In '97 I was diagnosed with a dysautonomia, NCS (neurocardiogenic syncope). I was barely a teenager and suddenly the real world was thrown in my face. At first I wasn't sure what to do. It certainly didn't help that I wasn't told what was happening with me. I knew that my heart rate wasn't normal, and I got dizzy, but I wasn't told anything else. I was put on various medications, most of which made me worse. When the medicines didn't work, my doctor thought I was faking. As if that weren't frustrating enough my family and friends started having the same thoughts. I was hurt and often cried myself to sleep. Slowly but surely I lost my friends. I don't blame them since they were so young…but so was I. At a young age I had to learn just how ignorant the world around me could be, and how minorities can be treated.

     The following year I caught mono, and didn't go to school the last half of the year. When I finally got out of Jr. High and into High School I was over my mono and thought I'd be able to attend most of the year. Little did I know that was only a dream. I loved going to school and had fun there. I just couldn't handle waking up in the morning. I couldn't sleep at night and trying to wake up without enough sleep caused me to get migraines. I got migraines almost daily, even after I was put on homebound.

     While I was on homebound my family and I were told that if I were seen out of my house I would lose my tutor. Anytime I wanted to go out with my friends it was a fight. Mom and Dad were worried that I would be seen, lose my tutor, and they would be in trouble for not making me go to school. It seemed as though no one understood that I simply could not wake up to go to school, and it wasn't worth the fight.

     When the next year rolled 'round I started to realize that I was being neglected. Not by my parents, but by my school. You see, I wasn't getting proper education. As a matter of fact, I wasn't being taught. I had 1 tutor who would drop off work, sat with me for an hour a day 5 days a week, then brought it back to my teachers. Sure I could ask for help…but was my tutor able to answer my questions? No, usually not. I constantly fought with my family telling them we needed to get a lawyer, and I needed to be taught. I also told my tutor that the school wasn't doing what they were supposed to. She stood by the school and told me that there wasn't much else they could do. My parents believed that even if we got someone to teach me I couldn't do all the work. Unknown to us the school was supposed to limit the amount of work I would have gotten.

     During that struggle my parents found a new doctor for me. After my new doctor had done testing, I was told I had POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Again, I wasn't informed what was included in this condition; only that it caused low blood pressure and an increased heart-rate (therefore causing me to be dizzy). My doctors and I experimented with different medicines. Some helped for a short while, others didn't. We couldn't find what to do. From there I was sent to a doctor out of state.

     Finally a doctor who explained, in detail, what was wrong with me. I mean in detail, my appointment was about 4 hours long and very informative. I was told what was going on inside me, and what I could do to help myself other than take my medication. I had been told previously that working out was one of the problems; finally I was told that exercise in moderation would help. So I started to ride the stationary bike we have and increased my salt and water intake. I even got my parents to buy me one of those Total Gyms.

     When this year came about I still had to fight to get an education. I finally convinced my parents to get a lawyer. It took a while to get things going but I am now being educated. My school is still very unorganized. Until I informed my tutors I was given an IEP (individualized education program) they knew nothing of it. Things are getting better, not only is my situation with the school getting better, but so am I. My social life is also improving, I actually have one.

     After about a year of increased salt and water intake, riding the bike, and working out with my gym I am off my medication and doing well. I don't make it to school, and still have days that aren't as great as others, though not anything like before. I am able to go out with my friends without being over heated, sweaty, and dizzy. I've also dealt with having POTS and my parents have done the same.

     Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing…it's only made me stronger.