Your son sounds like a remarkable young man in a deeply loving and caring family. He is so fortunate to have you. I hope he grows stronger every day. He's certainly already growing wiser.
This is a story I didn’t know I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing and giving me hope. If you can, tell your son he’s is and is going to be an amazing inspiration to a lot of people. Not just because he has and is dealing with an illness that took so much, but because he handled it in a way where he continued moving forward and never stopped having hope for a good and better future. Your son’s mindset is one I strive to have. Thank you again for sharing such a hard, painful, but hopeful story of your life.
Wow, I can't tell you how much this response means to me and I will absolutely share this with him. And to tell you the truth, I strive to have his mindset too. I'm not entirely sure where he came from but I know I'm lucky to have him as my kiddo.
Yes you are a stranger, but I kind of love you for this comment. It melted me and made me giggle, my favorite combo!!! I will read this to him when he gets home from school:)
The image of him on the sidelines … belonging, even after so much was taken. That is quietly devastating and beautiful. This is resilience without theatre.
The pill bottle bottle. Not as metaphor. As record.
The way you hold grief and adaptation without polishing either feels deeply respectful.
I love your son and I love this story. It is so beautiful. I want to write so much to show I care but actually there is nothing I can say that adds to what you have written. He and you have done an amazing job. And it is such a powerful story
I appreciate this so, but I have to say that this one seemed to be born this way. I feel like I've just been watching him unfold. I'm gonna miss him so much when he's off next year (and be so proud)
As a mom of a sophomore athlete myself, it strikes the “oh shit everything can change in the blink of an eye!” chord.
One of my son’s classmates has a similar story, but so very different.
While your son’s illness took him deeper into his well of internal strength and flexibility… This other boy’s illness turned him toward endless tik tok and spewing right wing propaganda and hate. 🤮
There are these crossroads in our lives. Your writing speaks to so many.
Sometimes they lead us to the well of resilience, deeper connection and authentic growth. This story, of your son, is such a powerful reminder of that. I’m so touched by how everyone showed up for the game. How everyone keeps showing up.
Thank you for this, and for the reminder that this could have turned out a very different way. I'm so grateful for my kiddos resilience, I know that is never a guarantee.
Your son is amazing! What an inspiration to those who have been knocked down by life. He will go far in life as he has already shown the character & integrity needed to be a success. I know you are proud of him & he should be proud of himself.
Thank you for this. I will share it with him. I am also so proud of him and so grateful to be his mama. I keep thinking that I want to be like him when I grow up.
What a beautiful, inspirational story. Thanks for sharing. Learning to pivot and adapt to lifes changes it such an important life skill and you're son seems to have learned this at an young age. So glad to hear he managed to find belonging and try on a new identity coaching and having alot of fun at the same time. Kids these days need to have fun and enjoy themselves more in a world that has become obsessed with over achieving and competition.
Thank you for this lovely comment. Yes, this kiddo of mine seems to have resilience baked in. I would take credit except I have three kids, and they could not be more different from one another. They have humbled me enough to teach me that I only have so much influence and cannot take credit for their good parts, and I try not to take full responsibility for the things they struggle with🤪.
Oh my goodness this made me well up. It is so helpful to read accounts like this where things don't go as we predicted or wished for, honest stories about the hard things but also the hope and opportunity that comes with those. How wonderful for your son and for you! How do you get through these times? You are obviously very resilient yourself. How does your marriage cope? Those types of things can put such a strain on a relationship. I would love to read about that too. Obviously for you to decide. I hope you know how much you are helping me by being so honest and sharing the truth of hard times and good.
Thank you so much for this. I'm very lucky to be this kid's mom, I kind of want to be like him when I grow up🙃.
As for your questions, the answers are complicated and I love that you are giving me inspiration about what to write about. I think we all just make it through what we have to get through, and then with time and distance, we can learn and grow from it, but not always in the moment. There was lots of surviving. Also for me by the time, my middle one got sick, we had done a lot of work on our parenting because of our older ones struggles and I think that helped us through. My marriage, that's probably too much to cover here, though I do have lots of posts coming about that too, respectful ones but honest ones too. We've done a whole lot of work individually and together to get through with grace. Sometimes without grace, but we are trying to be good to each other!
Your son sounds like a remarkable young man in a deeply loving and caring family. He is so fortunate to have you. I hope he grows stronger every day. He's certainly already growing wiser.
Thank you for this. I often think I wanna be like him when I grow up, I guess we are lucky to have each other.
I totally agree!!
So sorry this happened to your son. Hope he gets better.
Thank you. He is so much better than he was. Most kids grow out of it entirely by 24.
Oh, I’m glad to hear that.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much.
This is a story I didn’t know I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing and giving me hope. If you can, tell your son he’s is and is going to be an amazing inspiration to a lot of people. Not just because he has and is dealing with an illness that took so much, but because he handled it in a way where he continued moving forward and never stopped having hope for a good and better future. Your son’s mindset is one I strive to have. Thank you again for sharing such a hard, painful, but hopeful story of your life.
Wow, I can't tell you how much this response means to me and I will absolutely share this with him. And to tell you the truth, I strive to have his mindset too. I'm not entirely sure where he came from but I know I'm lucky to have him as my kiddo.
This is intensely beautiful… not me crying in the middle of my workday in front of all my co workers ❤️
Your son is amazing! I (a stranger on the internet) am so proud of him and his resiliency!
Yes you are a stranger, but I kind of love you for this comment. It melted me and made me giggle, my favorite combo!!! I will read this to him when he gets home from school:)
🫶🏻🫶🏻
The image of him on the sidelines … belonging, even after so much was taken. That is quietly devastating and beautiful. This is resilience without theatre.
The pill bottle bottle. Not as metaphor. As record.
The way you hold grief and adaptation without polishing either feels deeply respectful.
Thank you for telling it like this.
That for hearing everything I was trying to say (even though I wasn't totally aware of it)
What a beautiful story of your son's strength.
Fwiw, if you're on FB, there are some great groups about coping with POTS and even exercise protocols for POTS that I'm part of.
Thank you and that is so good to know. I am on Facebook and should have thought of that, thank you!
I love your son and I love this story. It is so beautiful. I want to write so much to show I care but actually there is nothing I can say that adds to what you have written. He and you have done an amazing job. And it is such a powerful story
Well, this is the kindest most lovely message of all time. Thank you. I know how lucky I am to be his mom.
You are his sanctuary. Through you, he has learned to become his own sanctuary. The greatest gift of a mother.
I appreciate this so, but I have to say that this one seemed to be born this way. I feel like I've just been watching him unfold. I'm gonna miss him so much when he's off next year (and be so proud)
Of course. And I know what you mean - how they come in as they are. Yes - be proud!
Oh this made me ugly cry in the best way 🤍
What a human you are raising
Thank you, my friend. I have definitely come to think of you as that. I am very lucky that one is mine. Though I guess he is very much his own now.
I am honored!
My ten year old’s life is basketball. This one really got me. I think it will stay with me when my kids get older!
It's amazing when you start writing how many things you notice. I think all of these moments used to pass right by me, but now they keep sticking!!
It certainly will make a good essay!
What's the saying swim or sink? And he is swimming.....
I know how lucky I am that he is swimming still.
Oh wow, this one got me crying. 😭
As a mom of a sophomore athlete myself, it strikes the “oh shit everything can change in the blink of an eye!” chord.
One of my son’s classmates has a similar story, but so very different.
While your son’s illness took him deeper into his well of internal strength and flexibility… This other boy’s illness turned him toward endless tik tok and spewing right wing propaganda and hate. 🤮
There are these crossroads in our lives. Your writing speaks to so many.
Sometimes they lead us to the well of resilience, deeper connection and authentic growth. This story, of your son, is such a powerful reminder of that. I’m so touched by how everyone showed up for the game. How everyone keeps showing up.
Thank you for this, and for the reminder that this could have turned out a very different way. I'm so grateful for my kiddos resilience, I know that is never a guarantee.
I think it also has a lot to do with your parenting, and your family.
Your son is amazing! What an inspiration to those who have been knocked down by life. He will go far in life as he has already shown the character & integrity needed to be a success. I know you are proud of him & he should be proud of himself.
Thank you for this. I will share it with him. I am also so proud of him and so grateful to be his mama. I keep thinking that I want to be like him when I grow up.
What a beautiful, inspirational story. Thanks for sharing. Learning to pivot and adapt to lifes changes it such an important life skill and you're son seems to have learned this at an young age. So glad to hear he managed to find belonging and try on a new identity coaching and having alot of fun at the same time. Kids these days need to have fun and enjoy themselves more in a world that has become obsessed with over achieving and competition.
Thank you for this lovely comment. Yes, this kiddo of mine seems to have resilience baked in. I would take credit except I have three kids, and they could not be more different from one another. They have humbled me enough to teach me that I only have so much influence and cannot take credit for their good parts, and I try not to take full responsibility for the things they struggle with🤪.
Oh my goodness this made me well up. It is so helpful to read accounts like this where things don't go as we predicted or wished for, honest stories about the hard things but also the hope and opportunity that comes with those. How wonderful for your son and for you! How do you get through these times? You are obviously very resilient yourself. How does your marriage cope? Those types of things can put such a strain on a relationship. I would love to read about that too. Obviously for you to decide. I hope you know how much you are helping me by being so honest and sharing the truth of hard times and good.
Thank you so much for this. I'm very lucky to be this kid's mom, I kind of want to be like him when I grow up🙃.
As for your questions, the answers are complicated and I love that you are giving me inspiration about what to write about. I think we all just make it through what we have to get through, and then with time and distance, we can learn and grow from it, but not always in the moment. There was lots of surviving. Also for me by the time, my middle one got sick, we had done a lot of work on our parenting because of our older ones struggles and I think that helped us through. My marriage, that's probably too much to cover here, though I do have lots of posts coming about that too, respectful ones but honest ones too. We've done a whole lot of work individually and together to get through with grace. Sometimes without grace, but we are trying to be good to each other!
Such a touching and inspirational story of resilience and reimagined purpose. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for showing up here, always. That kiddo of mine is a gem and I will always feel grateful to have him in my life.