My Son's 18th

My son, Adrian, turned 18 last week.  I am so happy that he is beginning the next and greatest phase of his life and on his way to new and exciting adventures, facing new challenges, opening doors to new learning opportunities, and to developing new relationships.  True, this can be said of any new day of one's life, but turning 18 officially marks the end of childhood.  I love watching him grow from a little bundle of life to a mature, rational, intelligent and sensitive young man.   Turning 18 brings legal responsibilities but I am confident he has developed the common sense and knowledge to handle this new phase of his life.  

Adrian had an extremely difficult period at the beginning of his teenage years.  He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was about nine years old.  I believe now that it was a misdiagnosis.  He might have suffered from some ADD, but in retrospect, I do not believe that was a key issue.  Nonetheless, we agreed to treat him for it, but the medication did not seem to help much.  It helped somewhat but it did not relieve the underlying issue of his variable mood.  It wasn't until late in his twelfth year that his main condition began to emerge, and in the most painful and drastic ways.  After several medical episodes and after getting rid of several different psychiatrists, and having to intern him several times in several hospitals, he was finally diagnosed as having a bipolar condition.  Given his personality swings, over a two year period, that diagnosis should have been obvious by psychiatrists who initially saw him, however, it took a fourth doctor to understand the problem and start him on a more appropriate treatment.  This treatment continued for a couple of years but he was still not "out of the woods."    It turns out that Adrian also had another underlying condition, in addition to his bi-polar situation, that triggered severe depression episodes.  This was finally recognized and additional medication was prescribed, and the correct dosage was identified to allow him to stabilize him.

It has been almost a year since he overcame that battle against the darkness that was consuming him and he is now facing life with a positive attitude.  It had been almost a four year battle of diagnosis, many trials to find the correct medication and the appropriate dosages to get him stabilized.  However, I feel he has reached a stage of stability.  Unfortunately, the years when this condition dominated his life were formative years for school and relationships.  Because of his hospitalization and absences from school because of his inability to function, his grades suffered tremendously.  Moreover, the period of school from 8th to the 11th grade is when students not only learn the basics of Mathematics, English, Science as well as other basic subjects, it is the period when they develop the skills to study, to succeed in school and learn how to learn.  Unfortunately, he missed most of that.  He now realizes his educational weaknesses and for a year he has been working extra hard to catch up.  He is driven to succeed in high school and attend and succeed in a four-year university.  He attended summer school and is taking extra classes in his attempt to catch up.  I am very proud of him, his effort and his drive.  He has gone from a "D" average student for four years to an all "A" student this year.  

Life will not always be kind to him and he will face many difficult challenges, but we will always be there to support him when he needs us.  Happy birthday, son, never lose faith in your abilities and remember that you are loved today, tomorrow and always.