I haven’t visited this board in a long time.  I found it about a year or so ago and used to read it frequently.  I almost forgot how great it was.

 

I have two boys, 7 & 11 Years old, both with SW-CAH.  I promise you there is absolutely nothing about either of them that would clue anyone into the fact that they had any medical condition at all (other than the bracelets of course).  My oldest is the little brain… of the family.  “Gifted” simply isn’t the word for this boy.  He takes special classes on his own time to keep him challenged and his latest hobby is autonomous robotics of all things.  His younger brother is the athlete.  He eats, sleeps and drinks baseball & basketball, and really makes his mark on the field/court.

 

When my first son was diagnosed with CAH, I was scared to death.  It was several years before I even met another person that I knew had the same condition.  I simply had no idea what kind of life he was going to lead.  Now, 11 years later, and another child with the same condition… I can say that for the most part, they’re leading the same life you and I are.  They require a little more attention when they get sick, but as hard as it may seem to believe… you WILL become their experts on caring for their condition.  Even pediatricians will defer to your expert judgment when it comes to CAH.  It’s almost impossible for me to imagine having a child that DOESN’T take meds 3x/day.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t blinded myself to the potential dangers associated with CAH, and I recognize that things are a bit more complex with girls than my own two boys, but my point is that my wife and I have become extremely comfortable in knowing that they’re in great hands, and you WILL feel the same way… it just takes time. 

 

My youngest is allergic to walnuts.  To be perfectly honest… I can handle the CAH… but the nut allergy is what really scares me.

 

Everyone is different, even those with CAH, but you have to believe that your son is in good hands… yours.  As he grows, and you continue to learn from your own experiences (and that of your pediatric endocrinologist)… you’ll know this to be true.