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I need some advice. About 2 and a half years ago my husband and I adopted our daughter. Her birth mom was raped at 13 and we know basically nothing about the guy (medical history, etc...) and what we know about her is relatively limited to what we were given from the hospital. Since about 6 months, I noticed delays inhitting milestones. Having 2 other children, I noticed this quickly and kept the doctor informed, but I tried not to worry since I know all kids develop differently. Well, at 1 year, he finally acknowledged what I have been telling him for 6 months...there was a delay. She wasn't even crawling yet! So, I got her into physical and occupational therapy. We were told she had "low muscle tone" and for a year and a half we have been in therapies and running tests, going to specialists etc.. to figure out why and what more we can do to help her. She is now in speech because, likely due to the low muscle tone, her talking is delayed and understandably she is frustrated with her decreased ability to communicate. I have been trying to teach her some sign language, but her fine motor problems make it impossible to do more complex signs. She can sign for "eat" or "food" for example to let us know she is hungry. I have let her birth mom know about her delays and therapies and keep her informed of her progress. She doesn't know all we have done to try to diagnosis this and I don't think she understands how behind she actually is. She also has trouble with bowel movements. She is on meds to go and has had tests and been to specialists for that too. Some think it may be due to the low muscle tone, but we still don't know for sure.
Here is the reason for the thread. Recently, she has begun having grand mal seizures. They are horrible and very scary, especially since she turns blue. They began Dec. 11th and we immediately alerted her doctors and soon got her in to the hospital for and MRI, EEG, spinal tap and various blood and urine tests to try to figure out why she is having these. She also has "the drops" where she just flings herself backwards, petite mal seizures and is on a couple different meds to try to control them. She has had some regression and just recently has started seeming more like herself. We still do not know why or what is causing this. Her pediatrician says it can be called "epilepsy" but that may not be the actual cause of the problem. We have had to put her in a bike helmet to protect her from the drops and falls. All this is very new to us and there are still so many unknowns. We have not said a word to her birth mom for several reasons. At 1st, we were just trying to get them to stop and she spent 4 days in the hospital. We do not know why this is happening and would have a tough time answering her questions. Also, she is young (16) and we do not want to scare her or worry her especially since we have spent 2 weeks feeling scared and worried and there isn't really anything anyone can do. We are doing all we can and we don't want her sitting around worrying. However, we don't want her to be in the dark either and we would need to explain why she is in a helmet in her pictures.
(I send pix all the time). So, I would appreciate some advice from birth moms, especially ones who were young and from a-parents. What and when should we tell her? How much detail? We usually talk by email and letter. I would prefer to tell her by letter than email...more personal. Should we explain it when we send the pix (about the helmet and epilepsy) or wait for her to ask about the helmet? How can we help her not to worry? Should we wait till we know more? When we know WHY this is happening? How can we assure her we are doing all we can? It is so scary for us and we just don't want her to feel what we are feeling. Is there any good way to tell a birth mother there is a problem? Have any of you had a child that later developed problems? We don't want her to think we feel any differently about our daughter...we have been dealing with her "special needs" for a long time, but she doesn't really know the extent of it all. I read a post a while back where a birth mom worried they wouldn't love her baby anymore. That broke my heart and I would NOT want her to EVER think that!!! We just love our daughter so much and we know her birth mom loves her too...and we love her birth mom and want to do what is best for her...we just don't know exactly what that is. You just never know if your child (adopted or bio) will develop problems, be born with problems, or have some sort of later accident or injury that will cause problems. We might have had a bio child with epilepsy...and we certaily do not love our daughter any less! Oh, I just hate this. I want to help my baby and I don't know how! I want to fix this for her and I can't!!!
Thanks for your advice.
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If my daughter was sick I would want to know, even if it was a burdensome knowledge. Yes, I would worry to death and I would want updates- but it would be better than her adoptive mom calling me months later informing me of a surprise funeral or that she would be in a wheelchair or a hospice for the rest of her life. Hopefully, you will NEVER ever have to do that EVER, but filling the birthmother in on everything is probably the best idea. You don't have to go into every gorey detail, but telling her what's going on and that you're giving her the best care available will be a good thing to do in this birthmother's opinion.
Lord heal your beautiful child and bless your family.
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DeNaJa, I agree with the others, even though it's hard, I would be honest with the bmom. I applaud for you having such concern for this bmom. I wonder if speaking to this bmom's mom first would be helpful (because if I have done the math correctly, this bmom is only 15 to 16-years old). If you have spoke to her in the past, I would probably speak with the bgrandma and get her opinion as how to break the news to her. Maybe she could help you in getting this news to the bmom. Just a thought. My thoughts and prayers will be with all involved. Christina
Thanks for sharing your opinions and for your prayers. I wouldn't dream of not telling her. I believe she should know. I guess I am wondering how to tell her and how much to tell her...and when. When we have more info and a diagnosis or now while we are still searching for so many answers? Maybe there is something in the family history? Would you want this by letter or should I ask her for her number and call her? She may not want that levelof contact,,,ahhh. I think a letter is better than our usual mode of communication...email. Thanks again for confirming my desire and instinct to tell her.
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Calling her would be the best as it will allow for more immediate interchange of questions and information sharing. This is something I would not want to receive in a letter or email as I would have questions that you may not be able to anticipate as you write your letter. She may be looking for reassurance as well that even though the child is going through all the testing and episodes she is otherwise happy and painfree etc.
I would write it to her and include some adorable daughter pics. That way you can word it just right. I'd just be matter-a-fact about it. "There's been some seizure activity, possibly epilepsy, we are doing test and I'll keep you informed, is there any history on your side about this?, other than that she's doing been busy doing......" Prayers to your little one.......................
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I think I would be more comfortable writing this to her for several reasons. First, we have not spoken since she left the hospital, but we write all the time. Talking at this point isn't part of our realationship and I tend to take my cues off her and don't push for more than she wants. IE she asked if she could send stuff, I said yes and gave her our address but she never sent anything. She asked to visit, we said yes and she never mentioned it again. Also, I don't have her current number and I think it would worry her more if I told her in an email that I need to talk to her on the phone. I could write her a letter and tell her if she wants to talk to email me her number and then it is up to her. I just wouldn't want to call and say (out of the blue) "hey, is your mom there? I need to tell you something...can she get on the phone too?" Not really a factor since I only have her old number anyway. Yeah, I think writing and telling her we will call her if she wants and assuring her we will keep her updated would be good. I hope she is able to check with family to see if there is ANYTHING in the history because all the doctors keep asking a million questions I don't have the answers too about medical history, her pregnancy, and the histories of the guy who is unknown due to the circumstances under which she got pregnant. Sigh.
On a positive note, she is doing better now that her meds are getting into her system and she is getting to be more herself....we missed her!!!!! She was here, but not really here, ya know? She smiles again and I always knew I loved her smile, but I never realized just how much till it was gone...lost inside her due to those horrible seizures!
I don't have advice about telling the bmom or not, but I just rented a movie about a true story and watched most of it yesterday. It is about a young boy that was diagnosed with epilepsy. And the journey that this family took to help him through it. They had a very hard time having it diagnosed and the meds were having all sorts of side effects, they tried alternative ways I think and even give support resources for parents. It is called First Do No Harm Meryl Streep is the actress in it. God Bless you and your family.
DeNaJa
I need some advice. About 2 and a half years ago my husband and I adopted our daughter. Her birth mom was raped at 13 and we know basically nothing about the guy (medical history, etc...) and what we know about her is relatively limited to what we were given from the hospital. Since about 6 months, I noticed delays inhitting milestones. Having 2 other children, I noticed this quickly and kept the doctor informed, but I tried not to worry since I know all kids develop differently. Well, at 1 year, he finally acknowledged what I have been telling him for 6 months...there was a delay. She wasn't even crawling yet! So, I got her into physical and occupational therapy. We were told she had "low muscle tone" and for a year and a half we have been in therapies and running tests, going to specialists etc.. to figure out why and what more we can do to help her. She is now in speech because, likely due to the low muscle tone, her talking is delayed and understandably she is frustrated with her decreased ability to communicate. I have been trying to teach her some sign language, but her fine motor problems make it impossible to do more complex signs. She can sign for "eat" or "food" for example to let us know she is hungry. I have let her birth mom know about her delays and therapies and keep her informed of her progress. She doesn't know all we have done to try to diagnosis this and I don't think she understands how behind she actually is. She also has trouble with bowel movements. She is on meds to go and has had tests and been to specialists for that too. Some think it may be due to the low muscle tone, but we still don't know for sure. Here is the reason for the thread. Recently, she has begun having grand mal seizures. They are horrible and very scary, especially since she turns blue. They began Dec. 11th and we immediately alerted her doctors and soon got her in to the hospital for and MRI, EEG, spinal tap and various blood and urine tests to try to figure out why she is having these. She also has "the drops" where she just flings herself backwards, petite mal seizures and is on a couple different meds to try to control them. She has had some regression and just recently has started seeming more like herself. We still do not know why or what is causing this. Her pediatrician says it can be called "epilepsy" but that may not be the actual cause of the problem. We have had to put her in a bike helmet to protect her from the drops and falls. All this is very new to us and there are still so many unknowns. We have not said a word to her birth mom for several reasons. At 1st, we were just trying to get them to stop and she spent 4 days in the hospital. We do not know why this is happening and would have a tough time answering her questions. Also, she is young (16) and we do not want to scare her or worry her especially since we have spent 2 weeks feeling scared and worried and there isn't really anything anyone can do. We are doing all we can and we don't want her sitting around worrying. However, we don't want her to be in the dark either and we would need to explain why she is in a helmet in her pictures. (I send pix all the time). So, I would appreciate some advice from birth moms, especially ones who were young and from a-parents. What and when should we tell her? How much detail? We usually talk by email and letter. I would prefer to tell her by letter than email...more personal. Should we explain it when we send the pix (about the helmet and epilepsy) or wait for her to ask about the helmet? How can we help her not to worry? Should we wait till we know more? When we know WHY this is happening? How can we assure her we are doing all we can? It is so scary for us and we just don't want her to feel what we are feeling. Is there any good way to tell a birth mother there is a problem? Have any of you had a child that later developed problems? We don't want her to think we feel any differently about our daughter...we have been dealing with her "special needs" for a long time, but she doesn't really know the extent of it all. I read a post a while back where a birth mom worried they wouldn't love her baby anymore. That broke my heart and I would NOT want her to EVER think that!!! We just love our daughter so much and we know her birth mom loves her too...and we love her birth mom and want to do what is best for her...we just don't know exactly what that is. You just never know if your child (adopted or bio) will develop problems, be born with problems, or have some sort of later accident or injury that will cause problems. We might have had a bio child with epilepsy...and we certaily do not love our daughter any less! Oh, I just hate this. I want to help my baby and I don't know how! I want to fix this for her and I can't!!! Thanks for your advice.
Thank you for telling me about that movie. I will have DH go and rent it ASAP. On the 31st she began having seizures again, despite the meds. She was put in the hospital again and just got out this afternoon (1/2). DH stayed with her again so I could be home with our other children. Luckily this hospital was closer and we brought dinner and visited last night. They had to give her several "loading" doses of meds along with Valium and Phenobarbital to get them to stop. She metabolised her meds so fast, they were out of her system when they did levels test of her blood...and she had taken her meds the day she was admitted! She had 9 grand mal seizures on the 31st and numerous petit mals. They are giving her more meds (higher doses) and hopefully we will get some test results back soon and the higher dose of her meds will help. This sucks. :(
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Hello
I have a number of children with seizures and they for sure can be horrible to try and get under control. I just wanted to pop in and say something in regards to the helmet. You can purchase from a home health care agency a soft helmet for your daughter that will probably be more comfortable for her including when she drops. The bike helmets will prevent an injury but they are so hard and hurt when you hit the ground with them. THe soft helmets protect the head just as well. You might also want to look around for a soft helmet that suits your tastes as some look horrible!
My two cents for the day.
Tricia
Many thanks! I will try to find some place that has soft helmets. I was hoping there was something available similar to what wrestlers where that is soft, but when I asked her PT and OT therapists, they said they couldn't help me unless her doctor gave them permission. Maybe a medical supply place would have something? Thanks again!!!