Andrew's Story - page 4

      OK, now that I have completely bored you, we can jump to today.  Andrew is an energized kid who loves his new baby brother, Eric, and surprises us everyday.   And - oh boy – what an athlete!   Andrew’s learning disabilities are our main concern now, more so than the ADHD.  The medication and therapy basically takes care of that.  It’s getting through every day with homework, projects, reading, comprehension, and studying for tests that is a struggle.  Andrew has been in special ed for 7 years now.   He has finally begun to process things and retain them, but when tested, he falls about a year and a half behind.   But since he has become a teenager (God help me!) these things called hormones have popped out and sometimes we can’t tell the difference between them and the ADHD.   All I can tell you is find a good therapist - or a good bottle of wine.   But seriously, talk to your kids!  Andrew knows he can tell us anything.   Even thought he is one who has few words, he knows about his ADHD and why he takes meds.   He knows that HE is the key to it working and maybe someday he won’t have to take them anymore.

      After we got the diagnosis, and educated ourselves in the facts about ADD/ADHD, my husband and I realized that members of both our families had ADD and that neither of us was to blame.

      As for meds, Andrew took Ritalin 3 times a day from March 1997 until November 2000.   His appetite has never been great, even before meds, but he’s healthy.   He’s very thin, but so was my brother at the same age.   He has never slept well either, but when he’s tired, he knows it now.   In November 2000, we heard of a new medication for ADHD kids that was considered a slow-release pill, but that lasted 12 hours!  It’s called Concerta.   What a relief… we wouldn’t have to take it with us everywhere, or wonder if 4 hours had passed, and best of all, he wouldn’t have to leave class to go to the nurses office!   Teenagers can be rough on one another.   So, we got a prescription from our pediatrician and so far, so good!   Andrew loves that he only has to take it in the morning, and that he feels “more awake.”   The teachers also noticed a difference!   He’s still the organized, hard-working student who made honor roll 3 out of 4 terms last year and both terms this year!  We go out to restaurants, ballgames, friend’s houses, carnivals, the beach and birthday parties without thinking twice about it now!

      I know we have always been heavily involved in his education, which has helped make a difference, but every time Andrew says something intelligent, or remembers a figurative phrase, I know it’s because of his pure determination to do well, added to all the help he has gotten at school.

      Yes, life is easier now; but it took a lot of work, sweat and tears.   Don’t get me wrong, it is a continuous battle, every single day.   We have all learned that love cannot solve all our problems but it plays a big part in the way Andrew has turned into a young man that we are so proud of.   When I think of the future, I wonder what he will be like.  Will he succeed out there on his own?   Will he be able to do what is expected at college?   Will he find someone who loves him the way he is?   I don’t know what the future will bring, but I do know that I love my ADHD son with all my heart and wouldn’t trade a day that I spend with him.   We are very proud of him and he knows it.