Writing is My Biggest Passion - by Haylee Christ

Hello! My name is Haylee, and this is my TS story! I am so grateful to be able to share it with you, and I pray that it can be a source of inspiration for other individuals going through a similar journey, and serve as a reminder that you are not alone, and that there is always hope!

I was officially diagnosed with Turner syndrome when I was 16 years old. When I was a little girl, there were times when I felt behind in some ways compared to my friends and others my age, but I could never fully explain why. When I was a teenager, this became even more so. We decided to try and search for some answers. After a visit with my doctor, we decided to have a blood test done to check my hormone levels. I braced myself, and watched as the crimson liquid left my arm. At first, we thought one of them may have just been a little bit low. However, the results of the blood test showed that I had no hormones in my body at all. As a result, it was highly likely that I hadn't developed a uterus or ovaries.

I started estrogen replacement therapy to compensate for what my body would normally be producing on its own. Before I knew it, I had gotten quite used to the routine. The next step was an abdominal ultrasound to be sure. I vividly remember the ice-cold gel and the probe meeting my skin. I stared at the black, fuzzy screen before me in confusion. How could this be? When my doctor came back into the room, I received the most devastating news of all. I was told that I wouldn't be able to have kids of my own later in life at the age of 16. I was devastated and crushed by these words, but I also felt numb as this took time to set in. At such a young age, I hadn't given much thought to starting a family quite yet, or the possibility that it might look different for me than most. I had always been drawn to adoption from a young age, but I could never fully explain why.

I have always been so grateful for the childhood and loving home that I had growing up, and the thought of other children not having the same broke my heart. Later on, I realized that this could be God's plan for my life. After the ultrasound, I had another blood test (karyotype) done to analyze my chromosomes. It was at this point when we received the results that I was officially diagnosed with Turner syndrome.

Now that we had some answers, I was referred to a few different specialists. I met with a specialist in growth hormones, but we ultimately decided that growth hormones wouldn't be the best option for me, as I was already around 5 feet tall. I also had an ultrasound of my kidneys, and they looked good! Around every 3 years or so, I have an EKG and echocardiogram of my heart to make sure that there are no new concerns.

There is a miracle in this story! From what I understood, the chances were highly unlikely to none, but I later went back for another abdominal ultrasound. Beforehand, I remember placing my hand on my stomach, and praying for a miracle. When the probe met my skin for the second time, we found nothing short of just that! A healthy, fully developed uterus! God is so good! From that point on, I began taking a form of hormone therapy called progesterone to trigger menstruation.

After my initial diagnosis, there was a period when life went on quite normally. When I was little, I was often sick with chronic ear infections and sinus infections. I recall needing to have surgery to have tubes put in my ears to help prevent the recurring ear infections. We later found out that recurring ear infections are a common sign of TS. Unfortunately, I still struggle with sinus infections to this day.

Last summer in August, I remember getting sick for a while. I ended up having to stay in the hospital for a few days, as I was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia that was quite uncommon for someone my age. It's not always easy knowing for sure whether or not a specific condition could be related to my TS, but I also recall the medical team asking a lot of questions as to what Turner syndrome exactly was. This made me realize that TS isn't something that is particularly well known or talked about often.

Thankfully, with prayers, rest, and a lot of strong antibiotics, I was soon getting better! I quickly learned that Turner syndrome affects the body in various ways, and that each butterfly is beautifully unique! While it is true that certain things may be more difficult for me, I never wanted to let having TS stop me from achieving my dreams! Driving is something that has proven to be rather difficult for me to get the hang of compared to most, but I truly feel that with enough patience and practice, I have come a long way!

Growing up, my family and I have always enjoyed the sport of bowling, but this hasn't always come quite naturally to me either. We discovered that I was born with a short bone underneath my 4th finger. As a result, activities that require excessive grip strength, such as bowling, can cause some discomfort.

My biggest passion, however, has always been writing. It's almost as if writing gives me an outlet to express myself in ways I sometimes struggle with verbally. In the summer of 2021, I self-published my first book right after I graduated high school! After I first learned about TS, I felt it heavily on my heart to share my story in hopes of possibly helping and inspiring others. A few years or so later, in February of 2024, I began writing my personal blog called The Butterfly Within that officially launched later in October, where I share my in-depth journey with TS! In other words, I want my story to ultimately be a testimony that no matter what obstacles you may face, you can always live life to the fullest! So, that is my story! While there still may be some difficult times on this journey, I am so excited to continue to share my story as it unfolds! Thank you for reading!