I'm Thankful for Early Intervention by Audrey Lorigan

Shortly after I was born, I was diagnosed with Turner syndrome (TS). The doctors knew something wasn't completely normal as I had swollen hands and feet. And through months of testing at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, as an infant, it was determined I had TS along with a horseshoe kidney and a bicuspid aortic valve.
As a toddler and young child, my parents made it a point to become involved in our local support group, so that they could become more informed and I could meet other girls my age with TS, which is where I made some lifelong friends.
Going into preschool, I went to a special needs school with an IEP plan. And by the end of the program, thanks to that early intervention, I was on par with my peers and was able to go into a normal kindergarten classroom. The summer going into second grade, I was placed on growth hormone. I am still very thankful I didn't fall off the growth chart until much later than the average girl with TS. And my parents were very grateful for Dr.B and other endocrinologists at the TS clinic at Cincinnati Children's as we navigated this health journey.
Overall, though, I was a very normal and fairly active child. Going into middle school, I was put on an estrogen patch and progesterone pills to properly go through puberty. The doctors were happy with how well I had done with the growth hormone, ending up at 5'3", and impressed with how I was excelling in school. By this point, I had started taking honors classes, even tutoring in math!
Around this time, I began therapy at my endocrinologist's recommendation, as my mom expressed concerns for my anxiety levels. I was so lucky to have seen a clinical psychologist who saw many other TS butterflies and had an understanding of what I was going through. During my high school years was really when my relationships with fellow TS sisters came into full view for me. I had met a girl named Anna, among others, at a weekend summer camp our local support puts on. It was incredible to know there were others out there who understand me like no one else did. I even wrote an essay in my senior English class about how much this friendship meant to me.
As I entered college, I switched to birth control and my cardiologist started keeping a closer eye on my dilation aortic root. I also sought more mental health support as I navigated this life transition. Throughout college, I was able to study abroad in Italy for a few months and became more of a fully independent adult.
I focused on figuring out and working towards being a clinical psychologist who helps children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Upon graduation, I am planning on going to grad school to get the proper licensure/accreditation to do just that!