<p>1dilecon, that must have been quite scary. Best wishes for his quick recovery and a simple diagnosis!</p>
<p>1direcon, I am so sorry to hear about your son’s seizures. My stepsister started with seizures during her teen years, but they were controlled with medication and she has suffered no other ill effects since.I hope everything works out OK.</p>
<p>And thank you for your nice words about my son. He certainly has had a tough past year, but is fine now. He had increasingly bad neurological symptoms during his junior year, from migraine-type headaches to nausea, vomiting, limb numbness and passing out. Although I was so afraid he had a brain tumor, he was finally diagnosed with a treatable congenital condition called Chiari Malformation, in which his brain was actually too big for his skull, and the brain stem was poking out down into the spinal canal, blocking the flow of spinal fluid (thus causing the headaches). The pressure on his brain stem was causing the other symptoms. We found a wonderful neurosurgeon in San Antonio who operated on him last March, to increase the opening of the skull and restore the flow of spinal fluid. He made a complete recovery, and is back to doing everything he loves, including sports and working out, and his nice personality returned.
He has been having a little trouble with his supplemental essay for the reach school. After working on it all day, he went to a friend’s birthday party tonite with the understanding that he work hard to complete most of it tomorrow, since it is due Wednesday. I like his ideas, even though he has a bit of work left to wrestle it into shape. And then of course the last app to his fit school is due Jan 15, and that is the one he is dreading, with 5 questions! (yes, a tad excessive).</p>
<p>1dilecon, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your son. How frightening! Please keep us updated.</p>
<p>And Moonmaid, oh my goodness, what a weird and frightening condition! The thought of the brain stem poking out makes me shudder. I’m so glad your son is back to normal. The article about the interview sounds wonderful.</p>
<p>My son has one supplemental essay to do, but I started really bugging him about it and we mutually agreed it is better I not bring it up for the sake of our relationship.</p>
<p>He’s got till the end of January. I figure I’ll wait until after his mid-January finals and if it isn’t done by then I’ll start dropping hints.</p>
<p>All - Thank you for your kind words. We’re hoping it was an isolated incident, which hopefully the neurologist will be able to explain, and are very thankful he had the seizure at home before they left rather than while they were traveling in the car out in the middle of nowhere. </p>
<p>Creekland - really appreciate your insight. Can’t begin to imagine receiving that call when your son was halfway around the world. My son, too, was given dr’s orders, “no driving for 6 months.” So glad and encouraging to hear your son is doing so well.</p>
<p>Moonmaid - what a year for you, your son, and family, and what an amazing recovery! Seems like after all he’s been through, he can do anything. Glad he was able to take a break tonight - sometimes it seems like taking a step away is the best thing. </p>
<p>Best wishes to all w/any remaining apps!</p>
<p>The parents from the Class of 2012 thread may remember my daughter had a similar condition pop up last year, during her freshman year at Barnard. She was simply creating too much cerebrospinal fluid which was causing her brain to swell. She had excruciating headaches and had lost about 45% of her peripheral vision because the pressure was affecting her optic nerve. It was to the point she was losing her vision completely for about 30 seconds at a time. She thought they were stress migraines from starting a rigorous college. Thankfully, a spinal tap and medication got it all back under control and she has regained almost all of her vision. She has one very small blind spot. </p>
<p>The medical staff at Barnard’s Health Service were absolutely incredible in identifying the issue and making sure she got the right assistance right away. She went from health service on Thursday to a spinal tap 10 days later with many diagnostic tests and specialists seen during that time. She now believes it was also affecting her memory. She is amazed how much easier college is this year without that added constant pressure in her head. (This is a huge part of why I’m adding up so many medical bills for taxes this year!)</p>
<p>Moonmaid- My nephew had that condition also, but they caught it when he was 6 months old and his skull sutures were closing too early. My brother lives in Wyoming but took him to a neurosurgeon in San Antonio for the surgery because he did his research and found that one was supposed to be the best. (He’s a hospital administrator and does his homework). I wonder if it was the same doctor.</p>
<p>1dilecon, also thinking of you and hoping that the seizure can be easily explained and treated to prevent future episodes!</p>
<p>1dilecon - so sorry to hear about your guy’s scare. Thinking of you.</p>
<p>1dilecon must have been so scary! Hope your guy makes a full and complete recovery, everything else is secondary.</p>
<p>To All you mothers that have endured so many health problems with your kids: you guys are Champs! Nothing is scarier that a health problem with your child. I am glad that all are doing well and on the road to recovery. Wishing you all a happy and Healthy New Year.</p>
<p>2016Barnardmom - wow, what an ordeal! So glad the doctors were able to make the correct diagnosis. And my son’s neurosurgeon was Dr. David Jiminez, and he is one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in the country and one of a very few who specialize in and understand Chiari. I have since heard many horror stories from folks who were misdiagnosed or who suffered subpar treatment. Dr. Jimenez has many years experience and is incredibly kind and humble. Sounds like the same guy! I am a librarian and also did my research, lol. What a difference a year makes - last year at Christmas S2 was dealing with those symptoms, and S1 was in the midst of testicular cancer treatment which extended into the spring of his Y2 at law school. This year we are back to dealing with normal things like grades, essays, applications and car issues. Thank God for normal. And regarding Tulane, I think it made an impression on S2 how supportive Tulane Law was to S1 during his treatment. They became an extended family and the Dean there was fabulous. If Tulane U can just come up with enough FA for S2 we will all be happy!</p>
<p>Moonmaid, I, too, am a librarian … in a HS setting. The kids are amazed that we know so much! They have yet to realize that we’re always researching.</p>
<p>Son '14 got an awesome present yesterday when the mail arrived. A full tuition ride to Mississippi State, one of his faves on the list. Of course, he showed little or no emotion, but my husband and I were thrilled. It’s a wonderful school, and Son '14 really likes it. Of course, he would like it a little more if he could run there. We’ll see. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, he just finished the book he needed to read for AP English. Next up is the paper he needs to write. He’ll probably be glad that his mom is a librarian, because she’ll be able to help him hunt down resources online since school does not re-open 'til Thursday. He also needs to pound out an essay or two for some final apps. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, the older son is doing his personal statements for law school. One of his former roommates attends Tulane, Moonmaid. He will not be applying there, but he loves NOLA!</p>
<p>Momreads, I am also a HS librarian, in an inner city public HS, but a good one. I love my school kids, have had some wonderful ones pass through. Congrats on the full ride for your son - what a wonderful belated Christmas present! :-)</p>
<p>Moonmaid- Yes, that’s the same neurosurgeon! </p>
<p>I think S is coming over to my house today to work on more supplemental essays. He also filled out an app for Eagle Scout scholarships yesterday. We’re really getting down to the wire and he’s making me nervous at this point.</p>
<p>1dilecon - That’s so scary. Hoping your DS gets answers and gets better soon!</p>
<p>I’ve been reading for the past week but not posting as we were away on vacation in Mexico. We had a wonderful time and it was really great to get just our family away for a week together! We haven’t done a family vacation in about 8 years so it was nice to see DS’11 and DD’14 have some bonding time together as young adults. Of course, newly 21 year old loved the all inclusive food and beer. Since he’s in his own house cooking meals and eats mostly chicken at school, he was also enjoying steak for most meals!</p>
<p>After collecting our stack of mail and sorting the Christmas cards from the college mail, DD had some very good news which she was waiting for. Nice acceptance to the Honors Program at St. Michael’s College along with a nice scholarship award. And acceptance to Providence College in their Honors Program along with an 80% tuition scholarship! That scholarship level was much higher than I anticipated so it’s a nice bonus! So far she’s 3 for 3 with acceptances and scholarships (also UVM), but only two honors acceptances. The nice thing is all three schools have accepted student events in February so we can check them out early while waiting for other decisions to come in. She still hasn’t heard from UMass Amherst, but it’s the lowest on her list and the scholarships to St. Mike’s and PC make those so affordable that UMass really doesn’t matter right now, but she is curious!</p>
<p>She also submitted her Yale application last night and one to Brown right before we left so she’s only got one more to do (due 1/1). If she applies, great. If not, no problem from my point of view. She loved the school but it’s such a reach and I can’t really see her there but it’s up to her. She was up early (6 am!) yesterday morning to get to school for community service and spent the evening creating a rehearsal schedule for the musical she’s directing so she has been busy. And she’s heading out to go dress shopping with a bunch of her friends today so I’m glad she’s relaxing and enjoying her time off. It was so nice to see her winding down during vacation as she so needed the break!</p>
<p>So sorry to hear about these health issues! Nothing truly more important than the health and well being of our loved ones. My older son deals with chronic migraines and it’s really hard to see how much it impacts his life. He’s going for another follow up with his neurologist hopefully before he goes back to school. </p>
<p>We have been informed we are to stop all discussions about college. She’s waiting for more answers and we need to see a few schools we said we’d only see if she got in. So I’m going to do my best to keep my mouth shut and just wait for the next round of decisions to come through over the next few months.</p>
<p>1dilecon - ((hugs)) praying for your DS
And to all the other that have gone through major medical issues recently - hope all is going well and the rocky times are over!</p>
<p>Congrats, momreads, on the full tuition scholarship! Hoping the track/cross country coach will see what he has there and also offer a spot on the team!!</p>
<p>Nothing new going on here … just in a holding pattern. DS NEEDS to be working on scholarship apps (both outside and school related) so we can afford some of his schools. We also need to plan a trip to Michigan to visit UM and Kettering. I really think Kettering will be a good fit for him if we can work out the financial end of it. I know their co-op starts early and we could use money from that to pay for tuition so it may work out - just want to visit the school and speak to financial aid department.</p>
<p>Having been reading this thread since my last note a few days ago, but now have time to post.</p>
<p>-- All of you parents and kids who are dealing with such significant health problems are heroes. I work in health-care, and for decades I’ve been impressed with the courage and wherewithall that families can muster when the excreta hits the fan. Although it’s not what any of us will choose, kids who’ve gotten through issues like this emerge with more depth, texture, and empathy than their peers. And of course, this sort of thing puts all the college admissions stuff in perspective.</p>
<p>-- Changing gears. Congrats to all who have their most important acceptances already in hand. As Overseasmom wrote, it allows the kids to enjoy the last half of their senior year. My son has frequently stated over the last couple of years that “my childhood is being stolen away from me” with all the homework, activities, and more recently college admissions pressure. I agree with him.</p>
<p>-- Ugh. My condolences to all of you who are dealing with last minute applications with those silly essays. At least the pain will be over soon. We set an arbitrary deadline of getting everything in by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. The last essay was something like "what unique qualities will you bring . . . " I mean, really. Past a certain point, how unique are any of these kids going to be? And as has been written here, how can you avoid cliche in 250 words or less? I find this stuff insulting.</p>
<p>-- Am impressed with the wide variety of schools mentioned on this thread. My sister who teaches at a USNWR top 25 school (and who’s chaired two different depts) recently told me that, in terms of graduate school applications, they are seeing an increasing number of really great kids from “non-elite” undergraduate colleges, both private and public. Again, I think this reflects that more families are being smarter with how they allocate their education money. Many (of course, not all) of our kids will end up getting an advanced degree, and if they do that will be the only school name that matters.</p>
<p>-- My son’s fancy-pants private high school held their ‘back from college’ night a couple of weeks ago, where recent graduates come back and talk about their college experience. It terms of which kids were “happy”, it was all over the board. Some were kids who went to their dream school and some were kids who were disappointed last April. Some picked the right school for the right reasons, some ended up at the right school for the wrong or irrelevant reasons. I tell my son that wherever he ends up he could never exhaust the academic resources that will be available to him. To us, it seemed that which kids were happy had more to do with the specific kid than it did with the specific school.</p>
<p>Enough ranting. Thanks again to all of you for providing such great support and interesting reading!!</p>
<p>Mrs. Pepper - hope your DS has been able to submit the rest of of his apps, and that he has been able to join you in your Christmas celebration with your side of the family.</p>
<p>2016BarnardMom - so thankful the medical staff at Barnard was so responsive, and that your daughter’s headaches are gone, and she has regained most all of her vision. What a small world we live in - to think that both your brother and Moonmaid found the same wonderful neurosurgeon. So thankful and happy for both of you, and Creekland, that all of your kids are doing so well now! </p>
<p>momreads - wow, full tuition! Congratulations! Hope it works out for him to run there!</p>
<p>akmom124 - Congrats to your DD on all her acceptances with scholarships!</p>
<p>eyemamom - keeping your son in my prayers that the neurologist will be able to help him with his chronic migraines.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all that FA comes through as hoped for!</p>
<p>1dilecon- the key takeaway from all of our stories is that most things are treatable and these kids recover well 
I do hope they figure out the cause of your son’s seizure. There were a surprising number of kids in our local high school who started having seizures around their junior or senior year. I think there were 4 kids in the marching band who all started having them around the same time. For two of them, the trigger was photo-sensitivity: strobe lights or flash photography would set it off. I don’t think they ever figured out the root cause for one of them-they thought maybe it was stress related, but she’s on meds now and hasn’t had one in over a year. One boy turned out to be an undiagnosed diabetic.</p>
<p>2016BarnardMom - yes, so good to hear of all the success stories.</p>