On Friday I went to my endocrinologist appointment which I go to every 2 months to check my height and weight. I grew ANOTHER INCH! I don't feel much of a difference, but I am happy about it.
I asked my doctor, "Are you an endocrinologist because you are short or is it because you want to help people?" He told me that he likes to help kids and I think that is very cool.
I don't feel that tall yet; but I know the doctor's office is measuring my height and weight properly. I am a little worried that I might not get to be 5'3", which is about the height I am supposed to be if I did not have growth hormone deficiency.
What if I am so short in college? People might laugh at me because I am really short. I know I have many years to go before I am in college, but I still get worried.
My mom taught me to stand up for myself, and if people bully me about my height I do not have to be afraid. I am who I am, and if that's means being short, I am fine with that.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Ashley and I
Today is a huge day for me!
I have a big performance later tonight at school and I am really excited.
Right now a college student is here at my house to interview me. She is a broadcast journalism major at USC and for her final she picked me, the Awesome Samantha, to interview!
I think it is so cool that someone in college has been inspired by me.
Don't be shy, don't be scared. You are who you are and don't change it.
If you are scared to be on camera, don't be. Get over it.
I have a big performance later tonight at school and I am really excited.
Right now a college student is here at my house to interview me. She is a broadcast journalism major at USC and for her final she picked me, the Awesome Samantha, to interview!
I think it is so cool that someone in college has been inspired by me.
Don't be shy, don't be scared. You are who you are and don't change it.
If you are scared to be on camera, don't be. Get over it.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Sick
Today I went home early from school because I did not feel well. I have a little bit of a head cold right now and my throat is bothering me. I can't smell anything. I went to CVS today to pick up some honey and there were some perfumes which said "try me." I tried them and I could not smell the scent. I am so tired even though I took a 3 hour nap today. I hope I will feel better by tomorrow so I can sing at our choir's performance...
Sweet Sleepy Samantha
One of the symptoms of having growth hormone deficiency is excessive tiredness and the need to sleep.
Samantha has always been a good sleeper since she was about 6 months old. She suffered from colic as an infant; however, once she was able to sleep through the night she did so with ease. Samantha has slept routinely for 10 hours per night for years, well prior to us discovering she had growth hormone deficiency. She will take a nap in the afternoon from 1-3 hours if she is able to on the weekends. Clearly, Samantha's body needs the rest, how growth hormone deficiency is the cause I don't know.
On most evenings Samantha recalls the need to take her medication and if not either her father it I do. Last night Samantha fell asleep studying for an exam and did t take her shot. About 15 minutes after she fell asleep her father reminded me. Instead of waking her up, I prepared her shot and brought it to her bedroom. Samantha was fast asleep. I didn't wake her and instead administered her shot in her upper arm; hoping she wouldn't move. As I inserted the needle in her arm, Samantha's eyes remained closed. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly, showing me that she did feel something while she was asleep; however she never fully woke up.
This experience showed me that Samantha's body, mind, and spirit, even while asleep, is committed to her treatment. Most children I would imagine would awaken and scream or become scared and cry. Not Samantha. This isn't the first time I've given her medication to her while she was asleep; however it's been a while since I have and I was unsure if she would awaken. I didn't see her eyes open.
For me, this is nothing short of amazing. For others reading this, one may find it mundane. If you find yourself to have the opportunity to see a child who needs to take medication daily by injection, watch them. You will be utterly amazed at their inner strength; it is far greater than ours in many ways.
Samantha has always been a good sleeper since she was about 6 months old. She suffered from colic as an infant; however, once she was able to sleep through the night she did so with ease. Samantha has slept routinely for 10 hours per night for years, well prior to us discovering she had growth hormone deficiency. She will take a nap in the afternoon from 1-3 hours if she is able to on the weekends. Clearly, Samantha's body needs the rest, how growth hormone deficiency is the cause I don't know.
On most evenings Samantha recalls the need to take her medication and if not either her father it I do. Last night Samantha fell asleep studying for an exam and did t take her shot. About 15 minutes after she fell asleep her father reminded me. Instead of waking her up, I prepared her shot and brought it to her bedroom. Samantha was fast asleep. I didn't wake her and instead administered her shot in her upper arm; hoping she wouldn't move. As I inserted the needle in her arm, Samantha's eyes remained closed. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly, showing me that she did feel something while she was asleep; however she never fully woke up.
This experience showed me that Samantha's body, mind, and spirit, even while asleep, is committed to her treatment. Most children I would imagine would awaken and scream or become scared and cry. Not Samantha. This isn't the first time I've given her medication to her while she was asleep; however it's been a while since I have and I was unsure if she would awaken. I didn't see her eyes open.
For me, this is nothing short of amazing. For others reading this, one may find it mundane. If you find yourself to have the opportunity to see a child who needs to take medication daily by injection, watch them. You will be utterly amazed at their inner strength; it is far greater than ours in many ways.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
School Assignment
Yesterday I was in my Literature class and we were placed into groups to do a project. We are creating a video "trailer" for a book we just finished reading called "Tuck Everlasting."
Our teacher came up to our group and said, "Samantha I think you should play Winnie (a main character who is a young girl about my age.)". I said, "Why, because I am short?" She replied, "No, because you are smart."
I liked her answer.
Our teacher came up to our group and said, "Samantha I think you should play Winnie (a main character who is a young girl about my age.)". I said, "Why, because I am short?" She replied, "No, because you are smart."
I liked her answer.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Growth Hormone Therapy Information
Growth Hormone Therapy Helps the Bones Grow and Become Stronger
150 Days - Not so Bad?
Today marks 150 days of growth hormone therapy shots.
At about 8:30pm, I told Samantha that it was time for her to take her shot, and in response I received a slight rolling of the eyes and a reluctant "ok" because I was interrupting her end of the day "downtime" of watching a television show. She shuffled downstairs and into the kitchen where she quickly gathered the usual items, 2 alcohol wipes and one needle, while I removed her medication from the refrigerator. Samantha cleaned the top of the medication pen, cleaned it with an alcohol wipe, and screwed on the needle. She said "I want to do my shot tonight" and searched for a place in her abdominal area to administer it. Samantha knows she can't give herself a shot on a location where she has a bruise or recent mark because the shots are to be given in different locations as to not cause skin depressions from placing the needle on the same location on consecutive nights. Despite such, she looked straight at the only bruise she had on her stomach and looked at me as if she was going to administer her shot in exactly that same place. I said "Samantha give me a break." She knows better - her actions showed me her frustration that yet again she was taking her medication for what seemed to be the thousandth time.
Samantha selected another location, pinched the skin on her abdomen, and began to pull the needle close to her skin. As always, she hesitated for about 3 seconds before puncturing the skin, pushing the pen's dispensary button for the medication to be inserted, waited 5 seconds with the needle in her skin to ensure all the medication had been released into her skin, and removed the needle.
The reason why she hesitates before putting the needle in her skin is that every single day right before she takes her shot she becomes nauseous for a fleeting moment. I don't blame her.
How many children who are 11 years old self-administer injections upon themselves? I see her "battle wounds" and I still tear up. One would think I would be used to seeing bruises less than the size of a dime on my daughter's stomach; however I don't. On the weekends Samantha usually asks me to give her the shots in her arm to give her stomach time to heal from a couple remaining bruises from the week. The bruising truly is slight and they generally disappear within a few days; however each time I see a bruise, no matter whether it is on her arm or stomach, I wince.
Samantha is such a brave child who looks at fear right in the face and tackles it head-on. She has done so with her academics as well. I am not surprised that this experience has reminded her that if she can endure this daily routine and suffer with the side effects, both physical and emotional, she can "power through" studying for her first set of final exams in 2 weeks.
I wish I had the confidence and enthusiasm Samantha has about herself and life when I was 11, or even now at the age of 42. I utterly admire her determination and positive attitude. She is the one who keeps me moving forward with her growth hormone therapy, not the reverse.
I love you Samantha and have no idea how many people you inspire, including me.
With so much love and appreciation for you being "you",
Mom
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