advocate4u

Since the age of two, I knew he was uniquely, unique!  You know in your gut, call it intuition, Momma’s intuition.  I would notice tears streaming down his smiling face during a bright, sunshine day of play.  I’d note e a wink in the left eye from time to time.  I observed what I thought was a foot fetish.  He was hyperactive, fearless, and felt no pain!  His first set of immunization shots, this child did NOT cry!  Wow!  I was so proud, I thought he’s so tough! 

Most of these traits wouldn’t be constant, they would come and go.  I wouldn’t know for years, what’s right with my son!…Help!!!

It took years to discover the right “issue” my child’s traits would resemble.  I would explain to doctors, teachers, Intervention Units, counselors, friends, family, and at times, I was looked at as having “issues”.  Not a glimpse or clue as to what was going on with him, I needed feedback! 

This is where a Mom, (if she hasn’t already) becomes a detective, researcher, educator, advocate, and get’s a sense of humor!  I had so much to syphon through that was occurring in our lives. 

What was being caused by the branch we’d been hanging on the “Life of Wisdom” tree?  I had left an abusive relationship and I had joint custody of this child!  It was a drug dealers world and I could no longer run with the BIG dogs, time for me to hang on the porch, or get shot (literally, I’ll explain in another blog!) 

Joint custody was like death to me.  Ever take a lion cub away from a lioness?  That was the only way I could describe how I felt!  How is joint custody the “best interest” for ANY child?  I admit, I did not “have” the material or money the dealer, I mean Dad, no, Father because it takes a special man to be Dad, hid.  I was not permitted to leave with ANYTHING but my life. 

Was this back and forth life style the cause of these facial twitches?  Is this why his Father claimed he wet the bed, and didn’t at my house?  Why did the tongue of his shoe have to be a certain way? 

I obtained full custody when his Father was busted with drugs.  This occurred before his first year of school enrollment. 

During the first kindergarten conference, I remember speaking with his teacher and we both cried as we questioned an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  This was a start to a long road of research. 

The information was very overwhelming!  There is definitely a lot of information on this topic!  Between children, school, legal hurdles (child custody, supervised visitation, lawyers, medical insurance, child support - domestic relations), I was blessed to have this easily obtainable insight on ADHD, even though I felt overcome at the time.

Symptoms continue to bloom or I just started to be able to identify them occurring.  I still do not know how they really could be “labeled”.  Finally, in grade four (4th grade), at another conference, Tourette Syndrome was discussed.  The teacher and I believed this may be a possible explanation to characteristics we both witnessed. 

Time for an archaeologists dig!  I describe it this way because there is not an abundance of information or funding for Tourette Syndrome!  We waited months for an appointment to finally see a pediatric neurologist for a “diagnosis”.

The actual “diagnosis” was beneficial for a number of reasons.  It assisted in developing the special needs my son had in a school setting.  This is best done in an IEP (Individual Education Program). 

The best thing the actual, written diagnosis did for ME, it helped me feel sane again!  I wasn’t loosing my mind in observing the various “issues” my son would express from time to time.

My plight continues and the tool’s of educating ones self about your own child are only found from within, Momma’s intuition.  Tourette Syndrome is what is right with my son!

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