Any ideas?

Ok, everyone!

I wanted to thank you all again so much for your participation in my TS Awareness Day last month. I hope you all enjoyed!

Well, it's got me thinking. I'd like to do something like that again, but I can't figure out what. I do understand that there are a lot of awareness days, so that's why I'm trying to think of something else.

If you think you can come up with an idea for me, feel free to comment on this post and tell me what it is! =)


*C

Arielle Emerick and Corrin Graham

(This is a picture of Corrin dressed for the pageant.)


This is a great story! Corrin Graham has a cousin with TS, Arielle Emerick. Well, Corrin was a contestant in a very cool pageant! So, with this, she is promoting awareness of TS for her cousin. Corrin's mom sent me this information:

Corrin Graham , age 10 soon to be 5th grader at Wetumpka Middle School in Wetumpka,AL
She is the daughter of Mikel and Jennifer Graham of Wetumpka,AL.
She has one little brother (almost 4) named Mikel Carter.

She loves the color blue. Loves to bake, tumble,rollerblade,swim and collect Disney Pins.

Corrin's second cousin, Arielle Emerick, was recently diagnosed with Turner Syndrome.
They moved in 2010 from MI to Arkansas due to her dad's job relocating to Arkansas. She fell ill and
visited Arkansas Children's Hospital, where they later diagnosed that she has Turner Syndrome. Within days of the TS
diagnosis, Arielle underwent a heart transplant. Arielle is recovering from the heart surgery, but is still in isolation due
to set backs with slight rejection and other medical factors.

Corrin was invited to participate in National American Miss Alabama Pre Teen 2011. She thought it would be a great way
to raise awareness in Arielle's honor. Corrin wanted others to learn more about the characteristics of TS so that
others would be able to get treatment earlier in their life.

Corrin was chosen as a featured NAM girl for examiner.com's national pageant daily.
Her mother, Jennifer, couldn't be more proud of her daughter's involvement to bring awareness to
a cause that is so close to her family's heart.

Later on, Arielle's first cousin was diagnosed with TS as well. It is very rare to run in families.
Usually, it is a genetic fluke, but sometimes there is an omission of the "x" chromosome that
will manifest in certain generations.


Well done, guys! Arielle seems like an amazing girl, and I'm glad to see something like this bringing a family closer. TS awareness is a very important thing to us all! =)

If you would like to learn more, here are some links sent to me by Corrin's mom:

DONATE TO TURNER SYNDROME
https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=411596910&vlrStratCode=Ma%2FXADeM%2FXWp9aRUCrDcU1sF3cHm32QJoP2FVTEiEwqHlB%2Bq9zCNIZO3auW9x2Ta

DONATE TO ARIELLE EMERICK'S COTA
http://cotaforariellee.com/node/4/#Donate


national american miss
http://www.namiss.com/


Corrin's Examiner.com Article
http://www.examiner.com/pageant-in-national/alabama-pageant-hopeful-promotes-turner-syndrome-awareness#comments

TS Awareness Day - Friday, July 15th, 2011

Hey everyone!


Just to let you all know,there will be a TS awareness day on Friday,July 15th,2011. It's through my website, Colleen's Turner's Syndrome Page. Let's get the word out about TS!

Thanks =)

Book Review - Born That Way Series by Susan Ketchen

Hey everyone,

I've just finished reading the books from Susan Ketchen. I think you all should try and get yourselves some copies!


Sylvia is the main character. As you've heard, she has Turner's Syndrome. This is one of the reasons why I think you should read the books. After I read them, I felt that I could totally relate to her!


These books are also not too long, and not too short. They're great for anyone to read. Trust me, once you pick it up, you won't put it down! The books also have a lot to do with horses. I became an even bigger horse fan than I was when I was younger.

Overall, I really think these books are a must read!

Order your copies on Susan Ketchen's website, www.susanketchen.ca!

New mobile site!

Hey everyone!

I just thought I'd let you know that I've made a new mobile version of my site, Colleen's Turner's Syndrome Page.


So, it should be easier to view it on your Ipod, phone, or any other mobile device that may have internet.


Let me know what you think if you see it! =)


*C

My Interview With Author Susan Ketchen!

Recently I found an author online , from Canada, that has a series of books involving a young girl with Turner's Syndrome. Her name is Susan Ketchen. I had an interview with her by email, and decided to share it here!










Q - What inspired you to start writing Born That Way?

A: I started this book when I was waiting for an editor's response to another manuscript. I knew I had 3 months to wait in the middle of winter, so I wanted to write something fast-paced and up-lifting. I wanted a main character who was young and energetic and optimistic about life. I started with not much more than the idea of a young girl being promised a horse when she grew as tall as her grandfather's shoulder (a situation I stole from my own childhood), and the story evolved from there.
While writing, I received ongoing inspiration from people (imagined or real) who refused to be daunted by obstacles.


Q - Did it take a while for you to come up with Sylvia's character?

A: I had a strong sense of what Sylvia was like right from the very beginning. Occasionally I was distracted by what "I" might have done if faced with Sylvia's circumstances, but then a short reflection on her tenacious gentle spirit would set the story aright.


Q - You've said that as you began writing, you noticed Sylvia was unusually short. So, you decided to do some research and find a reason for that to put in your book. What was your first thought, when you found Turner's Syndrome?

A: One of the first things that happened when I learned about Turner's Syndrome, was that I remembered what it was like for me when I was leaving childhood and entering puberty, and how ambivalent I was about "developing". I realized how much more complicated it would be for anyone with Turner's whose growth and development were uncertain. When I was young, I was going to develop whether I liked it or not. If I'd had obstacles? Or had to take medication? Or had choices? These were very interesting questions for me as a writer.


From an author's point of view, Turner's Syndrome gave me lots of scope to explore what happens to people who are perceived as being different by others, and to explore notions of gender.


Q - Can you relate anything in your life to anything in this series?

A: I can relate several things in my life to things in the series, though the book is not about me, and Sylvia is not me.


Like Sylvia, however, I was born a horse nut.


I do remember feeling like I didn't fit in at school, and noticing how the popular kids negotiated difficult social situations. Some would use humor, others would be pushy. I really admired the kids who could brush off teasing with a joke, and tried to do the same myself, but usually couldn't think fast enough.


Q - Do you think other girls newly diagnosed with Turner's Syndrome would enjoy reading about Sylvia?

A: Yes, I hope that other girls newly diagnosed with Turner's Syndrome would enjoy reading about Sylvia. Especially when we are newly diagnosed with one thing or another, there is a temptation to unnecessarily narrow our self-definitions. We become "a Turner's girl" or "an abuse survivor" or "a depressive". This never happened to Sylvia. Yes, she has Turner's Syndrome, but she is so much more than this.


You can find more about Susan and her books at www.susanketchen.ca!

Abbigail Sharron Paige Featherstone

Here is Paige Featherstone's story about her daughter with TS.













As a young mummy I've learned that health is the most important thing in life. At 16 years old I found out I was pregnant. I decided to take the responsibilities and bring my child up the best I could. At my 1st scan (13 weeks), I found out my little girl had a Cystic Hygroma measuring at 2.6cm x 3cm. At 14 weeks I had a CVS done and it came back my baby had turner syndrome and was a girl. I looked up on the internet about TS and decided to give my little girl a chance to live and choose her own fate. At 17 weeks Abbigail developed hydrops around her lungs, under her skin, around her heart and abdomen. I turned 17 years old in march 2010, At 20 weeks she then developed a heart problem where her left aorta was smaller than it should be.

At 22 weeks and 2 days I found out Abbigail had passed away. My world just ended! I had grown up so much for this brave little girl and she got taken away. I was a complete mess. At 22 weeks + 5 days on 22nd april 2010 I gave birth to Abbigail Sharron-Paige at 7:11 pm weighing 1lb 4oz. She was perfect the most beautifulest little girl I have ever seen in my whole life. I had to say hello and goodbye in the same day. It was awful; I just wanted her back. I had Abbigail blessed and spent 7hours with her. On 30th april 2010 I buried my 8 day old daughter, I was the one who carried her coffin to her grave; something every mummy doesn't want to do. 11 months on I take a day at a time and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about her. Health is the most important thing to me and I will never take anything for granted again; having a healthy baby means a lot and I think the more we spread the word of TS and hydrops the more people will realize what a healthy baby means.

Rest in peace baby Abbigail xxx