Home Blog Page 20

I am a conqueror

0

By Kiyana Rome
LifeAtStart.com reporter

Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete too much protein in the urine. This is a very rare disorder. This usually affects kids at a very young age, but it can happen at any moment. There is no cause or cure for it, and it can happen to anyone. Yes, this happened to me.

It was Christmas of 2006, I was seven years old. I woke up, jumped on my mom’s bed to wake her up, and ran downstairs. We opened our gifts together and it was time for me to meet up with my dad because he came to town for Christmas. My mom told me to get in the tub, so I took my clothing off and I noticed that my pelvic area was very puffy. I started to get scared, so I called my mom into the bathroom. I just started crying really hard.

After I washed up, we got ready to go to St. Anne’s Hospital. My mom was calling our family, including my dad’s side, telling them what happened. They checked me in and they were trying to see what was wrong with me. The nurse told us that they had to give me an IV. She didn’t know how to find my vein at all. I was crying even harder because of the sharp pains, plus her stabbing a needle in my arm. Not cool. So, they finally found someone who knows how to do it and then the doctor told us that I had nephrotic syndrome. The doctor also told us that St. Anne’s doesn’t have a pediatric or nephrology floor, so the ambulance took me to St. Vincent’s.

We went to St. Vincent’s and the doctor that takes care of patients who have nephrotic syndrome was so rude. My dad lives in Columbus, so he began calling around for hospitals that specialize in treating people with nephrotic syndrome. He found one in Columbus called Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and I started going there for my appointments.

I had this condition for almost a decade, and I finally grew out of it last year. I was so happy. I no longer have to go through all that pain in my body, the weight gain, the bullying, because all of that is behind me. It was a rough nine years, but I got through it and now I’m stronger than ever.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nephrotic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20375608

Time to time part two

0

By Kylee Day
LifeAtStart.com reporter

Rory noticed Charlie staring to the right. She thought it was nothing, probably just him getting distracted by some bird again, until he didn’t look away. That’s when her curiosity got the best of her. Looking at Aryn, Rory silently noted three things about the new girl. One: she’s from out of town. It didn’t take, but two seconds to figure that out. The girl was looking around like she’s never been in the diner before and anyone in Bellwich can tell you that Maeve’s Place is somewhere everyone goes. Two: she’s beautiful. Rory only ever thought of other girls as pretty, but with the new girl, it was hard for her to even stop looking at her. She has freckles that dot her nose and cheeks, red hair that frames her face perfectly, and these bright blue eyes that were just as easily lost in as the oceans they resembled. Lastly: she’s tough. It was seen in the way she held herself: something you’d find similar to the way a criminal does, like she’s hiding something she’d never willingly give out. That alone wasn’t enough for Rory to want to keep away from the girl. If anything, it made her want to know more, find out what she’s guarding behind her hard stare and cold attitude. There was only one way to know.

Although it was Charlie who noticed Aryn first, Rory was the first to have mustered up enough courage to talk to the blue-eyed girl.

“I’m Rory,” she had started with, holding her hand out for Aryn to shake, “and you’re new.” Aryn took the unfamiliar girl’s hand with confusion. People only shake hands with people they hope to impress or hope to be friends with. Aryn couldn’t help, but wonder why anyone would ever want to be friends with her. For starters, Rory didn’t even know her. The only things she knew or even thought she knew about Aryn, are things she had acquired from what she saw on the outside. And while there is the saying “Looks can be deceiving”, Aryn is more than sure she’s what you’d call an “open book,” but this girl didn’t know that.

“Uh… yeah.” Aryn responded, just as the waitress set her food beside her with a smile.

“Need anything else, sweetie?” Leonie asked. Aryn simply shook her head. “Just let me know if you do.” She told Aryn sweetly before walking back into the kitchen.

“So, where are you from?” Rory asked with a curious gaze. Aryn took a sip of her shake before deciding what to say.

“Jumping to stalking a bit fast, are we?” Aryn asked, taking a fry from her plate and dipping it into her milkshake.

“Uh, no, I mean . . . right. Right, so, what’s your name?” Rory fumbled, pulling a strand of her short, brown hair behind her ear. Aryn smiled to herself, finding the other girl’s nervousness amusing.

“Aryn. Yours?” The redhead asked in pure wonder. Of course she’d want to know the name of a girl who just randomly started talking to her, she’s not an animal.

“Rory, like I said before.” The brown haired girl replied.

“And I’m Jaden,” A boy came out from behind Rory, adding to the conversation, “but you can call me anytime.” He had a wide, beautiful smile, Aryn can’t lie, but he’s not exactly her type. Aryn looked to him with a bored expression and back to Rory.

“Is he always like this?” She asked her newfound friend. Rory laughed, shaking her head.

“Only around pretty girls apparently.” Aryn smiled at that.

After an hour and a half of talking to Rory, Jaden, and all their other friends they introduced her to, Aryn finally went home. She took a mental note to go to “Maeve’s Place” next Friday, and walked back to the same sad, unwelcoming, not-so-empty house. Aryn couldn’t help, but feel that her day had been made better by a girl with short, brown hair and honey, brown eyes. Even the sunset’s golden light seemed to shine through the only window in her room and she felt as if she could burst of happiness. No one could wipe the smile off a teenager’s face when they’ve had a good day. No one. But no one is invincible.

She had a hard time sleeping that night, over the deafening sound of her mom and stepdad fighting. Over what, she has no idea, but can only guess it’s over the same thing they always fight about, money. Aryn’s smile faltered as soon as she heard the door slam shut when the two finally got home around ten. What came next was predicted, Aryn having known what was coming before it even happened, she glared at her bedroom door as the shouting began. It was muffled through the walls and unclear to any human ear, but it was there. Glass shattered and Aryn heard her mom cry. It’s hard seeing your mom cry, because you think she’s invincible and can handle anything. It’s harder to hear it and not be able to do anything about it, because you’re scared too. Aryn just turns her back to the door and silently cries herself to sleep, hoping the overwhelming darkness of her room will drift her back into a place of escape, although she knows it will do no such thing because her dreams are just as terrifying, if not, more so than the harsh reality of her life.

Breaking barriers

0

By Lilliana Sedlock
LifeAtStart.com reporter

Sign language is a huge part of the deaf/HOH community. It helps those who lack hearing or some degree of it, communicate with each other through different hand gestures and motions.

Learning sign language, regardless if you can hear or not, can break barriers between the hearing and deaf community.

I’ve been learning sign language for about a year and a half now. I’m nowhere near as advanced in the language as others who sign, but it has affected some deaf/HOH people I’ve encountered. The look they give you when they see you signing to them is the most pure and positive things you could see.

Signing can give you a whole new perspective on the people around you.

Drowning in stress

0

By Bailey Poland
LifeatStart.com reporter

Coming into senior year I thought it would just fly by and be the funniest and easiest year I’ve had out of my high school experience. I have been very wrong. Considering I’m technically not on track of graduation because I have 17 out of 18 points on my OST testing, which I believe should not even be the point of graduating. I have to work harder just to get one more point on the those test, even though I have all my credits and I’m an all A’s and B’s student.

I was taken out of my 5th hour to be put in a OST prep class to help me get this last point. Not knowing until march if I got the point is nerve-racking. If I don’t pass, I’ll have an opportunity to retake it in march but I wont get the results back in time to walk with my class.

Applying to college, maintaining a job, staying in sports, even contacting my friends has gotten harder for me with all the responsibilities I’ve had to take over. Although it’s not for much longer I feel like I shouldn’t have to be stressing this bad, I should be having fun hopefully my last year here.