“There’s nothing wrong with THAT girl…”

Published on August 9, 2015 by beatingcowdens1 Comment

To the Young Couple on the Bus this Morning,

You should know that I heard you. I heard what you said as you glared at my daughter. I saw you shake your heads in disgust and say, “There’s nothing wrong with that girl, I saw her walking at the hotel last night.” You seemed proud of yourselves, like you had “found us out.” Maybe that’s why you weren’t so quiet. Maybe you wanted the others to hear, and to look at us in disgust as well, while the bus took 4 extra minutes to load my daughter on the wheelchair ramp.

I thought about what you said on and off through the day, and that alone made me mad. The fact that I even gave you a second thought was so much more than you deserved.

Then we caught the same bus home, and I really struggled to hold my tongue as you went at it again.

But, on the way home, I was less interested in you, and much more concerned for my daughter. She wasn’t well, again. And in some ways we are used to it, but it’s never any easier to see. As magical as it is here, it doesn’t change our reality.

Our reality, the reality of daily struggle with an invisible illness, is with us all the time. And even though my daughter CAN walk, she is not physically capable of the walking required to navigate the parks. Maybe its the 6 knee surgeries. Maybe its the after effects of the thyroidectomy. Maybe its the low immune subclasses, or the severe GI issues. She tires easily. And today, because it’s day three, she is already worn out. And even with the help of a wheelchair, she needed us to cancel our dinner reservation and get her back to the hotel to rest.

So, yes. At the advice of her doctors, and the agreement of her parents, because she NEEDS a break from her life, and EVERY protection to help her feel well, she uses a wheelchair through most of the day. And every day before we leave the hotel room we say a prayer for all those who HAVE to be in a wheelchair all the time. We take a moment to pray for their strength and health.

You aren’t the only ones. There are plenty of others who look at my beautiful girl, and think that this is some type of ploy. Which would make us pretty sick people. Because if you really want to feel queasy, push your child around in a wheelchair. Go ahead. Try it for a week. We’d rather she walk. She’d rather walk. So sometimes we let her try. With advil, and about 3/4 mile round trip. There is ice for the knee, and a shoulder to rub. The body behaves like one 40 years older. But, she pushes. To keep her independence. To feel normal.

The next time you wait the extra 4 minutes for the bus to load, don’t judge. Don’t figure you know the who, or what or why, about the person in that wheelchair. Don’t pity them. Don’t feel badly for them. Just be respectful, and assume they fight a battle you know nothing about.

If you want to know more about them, ask. And if you don’t – just walk right on by. And cherish your mobility.

You just never know.

Sincerely,

The Mom of that Child You Know Nothing About

Invisible Illness – Stuck in the Middle with You

Published on July 29, 2015 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

I don’t actually fit the “stereotype” of a middle child, as I was a younger sibling to my sister, (three years older) for 15 years, before my little sister and brother came along a few months apart.

I got the live the life of a “younger” and then later got to have some fun times, and responsibility as an “older.”

It worked.

On the other hand, this journey with this “invisible illness” we call “Cowden’s Syndrome” isn’t quite as smooth. It has to work, but right now it’s the “typical” middle child. It’s having a tough time fitting in where it belongs. Actually it is definitively trying to take over, but either getting ignored, or getting too much attention for all the wrong things.

In February of 2014 there was the complete removal of her thyroid.

In May of 2014 there was a week in the hospital from complications from the medicine that was controlling the AVM.

In November of 2014, almost on schedule, the AVM bled and required emergency surgery.

In February 2015 I addressed another vein gone awry in my leg.

In May 2015 there was the arthroscopy for the AVM knee to quartarize some bleeding.

In August, on the 25th, there will be her second-hand surgery in two years to try to stay ahead of the vascular malformations now forming in her palms. That was an unintended result of Monday’s visit to the hand surgeon.

There are a list of appointments to make, and bills to settle, and I seem to be doing nothing more than surviving.

More blood tomorrow. An Abdominal ultrasound Friday.

The summer is not for carefree adventures. The summer is for doctors. I hate that. But, its true.

And as we met with the oral surgeon today who perused her multiple page medical history, his cavalier remark, “She looks good,” should have pleased me. But, if I may be frank, it pissed me off.

Not because she doesn’t look good. She’s stunning, and tall and polite and well-mannered, and has a beautiful smile. But that is NOT the point.

The point is he never mentioned anything about the medical history, and in our world, being validated matters. Someone needs to say its unusual (read unfair) for an (almost) 12-year-old to be discussing the removal of her wisdom teeth. And while this may have nothing to do with Cowden’s (although I’ve come to know EVERYTHING unusual has SOMETHING to do with Cowden’s,) it is still just grossly unfair. More unfair is that this is ALREADY her second stint in the chair of an oral surgeon, as a mass was removed from her gums some 5 years ago.

We remain “stuck in the middle.”

Again, I have the “healthiest looking sick kid.”

My kid who still ices her knee, and needs to walk a lap or two during swim practice, but still makes practice. That kid will spend a week in a wheelchair at Disney, as she is not to walk more than about 1/2 mile consecutively. The child who still hasn’t gotten clearance from her last knee surgery. Clearly, she doesn’t “look” sick, but the stares and judgment are inevitable. And to some extent I get it. Invisible illness is hard to understand.

It is during this week I feel most “stuck in the middle.” I am so grateful the accessibility issues are limited. I do not fit in with the parents of wheelchair bound children. Although, it is a necessary tool to allow us a much-needed vacation. But, what is not limited are the “invisible” elements of her condition. The chronic surgeries, the doctor visits, the traffic, the blood work, the scans, the inability to just “go”; to the museum, the beach, the park, or anywhere because it hurts to walk too long, the isolation from friends who have no limitations, the poking, the anxiety – well, they never ever go away.

We’ve learned not to talk about them much. But, they are always there. Hers and mine.

She learns to appreciate what she can do, and acknowledge what she can’t. Begrudgingly.

My kid who holds it together through all things, and has grit and determination I marvel at, will act in her summer production at school.

She learns to use the anxiety as a tool.

She masters her emotions. She is the boss of her body. She amazes me.

And on September 18th when she gets her bottom two wisdom teeth removed, the course of action will be no different.

They will never know the powerhouse of a young lady that just left their chair. Until she comes back for the other two a few months later.

“Stuck In The Middle With You”
(originally by Stealers Wheel)

…Yes, I’m stuck in the middle with you,
And I’m wondering what it is I should do
It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face,
Losing control, and I’m all over the place
Clowns to left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you…

Today I Cried

Published on June 25, 2015June 25, 2015 by beatingcowdens8 Comments

I cried today.

A lot.

I hate it when that happens.

It wasn’t the loud sobbing kind of crying. It was the kind where the tears just run down your cheeks.

And if they’ve been held in there a long time, it’s really, really hard to make them stop.

I cried first when I saw the office, of the Long Island Surgeon, 30 miles, and 2 or more HOURS away from home. As I approached the room my heart sank and a tear fell. It was empty. That’s never a good sign.

Then when I spoke to the less than sensitive receptionist, she said, “The doctor isn’t here today.” Which I had figured out all by myself. But, I checked the schedule on my phone to be sure I was right, and I was. 2:30 June 25th. I left work early. Rushed to let the dogs out. Got Meghan. Braved the Belt Parkway. And, made it in just on time.

“Look,” I showed her the schedule on my phone.

She was grossly unimpressed and contacted the doctors direct secretary. She said she called my cell phone on May 18th and left a message. Clearly the message never got to me, likely the result of a simple dialing error. I even flashed the less than sensitive one, my voicemail log on my phone. “See, no call on the 18th.” She was still unimpressed, and now annoyed as well.

Meghan told me this morning her knee hurt. I haven’t heard that with regularity in a few weeks. She told me on the way to the appointment that she was glad to see the doctor today. She said she feels like her kneecap is shifting again. This was a primary cause of her preoperative pain. I could see the swelling. I just wanted some reassurance.

But, it was not to be. Because to argue about a phone call would have no real helpful answer, because the bottom line was, there was no doctor.

And the tears just started to fall. At first I worked to wipe them away. Then I just let them go.

I was offered a PA, and initially said no. Then I asked Meghan. She said she’d try one.

“The mother asked the patient, and it’s ok to send a PA down,” mocked the less than sensitive one.

YES! I wanted to scream. YES! The MOTHER, asked the PATIENT, because the PATIENT knows her body better than ANYONE. Her age is irrelevant. Her experience wins.

So we waited for the PA.

He examined her knee, and spoke about the swelling, which he said was likely due to “irritation.” REALLY? I was told her right quad has a good deal of muscle atrophy (something our PT noted BEFORE the surgery,) and that she should suspend all activities for a week, ice and elevate, and return in 7 days to see the surgeon. We scheduled for 9:30 AM, so she can miss the second day of camp, only to travel from Long Island to Sloan Kettering for an endocrinology visit, and back home for PT. (Summer vacation? Anyone?)

He saw my tears, and saw a weak, unstable woman. I know he did. And for the first time ever I stopped myself from justifying my tears. I simply told him there were many things involved in my frustration that he did not comprehend. The end.

I am done apologizing for my feelings. And I am done trying to explain sometimes, although not often, I cry out of sheer frustration for the madness that is our lives.

And as we got 2 cups of green tea to go, I cried some more.

I cried for the stupidity of mis-dialed numbers, and for the 4 and a half hours of our lives wasted, again.

I cried because no one really cares. Not really.

I cried as I watched the teen bald from chemo get out of the car. I shed tears of gratitude that it could always be worse.

I shed tears of sadness, for my girl, growing up too fast. Advocating for herself. Standing her ground with doctors. Because she just shouldn’t have to. And I cried for the doctors, who are missing out on a valuable opportunity. They could listen to my young, articulate, “in touch with her body” daughter, and they could learn a lot. Then I cried in desperation at the reality that they don’t want to.

I cried angry tears for the ones who have no regard for Cowden’s Syndrome. Those who don’t understand it, so they ignore it. They skip over it like a child trying to read a story above grade level. Because they have never seen it, they deem it irrelevant, or unnecessary. They don’t know that our ENTIRE treatment plan ALWAYS need to be grounded in the reality that there is Cowden’s Syndrome, and nothing is as it seems to be.

I cried about the summer that should be free of, or light on schedules, polluted by these doctor’s appointments. Necessary to complete in the summer so I can keep my job, and she doesn’t miss too much school. I thought about the week to come, Monday- Manhattan, Tuesday- Long Island, and PT, Thursday Long Island again, then Manhattan from there, and back to Staten Island for PT. And the following week, appointments for me Monday and Tuesday, 5 in 2 days. Meghan on Wednesday, and the dentist… as soon as we can get a Thursday afternoon free.

I cried about HOURS of our lives we will never get back. Ridiculous trips that take 5 times as long as they should.

I cried because I am wasting her childhood with necessary evils. And I hate it. I hate it a lot.

I cried for the isolation and loneliness created by a disease that keeps us both busier than we want to be.

I cried for our friends with this stupid disease and their physical, emotional, medical, family, and life struggles.

Eventually the tears dried into a scream or two. My girl had no idea I have those lungs.

And, as we arrived LATE for PT, I breathed a sigh of relief. Behind the doors of Leaps and Bounds PT, they “get it.” So Meghan works on getting better, physically and emotionally in a place she feels safe.

I booked PT through the summer. I had hoped we wouldn’t need to. Not for any other reason than it adds to a schedule we’d rather not have. So that “doctorless month” we’ve been trying to plan for three years isn’t happening this summer.

“I’m over it Meghan.” I told her as we were driving. “I’m over the whole Cowden’s Syndrome thing.”

And in her infinite wisdom again, “I guess, but without it I wouldn’t be the person I am. I’ve learned a lot…”

And the teacher is the student again.

Tomorrow I will have the tears back in their proper place. Tomorrow. But this is today’s reality, and sometimes that’s OK too. Because regardless – we are

BEATING COWDENS!

“I Am From” – Guest Blogger Meghan

Published on June 6, 2015 by beatingcowdens3 Comments

I Am From

by Meghan

I am from Love

I am from mutts barking at night

I am from swims in the backyard pool

I am from hospitals and procedures

I am from suffering

I am from anticipation of how my life will survive

I am from anguish after surgery

I am from crying in the hospital at night

I am from fear of not being strong enough

I am from doctors saying this cannot be

I am from hearing that I am unusual

I am from paralyzing fear of iv’s and needles

I am from being cast out for my pain

I am from fear of not surviving from the pain

I am from baby blue walls

I am from a home that cares for me

I am from a room of toys so big it’s like a store

I am from a home with clouds as chairs

I am from a home like a chocolate bakery

I am from the calming smell of Yankee candles

I am from the smell of brand new books

I am from the pool

I am from the thrill of swimming

I am from competition

I am from Wagner Aquatics and CSI

I am from the relief that comes with butterfly

I am Lori

And Felix

I am from Barbra

And Leon

I am from the Ortegas

And I am from the Thompsons

I am from many beliefs

I am from hurt and hatred

And I am from love and compassion

I am from different weather each day

I am from winter devouring sweet spring

I am from Christmas trees going up after Thanksgiving

I am from a special Thanksgiving meal the day after

I am from August Disney trips

I am from spices

I am from cookies and cake

I am from avocado

I am from Isagenix

I am from playing with my first dog Lucky

I am from meeting my second dog, Allie at pet smart

I am from church at Zion and Castleton Hill

I am from the beliefs that Jesus will rise again

I am from running up to the pulpit with Lucky in tow

I am from Gandhi’s “Be the change you wish to see in the world”

I am from adventure and fantasy filled books

I am from Rick Riordan and J.K Rowling

I am from action figures and comics

I am from DC universe

I am from Wonder Woman

I am from He-Man

I am from Batman and Superman

I am from the sidekicks

I am from X-Box 360 and video games

I am from mythology

I am from the LOVE of my family

BEATING COWDENS!

“Take pride in your pain…”

Published on May 25, 2015May 25, 2015 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

My daughter is a reader. She eats books up. One after another. I have pleaded with her to use the kindle, just to avoid the sheer volume of books in the house. I lack the responsibility to be a good library patron, as my brain can’t remember even one more thing. So the books build up. There are gift cards, and sales. And I never say no to a book. Ever.

Her early childhood teachers nourished ~~a love~~, no a passion for reading. They gave her the skills to decode, to comprehend, and to find her genre of choice, and her escape. She has needed that escape so often through the years that I find myself grateful for how easily the reading comes to her, and forever grateful to those precious teachers who likely have no idea how deeply they have impacted our existence.

This was a weekend full of homework. It was a culmination of a month that began with being pulled from class for play practice, and continued through her surgery on May 6th, and seven days absent. There are 4 honors classes to maintain, and for a perfectionist at heart, striving to get it all done has been nothing short of horrendous. All the classwork, all the homework, all the projects, every last bit of it to be made up.

And I understand, to some degree, why nothing was forgiven. Why she had to do it all. I have sat in the seat of the teacher for 19 years and the reality is absent or not, sick or not, they are responsible for the curriculum. That didn’t stop me from questioning the VOLUME of work and how it differed drastically from unbelievable to totally reasonable. And it didn’t stop the stress and bitterness of the last few weeks from taking a toll on both of us.

I hate having to be the “heavy” all the time. But, I was the one who had to put the books in her hand days post-op. Still working the anesthesia and narcotic pain relievers out of her system, it was time to get started. Knee elevated and iced, we talked through one subject after another.

Normally she manages all her schoolwork alone, and does it quite well at that, but this month I needed to stay with her. Make sure all the pieces were getting put back in place. Junior high is a step closer to the “real world” I guess, and while there was some awareness of her absence, life marched right on.

She hopped in and tried to catch up at school. She spent the entire week there, despite my knowing by Friday she probably should have been home. Friday night the fears were confirmed, as the classic sore throat began. Honey syrup lasted through the night until the pediatrician was able to declare an ear infection, and likely strep throat. She was cultured. The script was filled, and even as she took dose number one, the books were open.

She worked in my office this weekend, so I could oversee. Laptops side by side. Lots of togetherness. But, one subject at a time, it got done. The notes were put into notebooks, packets were completed, homeworks were stapled together. A science book was created and a newspaper for English class too.

And slowly as the last staple went into the last assignment, a smile crept over the corners of her lips. Her throat felt just so much better, and there was this notion that the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. There may be more to do this week. The year is not over quite yet. But finally, she is all caught up.

So she retreated to her favorite spot on the couch today, alternating between reading, and watching a series on Netflix. She brought me her book, “Gathering Blue” by Lois Lowry. “Hey Mom, listen to this…“Take pride in your pain,” her mother had always told her, “You are stronger than those who have none.”

She offered me a free hug and a smile. Then she was gone, back to her day of much-needed peace, healing and rest.

But, the depth of her quote resonated with me. Not only in amazement that she is able to extract such meaning from the context she reads, but also in the context of today, Memorial Day 2015.

When I started writing this blog it was all about therapy for me. It was all about our journey, and what we were going through. And still, so much of my day, so much of our lives, are consumed by Cowden’s Syndrome, its ravages and its effects, that leaving it out of my writing would be impossible. For while it does not, nor will it ever, own us, or rule us, it had shaped us as we grow through this disease together.

Along this journey we have learned so many lessons. We have learned to have a keener eye to the suffering of others. We have embraced the reality that “everyone has something,” and we have a deep appreciation for the many blessings we have.

I spoke several times today with one of my Dad’s Marines, “Uncle Alan.” I learned about lowering the flag to half mast till noon to remember the fallen, and then raising it to honor the living. I learned about some more Marines, and for a short time I was able to provide an ear for someone whose grief on Memorial Day bears more than general images, but actual names and faces. He speaks with such grace, such poise, and such a deep connection to his “brothers.” I can not help but admire him, even as we have yet to meet.

I put together this picture last night. All four of the veterans I love so dearly, only one of whom is still with us here on earth. My Pop, pictured with my Grandma, almost 70 years ago in the top left. At 95 his wit, compassion, faith, and humor still inspire me.

I took some long walks today. I had a few long talks, with God, and with my Dad, and some others gone too soon. I embraced the beauty around me. I gathered my inner strength to handle whatever life has waiting in the wings.

“Take pride in your pain. You are stronger than those who have none.”

Remember THAT. Always.

To My Daughter’s Team of Medical “Professionals…”

Published on April 22, 2015 by beatingcowdens6 Comments

I went to college, and graduate school, and took 30 credits above my Master’s Degree in Education. I earned a job as an elementary school teacher, in the school I attended as a child. And, after 18 years on the job I still love those moments when I am alone with my students, and things just “click.” But, nothing happens by accident. And despite the belief that a teacher’s day ends at 3PM, many a long night has been spent with those very students in mind, planning lessons, and creatively trying to reach them where they need to be met. I am not always successful in my execution, but I am confident in my planning and preparedness.

Because, you see that is what I was always told a professional is, and does. You LIVE your “job.” You are still the teacher, in the mall, in the restaurant, or even in CVS.

As a professional educator, I take pride in TRYING to meet the needs of my students at their level. It is my responsibility to help every child, not just the easy ones.

But, lately I am wondering if every professional has that same feeling.

Now, I mean no offense to the various healthcare professionals who go above and beyond for us, and for their other patients.

It’s just, well, the rest of them.

Having Cowden’s Syndrome sometimes feels like, well like I would imagine it might feel to have a plague, or leprosy. People, doctors, whomever, look at you tentatively. They look with caution. They don’t want to get too close. They are afraid to treat what they don’t understand.

And worse – no one wants to be in charge.

We are the worst kind of liability – more dangerous than a safe full of cash or a rare artifact.

Everyone wants to see us, all the time. But, they just seem to want to check boxes that say they’ve met their “I’ve seen a Rare Disease” quota, and send us on our way.

I am the CEO of my daughter’s medical care, and while frighteningly competent to do the job, NO ONE is listening to me.

To My Daughter’s Entire Medical Team:

You are dropping the ball here. Someone step up and take charge. Talk to each other. Get your egos out-of-the-way. LISTEN to me. LISTEN to her. Put her picture on her chart to remind you she is a REAL person.

Believe her when she says it hurts. Even when it is not “supposed” to. Validate her.

And sometimes. as unpleasant as it is to see, there is lots and lots of very real pain. — And sometimes. as unpleasant as it is to see, there is a lot of very real pain.

She talks a lot when she’s nervous. Care about what she has to say. Care that she is nervous. Learn about her love of swimming and reading and performing. Adapt your plan, your day, your treatment to fit MY child, just as I would do to yours in my classroom. Treat her as a whole person.

We are tired of spending hours in the car, missing practices and play, and relaxing time, just for you to feed us a line of “maybe,” “watch that,” and “come back.” We are tired of going places where no one wants to give us answers, or even answer our calls.

We are tired of surgery. But we do it. Over and over.

It's a real person enduring those procedures. — It’s a real person enduring those procedures.

Call back when I have questions. Like within 24 hours. Because I carry my phone until it leaves an imprint in my hand when I wait for you. Nothing else gets my concentration while I wait for the ring. I carry my list for fear of missing that precious window with you.

Oh, and by the way, the foot with the AVM had stopped growing. Take a look. Someone. Please. It’s a bit disconcerting.

She’s hot. Often. And at odd times. And I’m not just talking a little uncomfortable. Anyone want to help address that one?

And yesterday the dermatologist said it’s a vascular malformation in her hand. Another one. Please don’t tell me it’s not all connected. I’d rather you tell me you don’t know.

Don’t ignore her symptoms because you don’t understand them or can’t explain them. Trust me when I tell you, she’s not making it up. Any of it. She spends her time trying to make the world better for other people. Isn’t it about time you all got it together and started making HER world better?

And when the knee is at it's worst, there is still a way to press on. — And when the knee is at its worst, there is still a way to press on.

The pain in the knee is constant. Yep, I know it “shouldn’t” hurt either. But, she doesn’t even ask for medication anymore for fear of the same issues her last pain medicine caused in her GI tract. She just endures. All day. And then she goes to drama, and then she swims, and manages an average of 97% and the National Honor Society. She limps a bit by the end of the day. It’s the mornings that are the toughest.

To you she is one of many. To me she is my one and only. And this ~~child,~~ young lady, has the capability to effect great, positive change in this world. I know you are tired. I know your schedule is busy. I know research takes time. Start by listening to us. Listen. Care. Let her know she matters.

Then maybe, just maybe, she’ll start to trust you. Then, slowly, together, you can try to make her life more comfortable. Because, with or without you, she and I are BEATINGCOWDENS together.

Sincerely,

Her Very Determined, Sick of Excuses Momma Bear!

The Heart of a Champion – an open letter to my daughter

Published on March 1, 2015July 3, 2024 by beatingcowdens2 Comments

Dear Meghan,

Today Daddy and I watched you swim in the Silver Championship meet. It was your first qualifying meet, and it won’t be your last. We find it amazing that you qualified, and for the 100 butterfly no less, in only your second year of swimming. To say we are proud would not even begin to define how we feel.

Today was just another example of how you amaze us, astound us and impress us. I know, parents are supposed to be proud of their kids. I get it. But, when I think of what you go through each moment of every day, I truly am left in awe.

I get that you like swimming because you can feel “normal.” There is no special treatment in the pool and the clock forgives nothing. Cut times are clear and either you make it or you don’t. Believe me, I don’t look to make excuses for anything or anyone. You know that I can be kind of tough. (I get that from Grandma, along with a bark that’s worse than my bite… :-)) But sometimes in those moments when you are your toughest critic you have to allow yourself the same forgiveness your warm heart offers to others without hesitation.

Living with Cowden’s Syndrome is a tenuous balancing act. To stay on top of things the way you do takes intense effort. I think most people would be physically and emotionally exhausted to live your yesterday – let alone your every day.

Last night when your back gave out, and the pain was too intense for me to even touch you, I gave you every out. I gave you every excuse not to swim today. You wouldn’t hear of it. Your hips, the exact point you need your force to kick for your favorite butterfly were tender to even the gentlest touch. It took you hours to rest because your body allows nothing to contend with the pain. So I held your hand as you wiggled and squirmed for hours. I reminded you I loved you as you desperately tried to rest. I stroked your head when you finally passed out from exhaustion. And I was glad the lights were off to hide the tears that stained my face. Tears, not of pity, but of grueling agony of watching my dearest love suffer some more. I knew as I laid there it was unfair. That your knee was still hurting too, and now your back. I knew I made no sense for all this to be coming the night before something you wanted so badly.

That defines your life. Sometimes the hits are small and consistent. Sometimes they come out of nowhere, but you just keep going. You just keep fighting. And truth be told, you inspire me to do the same.

Yesterday we went to look at shoes. You’ve been complaining for months that your left sock is tight. The orthopedist measured your feet and acknowledged the 1cm difference between them. But, I don’t think either of us took in the reality until we were in the shoe store and saw this.

Another realization that we needed to go about things a different way. So we picked out your shoes, ASICS GT 2000 3 in a 9.5 and a 10.5 and we spoke to the store manager at Dick’s. He will help us. Because we asked. But, I know it got into your head. The wonder about the upcoming surgery in May and the worry about what this AVM is doing to your knee in its spare time. And I HATE not having any answers for you. But I don’t. I can only promise to be with you every single step of the way.

And as I got your pills out yesterday morning, and I helped open your thyroid pills, I thought about the year since you had a complete thyroidectomy. It was just over a year ago you became a thyroid cancer “previvor” when your 19 nodules, including three precancerous ones, came out with your thyroid. It occurred to me for about the 5,000th time this year, that your thyroid is STILL not balanced. We don’t give up. We keep trying. But its you who has to wake up every day and ~~function~~ ok soar, with levels that would leave people 2 and 3 times your age crying in their beds.

So when you took the block today, I took a moment to take it all in. I took a moment to take a good look at you, and I swear I could see the heart of a champion beating in your chest. I saw your green and black suit, and your prescription goggles, but in that moment I saw your raw heart. I saw the feisty determination that gets you through each day.

You might not have seen your best time on the board. But, me, I saw a champion.

The free dictionary defines a champion as:

cham·pi·on

(chăm′pē-ən)

1. One that wins first place or first prize in a competition.

2. One that is clearly superior or has the attributes of a winner: a champion at teaching.

3. An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person: a champion of the homeless. (or those with rare diseases – Ok I added that)

4. One who fights; a warrior.

And while you may not get a first place medal, you have won by walking through the door. You have overcome greater odds than anyone ever really knows.

You take the high road, even when it’s the tougher one to walk. You put other people first. You advocate for those less fortunate. You stand strong for what you believe. You excel in school. You soar at your extra curricular activities, and even within the pain that is relentless, you are an athlete too. You my girl, are a warrior, a true champion. Because as you get older you will come to realize that success is not defined by the highest grades, or the most first place ribbons. Success is defined by your character, by the person you are.

So my girl, when you lay your head on the pillow, know that I admire you with every aspect of my soul. Know that I respect that you daily work to be the best YOU, you can be. Know that YOUR BEST is ALWAYS good enough. Know that your compassion changes people. Know that you, in your own way are making an impact in this world. And most of all, know that you have two parents who love you more than you can possibly understand.

Thank you. For being more than I could have ever hoped for in a daughter. For even though we will hit rocky roads sometimes, we have seen so much, side by side and hand in hand. You my girl, have the heart of a champion, and there is no one I’d rather travel this bumpy road with than you.

All my love always,

Mom

Twelve Surgeries in 11 Years: Living With Cowden’s Syndrome

Published on January 8, 2015January 8, 2015 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

http://blog.silive.com/gracelyns_chronicles/2015/01/twelve_surgeries_in_11_years_l.html

The content of the article is pasted below. Please click on the link above to read the story in full effect. The photos were added below as reflection by me!

This article appeared in our local paper. Dr. Santos did an outstanding job capturing Meghan’s essence.

By Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on January 08, 2015 at 11:00 AM, updated January 08, 2015 at 1:52 PM

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Meghan Ortega, a Westerleigh sixth-grader, is one of my favorite dental patients and one of my twin daughters’ dearest friends.

A graduate of PS 29, Meghan is a Principal’s Honor Roll student at Markham Intermediate School in Graniteville. She loves drama, is an avid reader, loves to swim and has a broad smile and sunny disposition.

Meghan also happens to be one of the bravest kids I know. In her 11 years, she has had 12 surgeries. Twelve. She hurts every day, but has learned pain is part of her life.

Meghan has a rare genetic disorder called Cowden’s syndrome.

Cowden’s falls under the umbrella term of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome. The PTEN gene, which suppresses tumor growth, malfunctions, resulting in benign and malignant tumors developing all over the body.

Approximately 30 percent of children with genetic disorders die before their fifth birthday, so Meghan is fighting for her life with preventive screenings and surgery.

As her dentist, I saw firsthand one of the oral manifestations of Cowden’s syndrome — a suspicious gingival (gum) growth — for which I referred her to an oral surgeon for biopsy and excision.

Not once did I ever hear Meghan complain.

The PTEN gene is passed on in an autosomal dominant pattern and is rare, affecting one in 200,000 people. The cancer risks are high; the lifetime breast cancer risk seems to exceed the BRCA risk, and there are significant risks for thyroid, uterine, kidney, skin, colon, and countless other malignancies.

To keep a close eye on the disease and its progression, Meghan sees doctors regularly for preventive screenings — including biopsies.

But she is just happy that she finally has a diagnosis.

When Meghan was a baby, her parents, Lori and Felix knew something was “not right.” She was chronically ill. She suffered with gastrointestinal distress well past her first birthday, and her diet had to be free of gluten, dairy, soy, dyes and preservatives. Her gallbladder was removed when she was 3 years old.

Meghan also had a lipoma taken from her back and her tonsils and adenoids removed. She had to have a complete thyroidectomy because of 19 rapidly growing abnormal nodules on her thyroid gland, three of which were deemed pre-cancerous.

The most notable of the surgical procedures for Meghan’s abnormal growths were the five she had to undergo as a result of an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in her right knee. While AVMs are not exclusive to Cowden’s syndrome, there is an increased incidence in the population.

Recently she was hospitalized for a week because the medication that helped control the AVM in her knee caused damage to her GI tract and her esophagus.
She was taken off that medication and is healing, but the pain has returned to her knee.

It is one of the constant smaller battles she fights with side effects of the multiple medications she must take.

Meghan is often at a doctor’s office. Barely a week goes by without at least one appointment. She waits like a champion for hours on end, because she is conditioned from years of practice.

Lori, her mom, firmly believes Meghan saved her life — because of Meghan’s diagnosis, she also was tested and confirmed positive for the PTEN gene mutation. She had surgery as well, a prophylactic double mastectomy.

In a world where we often get wrapped up in trivial annoyances, Meghan is an inspiration, a reminder that in the great scheme of things, people all around us are fighting real battles.

Although Meghan has met some great friends along the way, it is often a struggle for her to relate socially to most children, who likely have been to the doctor only once a year their whole lives.

Meghan’s experience of living with Cowden’s, combined with the food issues, can be isolating for her, realizing early on that talking too much about pain to her peers can also increase the isolation: It is hard for them to relate.

So she threw herself fully into support of other children and adults who have rare diseases, like the one she and her mom share.

She worked with one charity, the Global Genes Project (www.globalgenes.org) soon after she was diagnosed.

Meghan also sought a symbol for those with multiple medical issues and what developed was beautiful: A denim ribbon, a nod to the slogan, “Hope, it’s in our Genes.”

The first year after her diagnosis, Meghan simply wanted to hand out Denim Ribbons on World Rare Disease Day. The second year, she worked with the Student Council to organize a successful fundraiser at school.

Now, Meghan has struck up a friendship with Borough President James Oddo, who has invited her to Borough Hall several times to talk about ways she can make a difference. He has become her mentor, helping her find her voice.

This year, Meghan has organized a fundraiser to be held Sunday, Feb. 15, at Nicotra’s Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield, to raise awareness and money for rare diseases. To help others like her, many worse off.

Her goal is to educate everyone about rare diseases in general. She is acutely aware that everyone struggles, but wishes there would be less judgment and more support. One of her pet peeves is people who say, “You don’t look sick.”

For more information about Meghan’s journey and to support her fundraiser, please visit her blog, http://www.beatingcowdens.com Tickets can be purchased at http://www.eventbrite.com.

Meghan 2014 Nominee for Global Genes Project Teen Advocacy Award

2014 Kid of Achievement - Staten Island Children's Museum — 2014 Kid of Achievement – Staten Island Children’s Museum

Pain is temporary….

Published on December 19, 2014 by beatingcowdens4 Comments

At least I hope so.

I vaguely remember a shirt my older sister used to wear when she was swimming. The message was something like this.

It was motivational, meant I am sure to remind the young swimmers that their fatigue from grueling practice would translate into race times that would forever keep them proud of their accomplishments.

And in that case, I hope the pain, the pain of lap after lap, translated into successful meet times that led to a gratifying feeling of pride.

But what about when it’s not that neat? What about when you can’t sort it out in a package, or tie a bow on it?

There is emotional pain. The empty pain of loss.

As I type, I have two lit candles on my desk, celebrating the 60th birthday of my uncle in heaven. The pain of his wife, his children, his mother, my dad, (his brother,) can not be explained. The loss is raw. The pain is an open wound.

I think of my college roommate, and her nephews and sister-in-law preparing for Christmas without their 36 year-old father.

I think of the loss of my Dad, just over a year ago, and the flood of memories and seasonal connections complicating my every thought.

I think of the loss of our beloved Allie Girl last week.

I think… and I think. And I know how badly it hurts. And I know we are so far from alone. I am grateful not to be able to imagine the depth of the pain some feel.

Pain is temporary…

There is the pain of anxiety. Very real. Depression. Equally crippling. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t battled with both my whole life, amped up by this Cowden’s Syndrome torment under which my girl and I will live forever.

Try as I might, the worry is stifling. The sense of urgency all the time is exhausting. There is little room for error. Screenings, medications, lab work, surgery. All scheduled with precision to conserve sick days and minimize missed school. Except when I can’t. Like when it’s an emergency. Then we just roll with it.

The anxiety weighs on my girl as well. 11 years old, trying so hard to be normal, and to fit in. But, the reality is there is no “normal.” So she fakes it as best she can, blessed to be surrounded by some spectacular kids.

But, she gets mad. Mad at the doctor, mad at her knee, mad that she takes two steps forward and three steps back, in this poorly choreographed dance she is forced to participate in. Mad that she can’t be “the best,” because her own best is unacceptable to her. And some days when she is extra mad, I wonder about the thyroid. Cause its absence affects all things. And this week came the phone call that the numbers have increased 400% over the last 3 months again. So we continue to raise the dose of a medication that I don’t think does a damned thing for her. We play the game while I search, frantically for someone to “get it.”

Pain is temporary…

Except when it’s chronic. And it involves every single minute of every day. And the one medication that does work is off-limits. And the surgery to plug the hole in the artery that was likely provoked by the absence of THAT medicine, causes and abundance of scar tissue and this feeling of a lump the size of a cashew or two exactly where the knee should be able to bend. And you have no way of knowing if its going to get better, or happen again. Any minute.

And the pain, well if it was only in your knee it would be better. But it’s in the shoulder, and the neck, and maybe it’s caused by the feet over a 1/2 size off, or that slight curve in the lower spine, or something else no one cares to figure out.

So, you gather your spoons. And you borrow a few.

And you press on. Through sixth grade and onto the principal’s honor roll, and through student council, and drama club, and fundraising activities, and swimming your butt off. Cause what choice do you have?

Pain is temporary…

We talk about injury pain, vs healing pain. Tonight’s pain counts as the healing type cause it was generated largely by exercise. This pain is movement in the right direction. Swimming heals the soul.

You have to find what heals the soul, or you will lose your mind. There is no other way.

Pain is temporary… cause it needs to be.

You have to find what brings you peace.

Two weeks ago on December 4th, I chose this. The butterfly breaking out of the cocoon. Free forever.

I miss my Dad.

My heart is full.

But we press on. Because pain is temporary. Even for all of us in the middle of the worst pain of our lives. The sun will shine again.

Channeling that energy into raising awareness, fundraising, and helping those whose sun hasn’t come back up.

Jeans for Rare Genes Fundraiser (Click here to support our fundraiser for the Global Genes Project and the PTEN foundation)

We are living real life, AND

WE ARE BEATING COWDEN’S TOO!

… some rain must fall.

Published on December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 by beatingcowdens2 Comments

Last summer we invested in a new roof for the house. I’ve never regretted it. Truth be told we had no choice. There were leaks and dry rot. All sorts of potentially serious places for significant damage. Lots of horrendous storms have pounded down on this roof since the summer of 2013 – both literally and figuratively. But we’ve stayed safe and dry. I have to figure its some combination of strong plywood, and a well done roofing job, coupled with our strong family bond, deep faith, and our ability to keep laughing.

The weather forecast this week is pretty awful. And I started thinking about how, “into every life some rain must fall.” And I started to wonder, whether maybe we’ve actually had enough rain.

Cowden’s Syndrome brings its own share of cloudy, overcast, generally awful days. And life, well it can get dicey and complicated even without Cowden’s Syndrome. This year has been wild. Full of so much sadness, and hurt, and sorrow. And in between there peeked in some fun, happy times.

This month has been tricky.

These last 2 weeks….

I’m really starting to think it might be time to consider an ark. I’m not wallowing. Nor do I think we are the only ones buried enough to need that ark (we’ll share,) but wow. Just, wow…

Two weeks ago tonight we rushed Meghan to Lenox Hill Hospital for emergency surgery on the AVM in her right knee. The 50 ccs of blood were removed from the knee-joint, and by Wednesday we were sent on our way. Thanksgiving weekend was spent home. Low key. Leg up. Resting.

We had goals. All geared towards December 8th. Goals set by the medical team. Swim practice was to begin again tonight. And Mom, FYI – goals are different from plans… 🙂

We slowly weaned off the crutches, and the pain medicine. We moved to an ace wrap as needed. By last Monday the 1st she went to school still in pain, but unassisted. The swelling was going down. The healing had begun.

But by Friday she couldn’t do it. Had to stay home because of the pain. The swelling looked a little off too. More rest.

Sunday she woke up late and come down the stairs declaring the pain was worse – and “different.” The knee looked horrendous. And very similar to its pre-op state. More resting. Some pictures. Some brainstorming.

All the while Allie, our oldest dog was having troubles of her own. Allie, lethargic for a bit – collapsed on a walk. Felix called me to pick him up carrying 70 pounds of dog. Off to the vet for abdominal x-rays and a negative test for pancreatitis. There was no discrete mass of the x-ray, just some shadowing. They decided to try to treat for pancreatitis despite the negative test. There aren’t too many other good options and I am worried.

And so we got medicine for Allie, and got her boiled chicken and rice for her bland diet.

And we took pictures of Meghan’s leg and elevated the knee.

Today we got up early to give Allie her medicine together.

Then Meghan dragged her painful, aching leg around school until I could get us an appointment.

1:30 arrival at Lenox Hill. Sonogram initially showed no blood. Then, wait for it…. there it is. But no obvious spot its coming from. Shocking really. Could it be residual from the procedure two weeks ago? It looked to be about 5ccs. Nothing compared to the 50, but I remember a time less than 5ccs of blood in the knee-joint freaked them all out. Now all of a sudden – we’ll just wait and see.

They used words like “discomfort,” and “irritating.” She used words like, “excruciating.”

Not the first time we haven’t seen eye to eye. But he’s all we’ve got. One of very few doctors in the north-east to operate on these in kids.

I get not racing back in. I do. But validate the kid for the love…. I know she’s super sensitive, but that just means she feels EVERYTHING, INCLUDING the stray blood in her knee.

Wrap it. Elevate it. Put swim off another week. (Tough talk from the guy who initially said she wouldn’t even need crutches.)

In the car Meghan told me to get my Christmas shopping done. Just in case. She hopes she’d wrong – but it doesn’t feel right.

My money’s on her- and it’s a bet I hope to lose.

Allie, she’s super mushy. Who knows?