Who doesn’t like a good comeback story? Especially when it’s about POTS?
There are far, far, far too many challenges in life that can make a person come undone. From the little daily stressors to the big life-changing events, our will to endure is tested over and over. Just like Riley Stehl, the young teen who lives with postural tachycardia orthostatic syndrome (POTS).
From his journey to diagnosis to learning how to manage his condition, Riley’s story is one of persistence. The value of persistence comes not from stubbornly clinging to the past. It comes from a vision of the future that’s so compelling a person would give almost anything to make it real.
Anyone living with POTS knows the uphill struggle to gain traction on this condition. Currently, there isn’t a cure for POTS; however, researchers believe some patients will see an improvement in symptoms over time.
Detailed long-term follow up studies on the course of POTS are sparse, but Dysautonomia International is working with researchers to begin to collect long-term follow up data. With proper lifestyle adjustments, exercise, diet, and medical treatments, many patients see an improvement in their quality of life.
Riley has an admirable mindset that sets the tone for his persistent will, “I still have POTS…The overall idea is just being able to live life with your illness being as little of a distraction as possible.”
It’s relatively easy to persist when things are going well and we see progress. But, highly persistent people have found ways to keep going despite major setbacks and a lack of evidence that they are moving closer toward their goals. People like Riley! To read on his complete comeback story, click here.
