Today, our country is basically in self-isolation mode due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. After reading a fellow PANDAS/PANS mothers post, I was reminded that this is really nothing new to families like ours.
Being forced to homeschool your child…. not new… being told not to go in large crowds to limit contact with viruses… not new… one day mingling and socializing with your friends and the next day, boom that option is off the table… not new. Being forced to leave your job to stay home with your child… not new.
For us PANDAS/PANS families, “this ain’t our first rodeo.” We have remained in “panic mode” for so long, that I think we are almost numb to things like this. I am sad for my 3 other children and all of those whose routines have been lost. But for Preston, I think he must feel that his siblings can finally relate to the situation he was thrown into a few years ago.
Life brings us down roads that we never thought we’d go down. It’s full of twists and turns. Being a mother to Preston has changed me for the good in so many ways. It’s forced me to take a step back and look at things differently. I think God forces us all to do that at some point in our lives.
Though we have come so far there’s still those lingering symptoms that may never go away. There’s med planners that you wish you could throw in the trash and never see again. Fortunately, I was able to go back to work and Preston was able to hear his name called at a home study program graduation. But, days like today, you wish you could just tell your son “Happy Birthday” but you know it’s a trigger for him. His counselor believes that he really just doesn’t want to acknowledge time because he lost so much of his in isolation and just being sick. I pray it improves in time. I do not have all of the answers, but we serve a mighty God who does. So, I choose to trust.
Today, if you are feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or scared, know that it will all work out. This will be over soon. Listen to the governments warnings and keep your family and yourselves as safe as possible. But most of all, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
