Don't Let Fear or Turner Syndrome Hold You Back - by Andrea Pflughoeft

February means a lot more to me than any other month - not only because it’s Turner Syndrome Awareness Month, but also because it’s also my birthday month. Little did I know, a little over a year ago that it would become even more special to me: my fiancé’s birthday is also in February, 8 days after mine to be exact!

When I was younger no one ever paid attention to me because I was just a short kid. A short kid who many people, including an elementary school teacher and principal, thought would never contribute to society. I was always thought of as different and bullied throughout school, even throughout college.

When I graduated from nursing school at 23, I never understood why I always seemed to have trouble making friends, keeping long term friends, and even understanding some social cues. It all started to make sense when I was diagnosed with autism. I knew that Autism is thought to coincide with TS for some, but it was quite a shock at the time.

I was still working as a nurse and was having a difficult time in that role. As time passed, it eventually started to sink in, although I was still having a hard time coping with it. Luckily with the help of a therapist who specializes in autism, and Taylor Swift, a part of my life began to become a little bit easier. However, I was let go from my nursing job citing “communication issues” and not working fast/hard enough. After that was my third nursing job that left me feeling like I’d never be enough to cut it in the nursing world, I hit a bit of a low point. I no longer felt like I had a place in nursing, but the guilt of working so hard to achieve something I could picture myself doing as a lifelong career and then suddenly not using my degree was wearing on me.

My depression and anxiety got worse during this time because I didn’t know what was next or how I’d be able to continue living on my own. But I picked myself up and dusted myself off and went back to my old job at Target and gave myself time to find a full-time job. Well after being patient, that paid off! I found a job at a credit union, and it turned out to be the reset I never knew I needed! I’m still working at Target part time, but also It turns out that I now work with people I love, have an incredible boss who’d do anything for me, and I’m not constantly reminded of ways I’m “different” here.

Though I get exhausted with the number of hours I work in a week, I no longer dread going to work or have pre-shift anxiety. And not only that, but I got to a point in life where I wanted something more, though I never had much luck with dating, because again, I was seen as “different.”

Well on a whim I responded to a boy online who I wasn’t sure of at first, but I saw that he loved Taylor Swift and had a strong connection to his faith. We got to talking, and once we started we couldn’t stop! It turns out that he also has autism, so he understands me in ways that no one else does, and he’s incredibly smart as he’s currently getting his PhD! Most importantly, he sees me for me and not for Turner syndrome or autism or anything else that I struggle with day to day. And on November 30^th last year, he asked me to be his wife! I thought I was going to be alone forever, but when you least expect it, your life can go in a completely different direction.

If there’s anything I’ve learned throughout my life it’d be this: don’t be afraid and let Turner syndrome hold you back from ANYTHING, whether it’s a career change or sharing your life with someone. Embrace the changes in your life because even though they may seem scary at first, you never know how they will change your life without facing them head on!