My Reality.

October 9th is National PANDAS Awareness Day in almost every state in the US. What does that mean for you?

It may mean nothing at all. You may look at my child, and think that there’s nothing wrong with her. Or you may think I’m making excuses for her behavior, or who knows?

But the reality of this disorder….MY reality…is, that while it is not life ending in and of itself, it is very much life altering, and life changing.

It is said that 1 in 100 to 200 children have PANS or PANDAS, but out of those, how many are misdiagnosed as having ADHD, Bipolar, ASD, OCD, Tourette’s, etc instead?

As much as I wish it was, the reality is that this disorder is not rare, it’s just rarely diagnosed.

This makes the reality of any PANDAS parent a difficult one, as you aren’t just trying to fight for your child’s health, and recovery, but you’re trying to fight for acceptance of the disease that has robbed them of their very childhood.

Some parents have even had to fight just to keep their kids!

This reality is every PANDAS parents worst nightmare, but it comes true, far too often.

What can you do, if you have a child with PANS or PANDAS? Get involved with your local and regional PANS and PANDAS non-profits. Help them out by fundraising for them, donating, volunteering, and sharing their social media posts. They are literally all over the world! Contact your legislatures. Tell them about PANS and PANDAS, and give them ways that they can help you.

If you are reading this post because you are friends with a PANDAS parent, you can still help out by doing any of the above things. But even more so, just continue to be their friend.

Understand that their reality is most likely very different from your own. Sometimes all they looking for, is a safe person to vent to, or just a shoulder to cry on. Be that person. You don’t have to have inspirational sayings, or even sage advice. Often times just being there, is more then enough.

On October 9th, share posts about PANS and PANDAS! Wear a PANDAS Awareness Day T-Shirt! Add a PANDAS Awareness Day Frame to your FB profile picture.

Anything to show that you ar willing to not only accept my reality, but to help improve it, a step in the right direction, and I thank you!