The Mystery Disease

 
 

Well, when 4th grade started, I returned to school. Imagine how scared I felt! I was put into a small class and the teacher was very nice to me. I made some friends, even though I was still pretty big, but I didn't think about that much so it was ok. A couple of weeks later, I noticed that I didn't know my multiplication tables or how to spell correctly, so basically I couldn't keep up with my class work. Luckily, I got help. Even though my parents thought it would be good to stay back a year, I convinced them that it would only make things harder for me. 

So the next year I went on to the 5th grade. It was great! I felt like I was totally cured, even though I know that I will never really be cured, since I must take medicine for the rest of my life. I also have to have blood tests four times a year and travel to the states every year for medical tests. Even so, I finally felt like my old self, like the sickness was only a memory. 

Finally, I made it!

What you need to remember when you meet kids with medical problems is that they are just like you, and that they're probably having a really hard time adjusting to what's wrong with them. In my case it felt like I didn't have a friend in the world. I wish that everyone would remember the old saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, then don't say anything!" 

Thank you for reading my story.
Good-bye. Katie -- age 14, Tokyo, Japan
 

Thyroid disorders in children


If you tap Tinkerbell's wand, 
she'll send your message my way! 
I'll fly your message to Katie!

 
 To  the frog ponds
Back to the Experts
 To the site map

 
Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N.
Associate Professor of Nursing, Lehman College, CUNY
Bronx, New York 10468

Last updated: November 14, 2004