It has been 222 days for me that I have been taking growth hormone therapy shots and this has changed everything in my life. I am so proud of myself.
Some people can make fun of me and I don't like it. Others ask me "is it worth it to sake shots?" Well, the answer is clearly YES, it is totally worth it.
Sometimes I feel a little left out but I know that all of the medication I take does not hurt me, it helps me which is why I have been taking it for 222 days. I think I have grown about 3 inches in 6 months and I feel taller now. My doctor is so proud of me and says my growth progress is amazing.
Today I needed to take another blood test. I take them every two months to see whether there is enough growth hormone medication in my body and if I need to increase the dose of my medication. I don't like going to take my blood tests and also know that it's really important so my doctor knows I am doing okay on the medication.
I have been told that I have inspired and changed so many people's lives who have read my blog. I am so grateful to them because that inspires me to keep writing and keep fighting.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Another Inch!
We rushed to her endocrinologist appointment at the end of the day, fearing there was not enough time to be seen by her doctor. Thankfully he waited for her arrival.
She grew - another inch. A miracle.
Samantha sees her doctor who is tracking her progress and prescribing her growth hormone therapy every two months. At these visits her height and weight is tracked, along with determining whether her medication needs to be increased. Samantha doesn't mind visiting her doctor; in fact, it becomes a comedy show from the time she arrives to the moment she leaves. The staff and her doctor all enjoy speaking with her about school, her newest art painting, and they always ask about her blog.
I am always nervous when we visit her doctor; for I hope that Samantha's body is positively responding to the medication, that there are no negative side effects to taking it upon her, and I pray that she continues to have as much time as possible to take the medication.
No one knows how long a person needs to take growth hormone therapy; it depends on a variety of factors: whether one's body responds (and continues to respond) to growth hormone treatment, the onset of puberty (which closes the door to the natural end to growing in height), and finally the "bone age" of a person (vs one's chronological age). Those who have a young bone-age will have more time to grow. Those who have that of his/her chronological age usually mirror the curve doctors plot one's progress in growth, and those with an older bone-age will grow for a shorter period of time because the bones only have so much room within the "growth plates" to grow.
The unknown is very challenging:
What is her expected height?
How much longer will she take this medication?
What are all the long term effects?
Will she continue to grow at the pace she has?
I don't know.
Samantha is doing amazingly well in so many ways; however what people don't know is that growth hormone treatment can stop working at ANY MINUTE, without warning, and without any explanation.
Despite the many unknowns about the path we are traveling down; I am inspired by Samantha and her outlook on taking this opportunity and creating much confidence in herself and impacting her community. All you have to do is read her blogs from when she first began "Seriously Samantha" to know that she is a better person for having this experience, as are we all in our family.
She grew - another inch. A miracle.
Samantha sees her doctor who is tracking her progress and prescribing her growth hormone therapy every two months. At these visits her height and weight is tracked, along with determining whether her medication needs to be increased. Samantha doesn't mind visiting her doctor; in fact, it becomes a comedy show from the time she arrives to the moment she leaves. The staff and her doctor all enjoy speaking with her about school, her newest art painting, and they always ask about her blog.
I am always nervous when we visit her doctor; for I hope that Samantha's body is positively responding to the medication, that there are no negative side effects to taking it upon her, and I pray that she continues to have as much time as possible to take the medication.
No one knows how long a person needs to take growth hormone therapy; it depends on a variety of factors: whether one's body responds (and continues to respond) to growth hormone treatment, the onset of puberty (which closes the door to the natural end to growing in height), and finally the "bone age" of a person (vs one's chronological age). Those who have a young bone-age will have more time to grow. Those who have that of his/her chronological age usually mirror the curve doctors plot one's progress in growth, and those with an older bone-age will grow for a shorter period of time because the bones only have so much room within the "growth plates" to grow.
The unknown is very challenging:
What is her expected height?
How much longer will she take this medication?
What are all the long term effects?
Will she continue to grow at the pace she has?
I don't know.
Samantha is doing amazingly well in so many ways; however what people don't know is that growth hormone treatment can stop working at ANY MINUTE, without warning, and without any explanation.
Despite the many unknowns about the path we are traveling down; I am inspired by Samantha and her outlook on taking this opportunity and creating much confidence in herself and impacting her community. All you have to do is read her blogs from when she first began "Seriously Samantha" to know that she is a better person for having this experience, as are we all in our family.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Ouch . . .Mom Forgot to "Prime"
It was a night just like any other night . . . however this one ended with a bit of blood and a few tears.
Samantha was exhausted right before bed, and instead of giving herself her own shot she asked me to give her it in her arm. I removed the "pen" which contains her medication in it from the refrigerator, as I always do when assisting her with her shots, wiped the top of the dispenser with an alcohol wipe, and twisted on the needle. I dialed the dosage on the bottom of the pen; again, just as one is supposed to do so that the appropriate amount of medication is given when the shot is administered. I wiped Samantha's arm with an alcohol wipe to ensure the area was clean and thereafter pushed the button on the pen for the medication to be released.
"OUCH" Samantha yelled. We looked at her arm as a few drops of blood fell down the side of her arm. I then remembered the one step I forgot to complete . . .
Before using a new pen of medication one needs to "prime" it; which entails ensuring that any air where the medication is contained has been removed. There is a specific process involved in completing such, and thus far I have remembered this step each time Samantha has needed to use a new pen of medication. What I forgot was that the night before when I realized she had used all the medication in the pen I had Samantha place the used pen in her biohazard box and I placed a new pen filled with medication in the bag she uses to store her pen in the refrigerator WITHOUT priming it first.
The result: the first shot Samantha received was filled with air. Placing air underneath one's skin using a needle hurts and results in a tad of bleeding. What is interesting is that when Samantha takes her medication nightly, she rarely bleeds; however her skin bruises every single time she has an injection of medication. It takes several days for the bruise, the size is slightly smaller than a dime, to disappear. Even 200+ days later I shutter seeing her upper arms and stomach with tiny circles of bruises of various colors on her skin.
Samantha shed a couple tears; not many. I shed them for her.
Samantha was exhausted right before bed, and instead of giving herself her own shot she asked me to give her it in her arm. I removed the "pen" which contains her medication in it from the refrigerator, as I always do when assisting her with her shots, wiped the top of the dispenser with an alcohol wipe, and twisted on the needle. I dialed the dosage on the bottom of the pen; again, just as one is supposed to do so that the appropriate amount of medication is given when the shot is administered. I wiped Samantha's arm with an alcohol wipe to ensure the area was clean and thereafter pushed the button on the pen for the medication to be released.
"OUCH" Samantha yelled. We looked at her arm as a few drops of blood fell down the side of her arm. I then remembered the one step I forgot to complete . . .
Before using a new pen of medication one needs to "prime" it; which entails ensuring that any air where the medication is contained has been removed. There is a specific process involved in completing such, and thus far I have remembered this step each time Samantha has needed to use a new pen of medication. What I forgot was that the night before when I realized she had used all the medication in the pen I had Samantha place the used pen in her biohazard box and I placed a new pen filled with medication in the bag she uses to store her pen in the refrigerator WITHOUT priming it first.
The result: the first shot Samantha received was filled with air. Placing air underneath one's skin using a needle hurts and results in a tad of bleeding. What is interesting is that when Samantha takes her medication nightly, she rarely bleeds; however her skin bruises every single time she has an injection of medication. It takes several days for the bruise, the size is slightly smaller than a dime, to disappear. Even 200+ days later I shutter seeing her upper arms and stomach with tiny circles of bruises of various colors on her skin.
Samantha shed a couple tears; not many. I shed them for her.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
We Made it to 200 Days
We made it to 200 days. I say "we" because Samantha has fortunately had the incredible support of her family and friends, and there was a time when I wasn't sure whether we would.
Before Samantha began growth hormone therapy we had some inquiries from both family and close friends asking us "are you sure you want to have her take medication which you don't know if it will even work or the long term side effects (because the medication has only been approved by the FDA for 15 years.) Although concerned we may not have support from some; we forged ahead because we were confident, as Samantha was, that this was best for her.
Luckily, our friends and family, no matter their personal feelings, supported our decision and Samantha. I only hope those who may have disagreed with our decision never have to be in the shoes we are; for such decisions are far from easy to make. I'm thankful we made this choice and haven't looked back.
Samantha has gained self confidence and drive as a result of this experience, and what she has learned about herself is immeasurable. Her "never give up" attitude has increased her desire to move forward despite any challenge which may come her way. These life experiences are critical to her emotional and cognitive development, and I'm incredibly proud of how she has taken growth hormone deficiency "by storm".
Look out, Samantha is just getting started...
Before Samantha began growth hormone therapy we had some inquiries from both family and close friends asking us "are you sure you want to have her take medication which you don't know if it will even work or the long term side effects (because the medication has only been approved by the FDA for 15 years.) Although concerned we may not have support from some; we forged ahead because we were confident, as Samantha was, that this was best for her.
Luckily, our friends and family, no matter their personal feelings, supported our decision and Samantha. I only hope those who may have disagreed with our decision never have to be in the shoes we are; for such decisions are far from easy to make. I'm thankful we made this choice and haven't looked back.
Samantha has gained self confidence and drive as a result of this experience, and what she has learned about herself is immeasurable. Her "never give up" attitude has increased her desire to move forward despite any challenge which may come her way. These life experiences are critical to her emotional and cognitive development, and I'm incredibly proud of how she has taken growth hormone deficiency "by storm".
Look out, Samantha is just getting started...
200 Days!!!
Today is my 200th day of taking growth hormone shots.
If you think about it, it is a really big number.
I am very proud of myself for getting through all of this so far. I feel brave. I feel like no one in this world has the confidence like I do; but I know many other people have this same type of confidence which helps them get through difficult times.
Lately I have told people I take growth hormone shots. People say "OMG: how many days have you taken them for? Does it hurt? Is there blood?" I reply yes to all the answers, well, except to the hurting one - it doesn't hurt that much anymore.
Every day is getting easier for me and my parents because I feel like my parents don't have to worry about me taking my shots anymore. Today I even "primed" my first pen, which by the way is a really big deal! I was able to make sure all the bubbles were out of the pen where the medication is stored in the shots I take. I did this by myself without my mom's help. My dad watched me to make sure I did it properly. I was very excited that I had the opportunity on my 200th day.
Maybe I will keep taking these shots until I am around 15. I don't know. It depends, I will take them until I stop growing and we don't know when that will be. Sometimes I get lazy and tired and don't want to take the shots anymore; but I know these shots help me grow.
I think I can make it to 1000 days because I am strong, smart, kind-hearted, loving, dedicated, and, well, small!
Remember: amazing things come in small packages!
If you think about it, it is a really big number.
I am very proud of myself for getting through all of this so far. I feel brave. I feel like no one in this world has the confidence like I do; but I know many other people have this same type of confidence which helps them get through difficult times.
Lately I have told people I take growth hormone shots. People say "OMG: how many days have you taken them for? Does it hurt? Is there blood?" I reply yes to all the answers, well, except to the hurting one - it doesn't hurt that much anymore.
Every day is getting easier for me and my parents because I feel like my parents don't have to worry about me taking my shots anymore. Today I even "primed" my first pen, which by the way is a really big deal! I was able to make sure all the bubbles were out of the pen where the medication is stored in the shots I take. I did this by myself without my mom's help. My dad watched me to make sure I did it properly. I was very excited that I had the opportunity on my 200th day.
Maybe I will keep taking these shots until I am around 15. I don't know. It depends, I will take them until I stop growing and we don't know when that will be. Sometimes I get lazy and tired and don't want to take the shots anymore; but I know these shots help me grow.
I think I can make it to 1000 days because I am strong, smart, kind-hearted, loving, dedicated, and, well, small!
Remember: amazing things come in small packages!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
New Years Eve - 180 Days!!!
OMG! It is New Years Eve and it is already 180 days of me taking growth hormone therapy shots.
I feel the same since I started; but if I think about it, I have grown to become more confident in myself. For example, when I went to the doctor to take my flu shot, the nurse gave me the shot and I did not feel a thing. I also do not have a fear of blood because I usually see a little bit of blood after I take my shots each night. I have grown confident in being able to handle giving myself my own shots every night and know that I am a strong person who believes in herself and can make her goals a reality.
I have also grown confident in others. I have so much support from my family and friends who I did not know would be there to be there for me. I could not do this without you all. Thank you being there for me while I have been through hard times.
I would like to give a big shout out to my Auntie Mara. I have gotten so much closer to her since I started winter break. When my dad was sent to the hospital I spent 2 days with her and she has helped me so much along with talking about many other things I have been stressed about in my life. I feel so comfortable next to her; I can talk to her about anything. I love her so much. Thank you Auntie Mara.
I also want to thank my mom for being so close to me and being there for me every day I take my shots. I love you more than a bee loves a rose.
I am going to spend time with my dad now who is sick in bed. He needs my support just like he supports me every day.
I'm Sorry
I am so sorry that I have not written on my blog in a while. I have been SO BUSY lately with school, taking finals, and now I go back to school on Monday. I am working on time management so I can fit all the things I want to do in my life.
It has been a really hard for me. I was in Mexico on vacation and my dad got terribly sick. When we came back from our trip he was sent to the hospital. He returned home from the hospital about 3 days ago. My father has shingles in his ear and that is very rare. When I think about "rare" I think about someone very special. My dad is so special to me and I care so much about him. The night before he went to the hospital I took care of him. I brought him tissues, toast, a plastic bag so he could throw up, I brought him blankets and helped him move around.
I have helped my dad so much that I want to work as a doctor at Children's Hospital when I am an adult and help kids with cancer, heart problems, missing legs or arms because they had an accident or were born without them, and maybe even growth hormone deficiency!
Remember that it is important to help others who need your help. Be respectful, responsible, and be safe.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
It has been a really hard for me. I was in Mexico on vacation and my dad got terribly sick. When we came back from our trip he was sent to the hospital. He returned home from the hospital about 3 days ago. My father has shingles in his ear and that is very rare. When I think about "rare" I think about someone very special. My dad is so special to me and I care so much about him. The night before he went to the hospital I took care of him. I brought him tissues, toast, a plastic bag so he could throw up, I brought him blankets and helped him move around.
I have helped my dad so much that I want to work as a doctor at Children's Hospital when I am an adult and help kids with cancer, heart problems, missing legs or arms because they had an accident or were born without them, and maybe even growth hormone deficiency!
Remember that it is important to help others who need your help. Be respectful, responsible, and be safe.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)