Dear jennifer,

Yes ..... my Dear we all are different. I remember being 16 and feeling like I was the  only person in the world that no one REALLY knew or understood. And I was ! I did not have CAH. But I did have alcoholics for Parents. I could not have other children in or friends come to my house because I never knew what my Mother would do or say to them. All school functions I never had anyone supporting me. Sixteen was as I remember the hardest and scariest time of my life. I EVEN took a bottle of Bufferin thinking if I tried to kill myself they Would notice me. WRONG ! Mother did not even come to the hospital. Then when My husband was killed when I was twenty three I was alone again and felt very different from others /young Mothers and families. I always knew there was something different about me and  fought MANY battles alone with myself to make me fit in this world and find the recognition I so desperately needed. Many years of soul searching and Doctors and years of fighting the demons in me and thinking I was doomed before I would get out of bed in the morning...... I met Mr. Right fell in love... raised two beautiful children and BAM out of the blue you know the story Daughter in law dies Grandma raises baby. I knew I would not or could not raise her in the frame of mind I was in and had been in before, You see....... I have Attention Deficit Disorder and  sometimes depression. I AM DIFFERENT! NOT CRAZY! Just different.. I must take a pill everday/ talk to a counselor sometimes. Work through milestones on my own and bring to myself my own joy of life . Do I have to search for it a little harder...... you bet I do . But when it finds my heart I consider myself one lucky lady.  I am REALLY different than most folks because I have accepted my condition, live with it , learn from it and will live my life trying to conquer it. You know WHY?  I am a SURVIVOR! I WILL not let this chemical imbalance win. But I can’t do it alone , I will need medicine forever. Don’t beat yourself up over CAH! I know it can be hard , but the hard things in life is what makes you strong and with strength comes STAMINA/ ENDURANCE/ FORGIVENESS( of others ignorance) and love. So hang in there Girlie you are only sixteen years old and someday when you are 53 and look back . Make sure they are happy years and memories. They are what keeps you young! Take care and be strong as this is an amazing universe we belong too!  Sincerely Cherry Lane