When I became a parent, I wasn’t acutely aware of what I was signing up for. In the beginning, my role was highly predictable and, in my mind, the newborn stage was the “dream come true” stage.
The snuggles. The baby talk. The outfits. Hours upon hours spent just watching my baby sleep. The unfounded joy of listening to a baby breathe. Although I was like any new parent—sleep deprived, dazed, and confused—it was baby bliss.
Then somewhere between potty training and starting school, my role as a parent evolved at warp speed:
- A nurse healing boo boos
- A disciplinarian enforcing good manners
- A teacher practicing spelling words and fast math facts
- A moral compass steering character and play date ethics
- A transporter hauling scouts, athletes, and thespians all over
- A magician who made monsters under the bed disappear
All this and more—as the child develops, the parenting role progresses.
Tailspin
But what happens when life takes an unexpected turn?
If, somewhere in the mix of life, the natural development of a child tailspins into a diagnosis of a condition, a condition like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
POTS, sometimes referred to as non-familial dysautonomia, is not a disease. POTS is an array of symptoms which may indicate an underlying dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
And for Syndi Lipschutz, a Westfield, New Jersey mom, this is exactly the journey for her son Ryan, and his diagnosis of POTS:
“The road to diagnosis was long because many doctors were not familiar with POTS.”
Syndi’s parenting role changed to the caregiver of a child living with a condition that does not have a cure—a low profile condition that many doctors don’t know how to treat.
To support her son and other POTS patients, Syndi and a few other mothers collaborated to fund raise for POTS research, “…become involved with Dysautonomia International, a non-profit organization that we believe in. They are making great strides in bringing awareness and raising funds for research.”
Raising a child is full of surprises. Of all the options available—books, forums, or blogs, nothing can completely prepare a person for becoming a parent. And as Syndi and Ryan Lipschultz work together to “…help end postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome with an “Eat Dance Laugh” fundraiser for Dysautonomia International,” there is one certainty:
All children need a little help, a little hope, and someone (like Syndi) who believes in them.
