The Struggle (for Silence) is Real!

Published on March 13, 2017March 13, 2017 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

Irony is spending 20 years wondering why your students sometimes struggle to be quiet, and suddenly, in one week, realizing how insanely difficult it is to be silent, AND, that it’s likely your need to talk constantly is part of the reason WHY you went into teaching in the first place!

Last Friday, March 3rd, this ugly thing was taken off my vocal cords.

And they, like so many other parts of my body, now boast scars.

So, I set up for a few weeks out of work, and a week of required silence. I never actually thought I was ready, which is a good thing. Because I wasn’t.

I do poorly on twitter, Rarely could I get out what I need in 140 characters or less. Absolute silence involved my cell phone in hand at all times. A few times the thing almost learned to fly, as the fingers, and auto-correct could not keep up with my brain. But, life lesson number, oh, I don’t know, 4 or 5, teaches us that life goes on around us. Ready or not. Even when you have to watch and not participate.

There have been many times since March 3rd I’ve been grateful that thought bubbles do not appear above my head.

On the 9th I headed to the city for my follow-up. After learning the pathology was benign, and read only “polyp,” I was relieved. The doctor was pleased with the initial healing and told me I could begin to use my voice. Slowly. He said 5 minutes an hour. That sounded high, based on what the voice therapist had told me in the fall, but I was grateful. I used the first 5 minutes up asking him questions.

I wanted to know whether this was connected to Cowden’s Syndrome. I wanted to know if it was likely to recur, if I needed vocal therapy, and when my follow-up would be.

Apparently, kind as he is, he could communicate on Twitter much more efficiently than I.

Cowden’s Syndrome? I don’t know. There’s not a lot of literature. This type of polyp is usually a traumatic event, something you’d remember. But, you don’t. And it grew really fast. I’m not sure.

Recurrence? Maybe. Depends how it came to be. Be careful with your voice.

Vocal Therapy? Suggested. Start on the 13th. (Whew… THAT I now KNEW I needed.)

Follow up – April 13th, a few days before I am scheduled to teach my first class post-operatively.

He was an outstanding surgeon. Matter-of-fact. Thorough. Efficient. But, I’ve known enough surgeons now to know, they don’t play with why. They just fix it and move on. He will “doctor” me, to the point that he will follow-up, and hopefully watch NOTHING ever grow there again. But, in reality this is now just another vulnerable spot on this PTEN mutated body. Because, I would stake certainty that it’s connected. There just aren’t that many coincidences in life.

So I left Thursday feeling good. I got 5 minutes an hour! I tried out my voice in the car. I tried it out at home. And then, I picked up my daughter at school, and I was so excited to talk to her, I easily let the conversation surpass 15 minutes. oops.

Later when I spoke to my husband I was well past 10 before I stopped.

This 5 minutes and hour thing was not for the faint of heart!

Sometime Friday I decided that stopping at 5 minutes was, nearly impossible for me to regulate. It was quite possible I could lose my mind.

And then I texted the voice therapist to set up my appointments for this week. And I mentioned the 5 minutes. And that I randomly out of nowhere had vomited for 20 minutes that morning. And her words were crystal clear. “DO NOT SPEAK AGAIN UNTIL I SEE YOU”

Sucker Punch

I went from a poorly managed 5 minutes back to a feeble attempt at silence.

I failed.

I spent 2 full days at a swim meet at with my girl. 7 hours each day away from home. I got to rest my voice, except when I felt compelled to tell her how proud I was. Or to wish her luck. Or to just chat… a little.

Some people really love chocolate. Me, I don’t mind chocolate, but I LOVE to talk.

We sat in therapy today and I got exercises for volume and pitch… all ironic because I struggle to tell the difference, but I’m an overachiever, so I try to do well. I sound like a complete loser, but I imagine it’s the same as me attempting something that requires coordination, like kick-boxing, or yoga. My poor vocal cords may not stand a chance.

6 exercises, 5 times each. Repeat 4x a day. And during those 4 hours DON’T SPEAK at all.

The revised schedule she gave me had 3 minutes an hour till Friday. Then, we’ll entertain 5 minutes again.

Tonight I pulled back into my office. To be silent I must be alone. I put some “breathe” into my diffuser, and tried to get my thoughts together.

Then I realized they ARE together. I just have no place to put them.

Tomorrow the house will be full for the snow day. Normally this would make me very happy. Tomorrow it is likely to make me a hermit.

Grateful the voice works. Grateful I tend to heal well…. But, some days

#beatingcowdens

is a real trip!

5 Years and “Sag-less” in my 40s

Published on March 5, 2017March 5, 2017 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

March 5th. 2012

One of those dates that will stick with me forever.

On March 5th of 2012, I made my way early in the morning to the 10th floor of NYU. I signed all the papers with my husband by my side. I shook. I prayed. I was terrified. But, I had strong resolve, and there was no turning back.

Several months prior, my daughter, and then I had been diagnosed with the PTEN mutation that causes Cowden’s Syndrome. This mutation is responsible for increased tumor growth, both benign and malignant. It causes polyps, hamartomas, vascular malformations, and a whole bunch of other messy things. After our diagnoses, we began aggressive and age-appropriate screening.

Meghan was 8. I was 38.

They started with her thyroid. And immediately found issues.

At exactly the same time I was being sent through screening for the highest risk in my age group. Breast cancer.

I already had a mom- a 15 year survivor of bilateral beast cancer. (She does not have the PTEN mutation.) I had already had several surgical breast biopsies through the years, with increasingly foreboding pathology. But, I could not have been prepared for the surgeon I met in NYU Clinical Cancer Center in January of 2012. She introduced herself to me, having already torn through my previously received medical record, and said we should set a date. When I asked for what, she said quite simply, “For your prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.”

A little stunned, I caught my breath and asked why? “It’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN you’ll get cancer,” she said very definitively. “We need to get at it first.”

She sent me to her scheduler, who coordinated with the plastic surgeon. The date they came up with was March 5th. I asked why I couldn’t wait until the summer, and I was told that she thought that would be a huge mistake.

I called my husband, shaking. “Do what they say,” he calmly asserted.

So I left that January day with a script for a bilateral breast MRI – just to make sure there was no cancer- and a surgical date.

The MRI was negative. I am still amazed by that. Five weeks prior to the surgery there was NO FINDING on the MRI.

I met with the plastic surgeon, and much to her chagrin, I opted for immediate reconstruction, deciding to forgo the preferred method of tissue expanders. She reminded me that the results would be “imperfect.” I knew I could not delay my recovery by months. I had a daughter, a family, and a job to return to.

The surgery was uneventful.

I vomited repeatedly as I left the house that morning. I cried as I walked into the OR. My surgeon called me “brave.” I woke up with a strange feeling of empowerment.

I left the hospital 28 hours later. There were drains and wrappings, but there were things to do. I met on the refinance of our mortgage and managed parent teacher conferences with my daughter’s third grade teacher all before the drains were removed.

The day we went to have the drains removed, for whatever reason both Meghan and Felix were there. The plastic surgeon was the first to mention how lucky we were we caught “it” early. I was confused. She said, “The cancer. It was very early and far away from your chest wall.”

There was silence in the room as we all processed the word “cancer.”

She realized then she was the first to share the news. Our next stop was the surgeon. I pored over the pathology report and kept getting stuck.

I went from being a woman “getting ahead of things” with a “prophylactic bilateral mastectomy” to a “cancer survivor” in a moment.

I was told had I pushed the surgery to the summer, I would have been in a “fight for my life.”

I’ll always know I am more fortunate than any of the women who needed, chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments to keep their cancer at bay. I have not traveled the road as they did. I will forever admire them. But, we are kindred spirits living with the daily knowledge that cancer cells once lived inside of us. That is a feeling, and knowledge that can not be explained. You either know it, or you don’t.

My implants lasted less than 5 years. The life expectancy is 15. This past summer they were replaced. Scarring was severe on the right side, and the scars needed to be broken up. A new pair replaced the old. Nothing flashy. Quick surgery, quick recovery. No big deal. Just a reminder of the reality that will follow me forever.

Today I celebrate that reality.

5 years officially Cancer-free.

Five years – and by the grace of God, countless more to go.

Five years- the first of many with sag-less silicone, size small shirts, and the ability to go bra-less without being noticed.

I celebrate my Mom – 20 years a survivor this year – my role model. My motivation.

I celebrate inside my own quiet- unable to speak as my voice heals. I celebrate even through miles of survivors guilt. I celebrate despite my broken heart as so many around me are taken by cancer. I celebrate because that is what they would want most.

Once you’ve been there. Lived it. Watched it. Seen it. You get a deeper sense of how precious life is. And you celebrate what you have each day. It’s not easy. Life can be messy. But, we do our best.

I celebrate to honor those who’ve been taken, those who work so hard every day to smile through, and for those whose diagnoses are yet to come.

Every day is a gift. As my friends at #stupidcancer would say – Get Busy Living!

#beatingcowdens

Silence is… difficult and required

Published on March 4, 2017 by beatingcowdens3 Comments

I always hated charades. I stunk at it. And I still do.

I would have made a rotten mime.

Forced down time.

That’s what surgery brings.

This time it brings silence as well- for at least the next 5 days.

I kept moving so fast through the last few months that maybe I chose to ignore the problem growing inside me. I mean, ignore it in the sense of not writing about it too often. Of course, I’m not foolish enough to ignore it…

It was last spring, right about this time that I started to feel a little hoarse. I blamed it on spring allergies. Except it never went away.

It always struck me as odd because it came at a time during the year I was teaching less, and testing more so there was less of a strain on my voice.

Once spring turned into summer, I had to accept “spring allergies” wouldn’t work.

I searched for an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in Manhattan, in my network. I read bios, and surgical articles, because everything seems to end with surgery anyway. So – I find its best to pick a good surgical record to start. Negative, or realistic? You can decide for yourself.

The first appointment I met the speech pathologist and the doctor. Both took baseline screens. I was told at initial consult in July that there was a “nodule” and a “striking zone lesion” on the opposite side. I was told it did not seem “typical” of the nodules teachers usually get, and I was told at that initial visit I would likely need surgery in the future.

But, first I was sent to vocal therapy. And while I scoffed at the idea, I know now how valuable the experience was. I have always sent my daughter to therapy when needed, and marveled at the success I saw with OT, PT, and Speech. But somehow for me, it was a tougher pill to swallow. At first.

I think when I wrote about this last I had connected with the Vocal Therapist, a gem of a woman, and a skilled class act in Speechless – October 2016 And then there was a quick entry here Laugh Out Loud – November 2016, Basically, the therapy helped enough to reduce the swelling, and reveal more issues. In October I was told definitively that surgery was in the future plan. I was told to continue to practice what I had learned in vocal therapy. I was told to rest my voice when I wasn’t teaching, and to employ a slew of new speech strategies and exercises. I continued Vocal Therapy through December. It has been no easy task, and I am FAR from perfect at it, but I can say I’ve made improvements at least a third of the time. Not too bad for a few months of modifying something I’ve been doing for 42 years!

The kids at school are used to my “tour guide” microphone, which helps me resist the urge to overextend my voice. We got in a routine, as you do when faced with a new obstacle. There is no other choice really, because as my friend says, we just “keep swimming.”

The plan was for me to return to the doctor in early April to set up surgery for the summer.

Except plans change. And it was getting a little hard to breathe. I felt like I had asthma symptoms more often than I am used to, and almost like a constant feeling of fullness in my throat.

I called the doctor to move the surgery up. We set February 20th as the date. Sometimes I just have to trust my instincts. Except I got a call that the OR was closed on February 20th and I had to take either February 17th or wait till March 3rd. And for a hot couple of moments I entertained February 17th. Except that “Jeans for Rare Genes 3” was set for February 19th. And, me being on total vocal rest while we entertained 120 people wasn’t a great idea.

I headed to see the doctor on January 31st and he found a new problem. There was now a very large polyp extending over the vocal cords. It was big and it had not been there in October. I asked about the likelihood of it being benign and I was told he was 99% sure it was all benign. I liked the odds, but still he agreed waiting till the summer wasn’t a great plan. We settled on a surgical date of March 3rd. Carefully calculating the number of days I’d need to be off of work before my return, we established it should still work.

Over the last few weeks I felt increasingly short of breath during mundane tasks. I stayed calm. I decreased my daily activity and moved a little slower. I knew we could make it, and we did.

So, “Jeans for Rare Genes 3,” went off as a successful event, and yesterday morning, on the first anniversary of the death of my beloved Pop, I headed to NYU to have my surgery. I left with the prayers of great friends and family, and the intense protection of one of my Guardian Angels.

The surgery went as surgery does. It’s strange how it’s not nearly as anxiety provoking as it once was. The whole routine has a wild familiarity, from the intake to the recovery room. I don’t get lost anymore and anticipate their words and requests. It’s odd, and a bit strange this job of #beatingcowdens. I walk dutifully to the OR and get settled under my warm blankets. I expect the IV, and the burning of the anesthesia. I know the mask will be the last thing I remember before the recovery room.

And its amazingly less nerve wracking when the surgery is for you and not your child.

So the biggest polyp had increased drastically in size since January 31st. It’s gone, and so are the other issues. We wait on pathology and a follow-up next Thursday. I’m on strict voice rest until Thursday at least, which requires me to really isolate. Talking to my family is reflex. And as I said before I stink at charades.

So we carry our phones. I put my fitbit on rest. It’s off an in a drawer. I’ve got my laptop in my room. I’m eating my Isagenix and diffusing protective oils. I’m organizing my brain- a little.

I’m trying not to get ahead of myself. I’m trying to address one day at a time. This is not my strength. It is in my long term planning that I strengthen my resolve and focus best on

#beatingcowdens.

For now it’s been about a day. I slipped on about 20 words total. Not great, but I never claimed to be perfect. The funny thing about talking is you don’t realize how much you do it till you can’t.

The laughing is even harder. My husband is funny. It’s one of the things I love most about him. How lucky and I as I heal to lament that my daughter wants to talk to me, and my husband makes me laugh? I’ll hide from my biggest blessings a few more days. #gratitude

To Do Lists, Digital Footorints and Random Thoughts

Published on January 7, 2017 by beatingcowdens1 Comment

I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t believe in waiting for a specific day to make changes. If they are needed, wanted, or warranted – we make them. Right then. Otherwise, I’m all about just being your best you- every day.

Parenting a teenager is tough stuff. Even when your teen is just a good soul, a hard -worker, a good student, and a compassionate human.

There are people who would challenge me that we have it easy. They give me the default model, that raising one child has to be easier than raising 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or more… And maybe they are right. I will never know. But, they won’t either. That’s the point.

Raising our children, or living our lives is not meant to be a discussion of “harder” or “easier.” There are challenges present in every single scenario that comes to mind when I think of EVERY family I know. In this house we talk a lot. My girl and I, we talk about those other lives we know, and their battles. And we send love and prayers and warm wishes, as they do for us. It’s not a contest, it’s real life.

2016 saw the results of two uterine biopsies of my then 12 and 13 year old, with results that left us uneasy, and in a perpetual state of “cautious waiting.” It also saw me back in surgery, replacing less than 5 year old silicone implants because one had “fallen” And then, it saw my clumsiness as I spent 6 weeks booted with a broken toe.

2016 saw loss in my family, as we mourn Pop, and are readjusting with Grandma in her new living space.

Yet, we made it. We came out with a few bumps and bruises, but we made it.

2016 ended with 8th graders we know taking High School entrance and Scholarship Exams. The next weeks will bring jubilation, laughter, and tears.

Yet, we WILL make it- all of us.

The “To Do” list on the yellow pad to my right is busy. The fundraiser is about a month away and there is lots to be done.

There is also an MRI, a vascular surgeon, an orthopedist, an endocrinologist, and a gastroenterologist for Meghan, as well as Pre-surgical testing, a tentative surgery date, and a breast surgeon follow-up, an oncologist, and an endocrinologist for me. All before February 22. That’s IF no one requires additional testing for anything…

We will fit in the “regular” stuff too, like swimming, and meets, and school projects, and drama… well you know what I mean.

We are working hard to fit Cowden’s Syndrome into our lives, and not to let it RUN our lives. It’s a subtle difference on paper, but a HUGE one in practice.

And when the thought of running a house that contains TWO people with a rare genetic disorder becomes overwhelming – we try to step back and count our blessings. Because at the end of all days, regardless of our struggles, it is good for us, and those around us, if we can remain positive. I’m not saying we’re perfect at it – far from it actually, but it is a goal, and an on-going work in progress.

It came up this week when we were preparing for the fundraiser and talking about social media. Actually, it has come up a bunch of times since the iPhone became attached to her hand almost 3 years ago…

Digital footprint – how are you presented on the internet? What if someone “googled’ your name? Now? 5 years from now? 8 years from now before your job interview? The whole concept of this blog has been discussed in depth. Meghan, whether she likes it or not, at the age of 13 has an identity that is connected to her rare disease. Now, don’t misunderstand me for a minute – a close read would CLEARLY indicate, she is NOT her disease, but she will never have the opportunity to deny the diagnosis. That’s forever, and its important.

What she does with it, well that’s ongoing. She’s made some pretty dynamic choices to date. Sometimes she feels a bit like she has something to prove- so she does.

She’s been asking me for “snapchat” lately, and eventually I’ll give in. But, I’m one of the mean moms who makes her wait. Instagram is plenty to manage for now.

This week Meghan was nominated as “Inspirational Staten Islander of 2016.”

It prompted me to “google” my daughter. So when I type in her name connected to our home town, these are the first links to surface…

How Meghan Ortega saved her Mother’s Life

12 Year Old With Rare Genetic Disorder Chosen as Inspirational Islander

Staten Island 9 Year Old and Her Mom are on a Mission….

12 Surgeries in 11 Years- Living with Cowdens Syndrome

Meghan Ortega- NYS Senate

I’ll take that top five any day.

And just for good measure, I switched to an image search. These 5 were on the first page…

Meghan in her elementary school with one of her idols- Borough President James Oddo

An old one - when Meghan was named "Hero of the Month" by Child Life after an early surgery — An old one – when Meghan was named “Hero of the Month” by Child Life after an early surgery

SI Children's Museum Achievement Luncheon Award — SI Children’s Museum Achievement Luncheon Award

Rare Disease shirts from the PTEN Foundation

One of my most proud - NYS Woman of Distinction, nominated by Senator Lanza in May 2016 — One of my most proud – NYS Woman of Distinction, nominated by Senator Lanza in May 2016

And, just to be sure, I even tried Youtube.com, only to find a video made in February 2016

Apparently she has listened, carefully. I don’t know what the future holds for my bright eyed activist. I know she’ll continue to take heat from a few along the way. I also know she’ll find the strength to rise above and press on. Because, that is what we do.

Would she like it is she were named “Inspirational Staten Islander of 2016”? Sure. Will it break her spirit one way or another, absolutely not. Her focus is, “If I win, we could get publicity to help raise money at the fundraiser…”

If you’ve read this far I’ll tell you what I know about the poll I’ve linked you to below. The voting takes place like a reality TV show. I’m not sure how valid it all is, but there is a week of lots of voting. It ends January 11th at noon. Apparently you can vote many times before it stops you. And then you can vote every hour. So pretty much, if it crosses your mind, and you find Meghan inspirational, save the link and vote whenever it crosses your mind, until your device tells you to stop.

Regardless of the outcome, life will go on. And we will continue on the same missions we’re on right now.

#BeatingCowdens together

Inspirational Staten Islander Poll – Vote all the way at the bottom

Choose Positive….

Published on December 26, 2016 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

The day after Christmas in our house is reserved for a blissful amount of peaceful rest. A few loads of laundry, a simple meal, late sleeping, playing with some new “toys,” recovery, and reflection fill the hours. It is a wonderful, necessary day to pause and recharge.

I am awestruck by how fast days blend into weeks, and months, and even years. My girl is now a young lady. A young lady of 13 years old with the fall devoted to High School Applications, academic honors, hours of swimming, and some drama (class) thrown in for good measure. It was a crazy season, but a remarkable, beautiful time of transformation.

I don’t get time to write as much as I used to. But, truthfully, you don’t need to hear from me all that often to follow along. The writing remains my way to sort out life. I feel fortunate that so many of you come along for the ride.

So much of our journey #beatingcowdens is couched in perspective. We talk so much about the realities of everyone’s life. We talk about the things people endure that we can not fathom, and we talk about how hard it is to have some of the conversations necessary in the life of my 13-year-old. We talk. Often. And perhaps that is the first of many blessing I have.

My girl has become a young woman through a path that is different from most her age. Notice, I deliberately chose the word “different” as we are careful not to measure things in “better” or “worse.” The medical drama unfolded at a fast, furious pace, most concentrated in the years from 8 to 12. And we held fast through each one, but then, slowly, the dramas began to slow down.

At first we didn’t want to say anything. There is the fear of “jinxing” the situation. When medical drama is your “normal” you don’t really know how to live any other way. It sounds bizarre. You want so desperately to be rid of it, but the relief of losing it would be so intense, that to relax and then have it hit you again could be crushing. So you stay on your guard. All the time. But sometimes when you do that you can get a little… I don’t know, isolated, alone, rough?

There is a security connected to living in a state of medical drama. At least you know what to expect.

But, it’s not a place to hang out when you don’t need to.

Meghan’s last biopsy was in July. The follow-up is this week. My last surgery was in August. And, in a turn of events here, I have spent the last few months in vocal therapy sorting out ways to work around the tumor that desires to strip me of my ability to communicate. We’ve had some success, and last week even amidst a terrible head cold, my voice made it with me all the way to Friday.

And it was on that very Friday morning, as I drove Meghan to a 5:30 AM swim practice, with my head-splitting and my nose running, that I told her how lucky I felt. She may have checked me for fever, to see if I had totally lost it. But I explained – a year ago facing Christmas break without her having been knocked down at least once by something major was an impossible dream. This year, she had done more than ever before, and seems to be getting stronger. That morning I was grateful that I was able to get my butt out of bed, to take her to the place she loves, so she could work on the sport she loves.

This fall we have successfully removed 2 stomach medications that were previously necessary for survival. And, we are well on our way to eliminating a third. There is nutrition, exercise, and natural alternatives in their place. And it is working.

She came home a few weeks ago with a perfect attendance certificate for the month of October. I save everything. I think that may have been her first. These are the things that keep us in perspective.

We have a “doctor cycle” among us now. The knee needs to be checked again, MRI, and two knee doctors. There are clinical exams, GI follow-up and endocrinology. The afternoons these next 6 weeks will be swallowed up with trips to NYC. I’ll add in some appointments of my own, as I prepare for vocal cord surgery, tentatively set, but not yet confirmed. We’ll keep swimming, literally and figuratively. We’ll hold each other up, and we will do something a little different. We will, instead of fitting out lives into the doctors, we will fit the doctors into us.

Raising kids, one, two, three, four, or more- regardless of gender, or age combination each holds unique rewards and challenges. We have our moments, my girl and I, when we challenge each other to the best we can be. Sometimes its deep conversation. Sometimes it’s a little less pretty. But, we do it. We learn and we grow together.

I find myself often, missing relatives who are not here with us anymore. I miss conversations, deep and thoughtful. I miss shared laughs, and the pride they felt and showed. I understand, and comprehend their lives are changed, their eternal lives are more beautiful than I can imagine. But, I still miss them.

I sometimes shuffle around a bit in circles in my mind, feeling a little lonely, a little unsteady, and a little unsure of how to break the cycle.

And even at those loneliest points I take solace at the people in my life who are there. Their own lives keep us from day-to-day interface, but they are there, forming that net that will catch me, or us, if we were to fall. They weave a web through our lives that give us such confidence and gratitude, that I can only hope they feel the same way about us.

As we begin to get heavy into the preparations for Jeans for Rare Genes 3, it is a time to get focused. I am not a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions. A wise friend recently reminded me a calendar is not necessary to begin change.

Choose positive. That is my simple focus. I will not be perfect at it. But, I will work tirelessly. I will be positive, hopefully not to the point of irritating, but when given the opportunity to face a new situation, I will work to find the positive.

Cowden’s Syndrome will toss us curve balls for the rest of our days. I’ve never been much of a baseball player, but I plan to practice my swing. And just in case- I’ll keep a helmet on as well.

May the culmination of 2016 lead us to gratitude for all the positives it brought, and gratitude for the negatives as well. May it leave us with the reminders of the blessings in our lives. Only in appreciation of al of it can we ever move forward. And really, forward is the only direction I choose to travel.

#beatingcowdens

#everysingleday

#perspective

Default to Kindness

Published on November 5, 2016 by beatingcowdens3 Comments

Meghan loves to swim. I mean, athletically it wasn’t where she started, but the knees. Six surgeries on the right knee, and there was to be no more soccer, and no more dance. After the 6th one, there was to be even no more breaststroke. There is no gym class in school. There is limited walking. There is one foot, a size bigger than the other. The “off sides” that that creates in her body can be quite painful. But, the pool…

Oh, how my girl loves the pool. She is an athlete. She is a competitor. And the pool allows her to be both of those things to the best of her ability.

For the 3rd time in the 4th year since joining swimming, this September brought a new coach for her, and a new group of teammates. There was anxiety about the switch on so many levels. But, as we always say, life has a funny way of working out.

This coach is a perfect fit for her. They practice hard, and often. He is structured, and firm. But he is compassionate, and constructive. He watches. There are sometimes 50 or more swimmers in the pool when he coaches, and I swear he does his best to make some comment to each of them every practice. And, after they compete, his feedback always connects to practice.

And practice, for Meghan, has not been a problem. While maintaining a “Pupil Path” account that no one could ever critique, and planning a major fundraiser, and looking for high schools, and managing doctors appointments, and a mom who doesn’t feel quite herself, this girl has, most weeks, attended practice, Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoon, as well as Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday morning. Quite literally, swimming is good for her health.

Swimming can be a very solitary sport. It takes a good deal of mental toughness to stare at a black line for hours. Interactions with teammates on deck or during dryland (out of water training) are cherished.

Even then, as the “new kid” in the group, you can sometimes wonder about the relationships. Meghan has been very careful not to share too much of her Cowden’s story with these swimmers. She wants to be viewed as one of them, and she is doing a good job holding her own, all by herself.

And then there was today. We were at a meet and she was scheduled to swim the 200 yard butterfly. If you swim, no explanation is needed. If you don’t let me give you a frame of reference. For the group she swam with today, 72 girls swam the 100 yard freestyle. 10 signed up to swim the 200 yard butterfly. It is not an event for the faint of heart.

Meghan feared disappointing, herself, her coach. me. She was scared out of her mind. So scared that it was out of character. Out of character for a child that has had 17 surgeries, and countless tests. ER visits, and hospitalizations. She was that scared.

And as the race approached I watched helplessly from the stands as she began to unravel. And I watched with a grateful heart as teammates picked her up and put her back together again.

The one who I can only say was acting as my angel, talked her right onto the block. It only took a second of my attempt to video the race to see that something was terribly wrong. There sat her goggles, first mid face, then in her mouth occluding her breathing. In butterfly you can not break stroke. At the end of the first 50 she stopped. She was done.

My heart sank, and ached for her. I wanted to pick her up and hug her, and take her back to the rocking chair I used to use when she was a baby. But she’s 13 now – so I could only watch.

The official came to her and asked if she wanted to try again in the next heat. There were 2 lanes open. She said yes. And as they placed her in one heat, her friend, my angel, came to the official and asked if Meghan could swim, “in the lane next to me.” She said yes, and as Meghan barely got settled on the block, another teammate flagged the official to wait a moment. Meghan’s goggles were still not on.

The start went fine this time. The goggles stayed on. And she did it. The whole thing.

By the time she got to her last 2 laps, most of the other girls were finishing. But, then there was more magic. There was cheering, from her teammates and strangers alike. There was a push for her to get finished, to press on, and to make it. So, she did.

I think I cried the last two laps. I was struck by this child of mine, her life, the adversity, and the stubbornness. The ability to not give up. The desire to be normal, and to succeed. And as she touched the wall her team mate, that same angel, swam right into her lane and gave her the biggest, most genuine hug.

She did it.

Not too shabby for the first time. And more than one teammate whom she respects greatly told her they gave her credit for getting up and trying it again. So did her coach.

Meghan isn’t the “cool” kid. She sometimes struggles a little. But, she remains true to herself at all times.

Today, she got to see the kindness in others. It was pure. It was genuine. It was unsolicited. It was the best kind.

13-18 year olds can be a tough group. But these kids showed today that when they are left at their “default” setting, when they are alone and see soemone hurting, they will choose kindness and compassion.

She is asleep. Tomorrow is another day of swimming. But, those events won’t cause this angst.

Gratitude fills my heart, that once again even at the toughest moment, good shines through.

And as she said goodnight, she told me, “Next month, when I swim the 200 fly…”

Endurance. Persistence. Stamina.

#beatingcowdens

Type A, and Then Some…

Published on September 18, 2016 by beatingcowdensLeave a comment

Calm down. Relax. It’ll get done. Take a breath. Why do you get so worked up?

These words could be spoken in several alternate languages for all the good they do for me. They make no sense. I mean, on a cognitive level I understand the words. And even the context. But, they hold little practical application for my life.

I am Type A. Yep. For it’s highs and lows, positives and negatives, I am a Type A personality. Although like everything in life, the transition between Type A and Type B is a spectrum, I’m still honest with myself.

16 Signs You’re a Little Type A

Go with the flow.

I have a dear friend who has promised to make a t-shirt that says,”I am Flo,” to guide me. She has 4 boys. (She used to be full on Type A. Now she shoves that in a drawer for most of the year, but the chaos sometimes still makes her cringe.)

I am high-strung. I am focused. I am task oriented. I am all about getting it done and getting it done well. I get pissed when other people fall behind on their jobs. I want order, structure, and routine. I make lists on top of my lists, while putting alerts in my phone to avoid missing anything. I have a hard time forgiving myself when I do.

I am a work in progress.

But to some extent, regardless of your personality type, I guess that’s true of all of us.

September is chaos. True, unequivocable chaos. Here, in this house. Here, in my mind. September is the toughest month of the year.

And apparently I’m not alone, because this article really cracked me up. September Is The Worst

If I could jump from August to October, it would be smoother. And I’m not a big fan of wishing my life away. But, transitions are especially tough on the Type A among us.

And, when you’re a teacher – well. That’s just a whole other story. But, for the sake of brevity simply organizing class lists for 25 classes and 500+ students while they are going through new admits, discharges, and interclass transfers is a feat not to be taken lightly. With the knowledge that 9/11 took place just a few days into the school year, I am always filled with a super sense of urgency to try to know who I have, and what their needs are as quickly as I can. Figuring out who has allergies, and who has an IEP is another struggle. Establishing rituals and routines for the classroom of a Type A teacher in one period a week is a bit taxing. Not as tough for the bigger kids, but those tiny kindergarten faces are still in shock. There’s no way they even remember my name, let alone where they should sit in my room. Substitute plans must be prepared, because emergencies don’t have the courtesy of always waiting till October. Copies of the schedule, printed, Emailed, and hung everywhere. Supplies, traffic patterns, expectations, all need establishing and reminding. That’s after the room is set up, and the bulletin boards are complete, and evening back to school night is squeezed into the agenda.

The agenda that is busting at the seams. Because, I know all you moms of multiple children may laugh at me, and whisper about how easy I have it, but that’s ok. Setting up the school and after school schedule for the child(ren) is a full-time job on its own. August looks so nice. The calendar lulls you into a false sense of security, as one by one the activities start-up again. And then all of a sudden you are trying to figure out when you will shower, or fill up the car with gas, or eat, or grocery shop. Never mind hair cuts! There’s the one time deals, like back to school night, and “returning parents swim meeting,” Every minute of every day seems to hold something. I know I have only one kid, but that doesn’t mean she can take herself to swim practice. Or pick herself up. Or that most of the time I can even leave her there, as lingering fears about her health are always present. And on the days she stays late at school for Drama, that’s a little easier, except when it crashes into a meeting at school. And there’s morning study, set up for the intense schedule for the 8th graders, as well as Friday night Youth Group for stress release. I think there’s a few minutes on Wednesday between 3 and 4 for sunshine. Oh, wait… groceries…

And to the left of me sits the Open House Schedule for High School. Still shaking my head as to how THAT happened, I am trying to figure out their days of the week. Because, I think we can make the Staten Island Borough Fair AFTER the swim meet that morning in October. There is the TACHS test, and the Specialized High School Test. Although I’m not really sure when there would be time to prepare. Unless, maybe there’s and app for that?

I haven’t even mentioned our health. Isn’t that just funny? It hasn’t rested one bit. And the most ironic thing, is people don’t realize you shouldn’t mess with a chronically ill Type A. Chances are good they like to excel at EVERYTHING. And in my case, I am willing to throw it at them. Hard.

Some time towards the end of August I had surgery to replace my implants. Far earlier than the 10-15 year life expectancy they had been given, one had moved, and it was time. That night as I lay recovering I picked up an Email from Meghan’s endocrinologist that we should raise her thyroid meds. Her levels were off again. Now raising the meds in and of itself every once in a while is not a huge deal I guess, but Meghan struggles with synthetic ANYTHING, and the fact that we were now 2.5 years post op from her thyroidectomy and she has had more dose changes than I have had in over 20 years can be unsettling. More unsettling was when I read to the bottom of the letter that he would be on vacation for over 2 weeks. So, here I was left to make a dose adjustment without clearing my list of “Type A mother of a chronically ill kid” questions, which, in case you wondered, are far more intense than the typical questions I ask. I scraped together the new dose from the closet, because I think we have Synthroid in EVERY dose known to man, and started her on it the next morning. My local pharmacy informed me that the insurance wouldn’t cover the new script even though it was a dose adjustment and we would have to mail order it. But mail order takes 2 weeks. And there was no telling whether she’d be on the dose for more than 6 weeks. But, whatever. I set my sights on getting a copy of the lab report to learn the magic thyroid numbers.

And then the real battle ensued. I tried to get it from one doctor. They couldn’t release it because they weren’t the “ordering” doctor, even though she had added labs to the order. I called the office of the endocrinologist. Twice that Monday. And again on Tuesday. I got a call back late Tuesday while I was on the phone complaining that I couldn’t see her labs through the “MyChart” system set up at the facility. The ‘ office said they’d send them. The MyChart people said they’d look into it. I waited.

Exactly a week. There were no labs in my mailbox. I called the endocrinology office again. I got someone who promised to send them and did. I called the MyChart people again. No answers, except that some one told me it was hospital policy not to allow parents access to records of their children ages 12-17.

REALLY???????????????????

Listen, while I may not like it, or even agree with it, I can almost understand that there are SOME situations where teens have the right to keep their records. But, this, this is THYROID blood work. She doesn’t want it. TRUST ME. She just wants me to give her what she needs to feel well. That’s it.

I processed all I could about this at the same time that I got ANOTHER bill from this hospital. The date of service looked familiar. I keep copious records. (Type A… :-)) And I was able to see that a bill for the DOCTOR, the PHYSICIAN Group, and the HOSPITAL FACILITY all billed, and were ALL paid to the tune of over $1000 for a 15 minute visit. And NOW, they were asking me for 2 additional Co-Pays. Notwithstanding the fact that we have 2 insurances, so our secondary picks up the co-pay at many of our visits. I called the primary carrier. They reversed the charges, but told me the billing practice was not illegal. Ok, then its immoral. And it preys on people who are sick, or who have sick kids. The insurance company also told me it was ON ME to call them when this happens. ONLY when I call them will they reverse the charges because as per my plan I am to pay one co-pay per visit.

Good, cause I needed something else to do.

By the first Friday in September I had had it. I found the CEO and Head of Patient Relations. I fired off a 14 page Email, 7 page letter, and 7 attachments about everything wrong at their facility.

I have since received 4 copies of the blood work by mail, and 2 phone calls asking it I needed it. One mail even came second day express. Of course it was addressed to my minor child, whose signature means nothing, and who is not legal to vote, or to drive, but who apparently in some alternate universe should be making health care decisions.

I received a letter from Patient Relations that they were reviewing my concerns. I’m not holding my breath.

That same Friday I tripped and fell and did some number on the pinkie toe of my right foot. A clear fracture, although there is some debate as to whether it is displaced, and it will warrant another opinion. The 3 hours I spent visiting the last podiatrist was a waste of my time. So, I am in a post op shoe for some infinite amount of time going forward. Because there is little chance in heck the right foot is getting into a sneaker any time soon. Good thing it’s the perfect month to “take it easy on the foot.” (Insert sarcastic grin here.)

Last Saturday the vocal therapist told me that I have one irregular shaped nodule on my left vocal fold. It still gets to be called “benign appearing.” I was also told I have “significant vocal fold atrophy secondary to premature aging.” Well, that sucks. Because I thought atrophy took place when you didn’t use something. And oh, I use my voice. And the premature aging, well, that’s likely thanks to the 2012 hysterectomy that was a necessary preventative move. It all comes back to Cowden’s somehow.

Over the weekend I noticed that the knots from the implant exchange were getting irritated. This doctor like all the others had been warned, I don’t dissolve stitches. But, as wonderful as he was, he also needed to be shown. I clipped one of the knots myself and there was immediate relief. Then I second guessed myself. By Monday the site I hadn’t touched was red and warm, while the other was healed. I took a photo and sent it to the PA. Come in tomorrow she said. So Tuesday afternoon, my surgical shoe and I trekked into Manhattan. She pulled the stitches, read a low-grade fever, and marked the redness. She scripted me with 5 days of antibiotics but told me to wait 12 hours. Wednesday morning I sent her a photo. “Looks better, right?” I said. “Start the antibiotics,” was the reply. So, I did.

Friday, Meghan made it to morning swim practice. 5:15-6:30AM. I dropped her off, and headed home to shower. I met her with breakfast. We stopped off to drop her bag, and were at her school by 7:22. I picked her up at 2:20 and she made afternoon practice. I was tired. She made it to youth group too. I was in bed by 10.

Friday I spoke to the endocrinologist – finally. I really do like him, but I think we’ve established now that I can’t wait 4 weeks for communication. I don’t think it will happen again. We talked it through. Wednesday the 28th we’ll head to the hospital lab to repeat. We are going there because then there is no chance for anyone to blame a variation on a different lab. But, that’s ok cause there is that free hour on Wednesday… He will call me on the 30th with the results. I believe him.

I also believe that when I take his call on the 30th I will have a tall glass of wine celebrating the END of September.

This morning Meghan woke up with a sore throat. She had to skip practice. That’s always a tough call for her, but the right one. She’s beating Cowdens like a champ, but part of winning is knowing when to slow it down.

Slow it down.

Hmmm.

I am so wrapped up in the have-tos, and the just getting by, that so much life is just on hold. We have to gather enough spoons to save for something fun. Anything. But there are no spares. Especially not in September. (If that last paragraph confuses you – you can Google The Spoon Theory)

Sometimes, when I have a minute, I think about calling some of the friends I miss a lot. But, I don’t. They have crazy wild lives of their own. My fears and anxieties and worries exist, and so do theirs. But for some reason right now, they largely exist separately. I miss them. And I am forever grateful for Social Media and the few minutes I can take, at swim practice or the doctor to catch up, at least on the surface.

I am super-blessed with a husband who not only tolerates my Type A, but works with me. He cleans, and cooks, and remembers to make me laugh. A lot. Often at myself.

I am three years deep into nutritional cleansing that I have no doubt is keeping me fueled for this crazy life. One day soon I intend to find a way to shout from the rooftops and share this secret arsenal of nutritious fuel with the world. Because without it, I’m not sure exactly where this Type A, broken toe, infected boob, woman, who needs a tour guide microphone to teach her classes would be hiding.

Instead of hiding, we remain,

#beatingcowdens

forever!

Set Up Surgery on Safari – check

Published on August 20, 2016 by beatingcowdens7 Comments

Last Tuesday, on Meghan’s 13th birthday, we woke early and headed to the airport for what has become an annual family vacation. Disney World is a “happy place” for all of us. Despite crowds, and heat, we seem to be able to locate so much magic there. Plus, it’s not here.

I like it here. In my house, with my family. But being “here” in a broader sense means doctors and tests, and appointments and procedures. And traffic, and waiting. And bills, and phone calls, and all sorts of obligations that often keep me tied to my desk chair.

In Disney someone produces allergy safe meals for us. In Disney there is no driving. In Disney there are fireworks and parades and shows. While we are in Disney Mom watches the dogs and the house.

Those 8 days designed as a respite. A safety zone. A doctor free area. And we look forward to it every year.

This year was even more special because Meghan brought a friend. She got to bring a kind, compassionate, witty young lady who had been by her side through some ups and downs the past year. There is not a long list of people who Meghan trusts enough to take into confidence, and I can’t say that I blame her. But, this young lady has similar loyalty standards, and held her composure as Meghan threw some tough stuff at her. Meghan is forced to think about things and process things that are not even remotely acceptable to have to deal with at her age. Most peers are overwhelmed. Many shy away. This young lady did not NEED Meghan as a friend, they CHOSE to be friends. As different as they are, they compliment each other nicely. So we set off on our adventure this year as a party of 4. The Ortegas plus one!

Once we found our groove, (adding a wheelchair takes finding a balance) we were off and running. Great food, lots of laughs, and the highs and lows you’d expect from two spunky teenagers.

I was distracted Friday when my cell phone rang, while we were on the Safari at Animal Kingdom. I should have seen the NY number and known what was coming. But, I answered quickly.

It was my plastic surgeon’s office. The one who had told me they could fix my implant some time in the spring… well, they were offering me a spot on August 19th.

If you don’t have the back story on this I’ll give you the quick version. After a double mastectomy in March of 2012, I opted for immediate reconstruction. I was very pleased. Then in November of 2012 I was in quite a car accident. I took a good hit to my totaled Hyundai. The implants were intact, but likely never quite the same. By the summer of 2015 I had been experiencing some pain and discomfort on the right. I went back to my plastic surgeon in November of 2015. She told me the right implant had fallen a bit, and I should have (non-emergency) surgery to pull it back up. Except, she was no longer accepting my health insurance. The year that was had Meghan in the OR I believe 5 times. I struggled to get the courage to call the new plastic surgeon. I was annoyed to have to do all this again so soon. The initial estimate on the implants was 15 years. This was under 5. I finally got an appointment with the new plastic surgeon a full year later, in July of 2016. He concurred that a surgical procedure to “tighten things up” was a good idea, and that I could schedule at my convenience. So, I tried to get it scheduled for the summer. Then I tried for October when we have a few days off. Then I tried for December… and before I knew it I was looking at spring break, almost another year of what had transformed from pain, to just an odd sensation, all the time.

I listened as I was told I could have the date one week away. I looked around at the animals on the African Safari. I tried to keep my conversation low enough to make sure the girls, and no one else on the vehicle was following along. I promised to return the call in an hour.

I hung up and managed to share the story with my husband. Then I called my Mom. Then I called the plastic surgeon back. “Let’s do it.”

So the following Monday was spent ducking away to make phone calls to set up pre-operative appointments. Because the plane was due to land at midnight Tuesday. I needed blood drawn, and a physical Wednesday in order to hold the spot.

Tuesday we left Disney. The step count on my FitBit was over 142,000 I had covered over 62 foot miles. I was tired, but happy.

We did have a great week, and while I was bothered on some level that the surgical planning creeped in, I am skilled at managing many things from my cell phone. And, the thought of getting all that straightened out months ahead of schedule was exciting.

Tuesday it rained. In NY and in Florida. There was lightning. There were delays. Lots of them. Our plane landed well after 1 am. I hit my bed hard at 3 and was on the bus to NYC for the lab work by 9. After battling NYC traffic there and back, I went for the physical. Passed, and papers faxed to the plastic surgeon by 4:00. Success.

Life moves quickly. We have to keep up.

The call came Thursday to be at the hospital at 6 AM Friday. While I am not a morning person, only the surgically experienced would realize that is like hitting the jackpot. It means you’ve got first case. And that is a giant win.

There was little time to share the plan with anyone.

Yesterday morning I had bilateral implant repair between 7:30 and 10 AM. I slept till 1, had some ginger ale and crackers and was home by 2:45.

Last night I laid in my bed catching up on Email and I caught one from Meghan’s endocrinologist. The thyroid numbers have gone a bit off again. He wants to play around before repeating labs in 6 weeks.

Medication readjusted. Again. Illogical. Like so many other things.

Apparently #beatingcowdens involves scheduling surgery on an African Safari and readjusting medications hours post-operatively.

We’ve got this.

Thank goodness for our time in the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

On Your 13th Birthday…

Published on August 8, 2016 by beatingcowdens1 Comment

August 9, 2016

Dear Meghan,

As I sit to write this some time in the middle of the night, I am reminded of the early years, when so many of the middle of the night hours belonged to the two of us. Yes, Meg, I said YEARS.

You struggled my girl, but your determination was evident early, like the day the NICU nurse called you feisty. She was right. And it has proven to be one of your finest and most valuable attributes.

When I look back on pictures of those early years, it doesn’t seem all that bad. I guess I never had time or desire to photograph some of those tear-stained days. And maybe. if it wasn’t for the colicky cry seared into my brain, I might have even come to forget that you considered sleep optional, crying and screaming mandatory, and that carrier pouch a requirement for all things. At one point we had even taken to calling you a kangaroo baby…

But, I look at the babies in those pouches, And I think to those mother’s “enjoy it.” You might find this hard to believe my dear, but there is not a single minute I would change or do over. Every step along this journey with you has BEEN the journey. And I have the deepest gratitude that God selected me to be your mother.

The path hasn’t been easy. Sometimes it’s been rocky, and a little unsettled. Other times its been like traveling through fire. On a bicycle. With no handlebars. Backwards. But, I think we’ve all found pieces of ourselves we never knew existed, and there is a family bond between you, and me and Daddy that so many envy. Not for what we’ve done or where we’ve been, but rather the fact that we have done, and continue to do it all together.

At eight years old, you were tossed a diagnosis of a Rare Disorder, a 1 in 200,000 PTEN Mutation called Cowden’s Syndrome, that has leveled many grown adults. But, by eight years old, you were already seasoned at doctors, OT, PT, and speech. You’d been there, and were still doing dome of that. At 8 you were intimately aware of what it meant to spend hours waiting for doctors, and you had a clearer visual of an operating room than anyone should ever have. So really, in reality, that diagnosis just pushed us in the right direction to continue to help you become who you were meant to be.

It’s rotten to be the “unusual one” the one with all the risks and the need for that “hyper-vigilant” surveillance. But, I’m thankful.

See without Dr. Jill to push us to your diagnosis, without all those things falling into place, it’s likely I wouldn’t be here to write this. Your diagnosis led to mine, and while I am intimately connected with the reality there is no guarantee of tomorrow on this earth for any of us, my heart is sure that you, my angel, my gift, you my dear saved my life.

I watch you with each passing year, and the challenges pile on top of themselves. And we both sometimes want to stop the presses and scream, “IT’S NOT FAIR” and the top of our lungs. but then we laugh. “Fair” is just a silly word anyway. It’s not the perspective we use. It’s not worth our time.

You approach this birthday with 17 operating room trips under your belt, and too may ER visits and, tests, and hospitalizations to count. You have had to make decisions, and think thoughts that are beyond the scope of what you should contend with. But with grace and dignity you proceed, because none of that is what defines who you are.

Grace,. Poise. Strength under pressure. — Grace. Poise. Strength under pressure.

Despite unimaginable pain, you press on. Your body would not allow for dancing school or soccer. But the competitor in you was not to be silenced. Running was out of the question, so now you “fly,” in the water, 11 months a year 4-5 days a week for hours. You pull energy out of the crevices of your toes to push through when most would curl up and give up.

First season swimming, a few weeks in. Spring 2013

2016 Working on her "fly" — 2016 Working on your “fly”

You press on in the community, focused to raise the necessary founds the PTEN foundation will need to create our patient database. But, you will not turn your back on the charity where you began, Global Genes, “for the babies who can’t speak for themselves,” you tell me. You make flyers, select venues, advertise and collect raffles. You speak at schools and organizations across the Island who will have you, to raise awareness that rare diseases are everywhere. For the last 2 Februaries we have celebrated Rare Disease Day with almost 200 people, gathered because you have a mission.

Youngest “Woman of Distinction” recognized in Albany by Senator Lanza in May. Proudest parents.

I watch you talk to people and I swell with pride. When you’re intermittently stuck in that wheelchair you hate, you decided to help the doubters, the starers and those passing judgment. A simple business card with a phrase you helped create “Cowden’s Syndrome – Rare. Invisible. Real.” It starts a conversation, or it ends the behavior. Either way you manage with grace to rise above.

You take the high road so many times a day. I know it’s not easy. And I know there are people in your path every minute determined not to make it easy. But, truth be told, as we are learning, there are others out there. There are real people, at swimming, at youth group, at SICTA. There are real people who are finally recognizing that you are pretty spectacular. And I don’t mean that in a ‘who is better than who’ way. I mean it in it’s best sense. Everyone is spectacular in some way. You just learned it a little early.

As you turn 13 this week, I wish you so many things, from the depths of my heart and soul;

*Never lose the magic. Ever.

*Never compromise yourself for anyone. Remember that doesn’t mean to be brick wall stubborn. It means to keep those morals. Rise above.

*Always remember no matter how wild and crazy the world gets, you’ve got two parents who will love you regardless… and that is a PROMISE.

*Smile, sing, laugh, act, dance, be sarcastic, and sensitive, and guarded and silly, with a healthy touch of humor thrown in. Do it all always with respect.

*Continue to constantly take every obstacle tossed at you, and it toss it back, or walk past it and move on. When they tell you you can’t, find a way to show them you can.

*Never let anyone make you feel less than. You, you are enough. You are always enough. God said so, and He is smarter. Trust.

*”Be the change you wish to see in the word.” – Ghandi

Your teenage years will be a giant path of self-discovery. It won’t always be smooth. But nothing is.

Be you, and it will fall into place. And in the off chance that none of that works, I’m not going anywhere.

I love you from the bottom of my heart. You truly are the child I was meant to have, and there is NO ONE I’d rather be #beatingcowdens with, than YOU!

Happy 13th Birthday! You will always remain, “My Most Thankful Thing!”

I love you ALWAYS,

Mom

*Thanks for bringing out the best in me. I love you more than you know.*

I have nodules WHERE???

Published on August 3, 2016 by beatingcowdens4 Comments

It took me over a week to actually wrap my head around this one.

The summer is not just time for Meghan to get checked and cleaned up, it’s time for me too. And this summer I tracked down a new doctor.

Sometime around the end of April my voice started to bother me. I was getting hoarse easily. I explained it away as allergies, season change, dust, “I must be getting sick,” and everything else I could think of. Except it bothered me. And that creepy voice that sneaks in sometimes to remind me that my body has already betrayed itself once, started to take hold.

After almost 20 years of teaching, and never ever struggling to use my “teacher voice,” I couldn’t project. Simultaneously with the pain in my right implant, and the nodule being watched on the remnants of my thyroid, it started to get in my head.

I went to my primary doctor, and wasted several hours to get nothing that resembled an answer. They suggested a thyroid sonogram. I never went back.

I started researching ENTs locally. I found very few who took my insurance, and fewer who seemed to have any voice experience.

I turned to the internet and found a voice specialist at a facility I trust in NYC.

I don’t really know what I expected from the exam. I filled out the preliminary papers, and gave the basic Cowden’s rundown. They did a few tests externally with a microphone, and another with a camera in my nose. Not pleasant, but incredibly informative.

And there on the screen was a “benign appearing” nodule on the side of my vocal cords, causing them to briefly lock together when I make certain sounds. Fascinating. But bothersome all the same.

Not mine, but they looked a lot loke this. — Not mine, but they looked a lot like this.

They reassured me several times that the nodules were “benign appearing.” I appreciated that, but reminded them many of my scars are from “benign, and benign appearing” growths. I asked about the prevalence, and if it was linked to my Cowden’s Syndrome. I got a very definitive, “Maybe, or maybe not.” These nodules occur in the general population, they can be caused by overuse, but what had me perplexed was the problem seemed to start when I did the LEAST amount of teaching for the year. I was out of my program for quite an extended time between spring testing and other professional obligations. So, why now?

And, what to do? September is looming, and my life will be in the classroom many hours a day. I need my silly voice, my sing-song voice, my stern voice, my loud voice, my quiet voice, and my serious voice. Elementary school students expect, and deserve nothing less.

I was given a number for a “voice therapist.” And as of now my voice is getting a workout leaving messages for her. I asked the doctor what are the chances this “voice therapy” could control the nodules. He told me it “couldn’t hurt.” I asked if this was like giving me compression hose for my horrendous veins? Is it going to be a situation where voice therapy delays an inevitable surgery? Because any scar tissue on my vocal cords seems scarier than the painful legs I’ve contended with for years.

The answer is, there is none. I will persist and connect with this voice therapist. I will hear her out and try my best. And in 4 months or so I will follow-up with the doctor to evaluate. That is assuming the fall semester goes off without incident, and all my new students can hear me loudly and clearly.

For now, I’m using mostly the quiet voice. Often mumbling to myself. Because whether this is Cowden’s related or not, the whole “growing things” in my body is incredibly old.

Watch. Wait. Check. Recheck. Remove if necessary. That’s how we roll.