and he refused. He didn't want to be different from the others. He rode regular bus and the other students jeered him because we didn't live too far from the school. They mocked him for not walking, not knowing he was disabled.

Having seizures all the time did not make life easy for my son. Being heavily medicated had it's side effects. He needed to rest when he was tired was one of the doctors orders. He couldn't spend much time in the sun. If he got hurt he had horrendous bruises. If he didn't get his medicine at the scheduled time he would get nauseous. He had to take life skills classes in school and there were talk that he might have a "normal" life someday at the conferences. My son was epileptic but his intellect was intact.

He decided to have a goal to graduate on time with all the other students who were his age. He set out to make up for the lost credits in 9th grade. Over three years he went to night school and summer school. He didn't even know if he would graduate until the day before.  There was no senior picture, no senior status for him. I was so proud the day he graduated but it was hard to listen to all the "regular" outstanding students win awards and accolades. I felt my son had done so much more to be on that stage that day and deserved some recognition for all he over came.

His epilepsy went into remission and he was not only able to get off of medicine but he was allowed to get his drivers license. The only job he loved was fixing computers but he could only find part time work. He worked other jobs full time but he was never as happy as he was when he was fixing a computer. He took some tests a few years ago and passed. Since then he works as an Apple certified technician providing support for a medical research project. He married a lovely girl in October and is enjoying a life the doctors and I weren't sure he would ever have.

I hope this will inspire anyone who is facing some challenges with an uncertain future to not limit how far they can go in their life. 

All these difficulties are in the past now. His life is like anyone elses. I am so glad he didn't give up and accept what was predicted for him. I am proud that he over came his challenges and is the wonderful guy he is!