Hi Cherry, I am so sorry to hear of your experiences with Mitzi’s GM.

I wonder if it could be that they are just feeling inadequate to take care of a child that needs meds and therefore inadvertently omit her or treat her differently.

Some people will never admit to being uncomfortable or unable to handle differences in children.

My own mother was here one day when I was recovering from surgery.  She loves my children and ALL her grandchildren like crazy but she is one of those people who feel that if she ignores an issue it will resolve itself.  Anywho, my husband was traveling and she was to watch over me and my 18 month old CAH son who had just contracted the flu.  My husband had given him "the shot" just before he left and our Ped Endo said to keep an eye on him and if he got worse give him a call or take him to the ER.

My Mom kept checking on him and telling me he was sleeping soundly.  When she fed him she said that he spit up just a bit but he looked fine and was napping comfortably.

After a couple of hours I dragged myself out of bed and went to look in on him.  To my horror my son was purple.  EVERYWHERE.  His penis was blue and the rest of his body was mottled.  He was very cold and lethargic.  When I confronted my Mom she said "oh, he’s just cold....we just need to turn up the heat".

In the end, I had to rush him to the ER where he remained for 4 days struggling to stay with us.  He was so dehydrated that they had to drill a hole in his bones in order to rehydrate him as his veins were flat.  I hate to say this but I lost a little respect for my Mom that day and can’t imagine what I would be feeling if my son hadn’t made it through this ordeal.

My Mom meant no harm (she raised 7 children of her own while my Father was in the service) but she just didn’t want to think that my son was any different in handling the flu than my daughter (who happened to have had it earlier in the week).

When I was little I had cut my face pretty bad right next to my nose.  It was pouring blood and obviously needed stitches.  My father was deployed and we had all those kids so instead of taking me to the hospital she pinched the skin together with her fingers until it began to heal.  The scar is quite unique I must say and was the source of many jokes.

What I am saying (the long way around) is that perhaps there are some people who just can’t handle differences comfortably no matter how much they want to.

As was stated before, they did move to be closer to you but it sounds like they need some time to get a better handle on having a little girl to deal with let alone one with CAH.

Give them all time.  Perhaps if you and GM can go out to lunch with Mitzi or get involved with something like the American Girl Doll collection it can give GM something she CAN relate to.

I do wish you all the luck in the world.  You are an incredible person to do all that you do.

You are in our prayers.