: About Me

I have three wonderful children, and one grandchild.
My third child was diagnosed as being profoundly autistic, and epileptic when he was two years old. That reality has shaped my life and work life ever since. When the doctors of the day told me that there was no hope, and that I should give up my son, I couldn't do it. If I didn't have hope for him, who would? "Never give up" became my motto.

I found myself starting a satellite program for autistic children in my city, mentored by a brilliant woman across the country, who believed in me and my son. A simple act of faith by a stranger, and the gift of her knowledge and support to help autistic children was to forever change me, and the way I looked at life. What could I do to help others?

With an eclectic work life and background, I have been fortunate to meet and work with many diverse peoples. I like to think that we all have different abilities and strengths.

I love to reverse conventional patterns and paradigms, and think outside the box. When I say " I have an idea " my friends, family members and co- workers run for cover. Oh no! More work!

The articles and stories I write reflect my personal values and a passion for promoting social change.

Most of my creative writing has been for grants - fund raising for non profits, most recently a food bank.

These Helium articles are the first I have written just for the fun of it.

My passion is ...

reading, cooking, and spending time with family outdoors

I know too much about ...

social causes

My parents always told me ...

I could be anything I wanted

My childhood ambition ...

free of housework forever

My favorite memory ...

first commercial air flight

Why I write ...

self expression through storytelling

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

murder mystery

My first job ...

waitress at the dairy queen

My best moment ...

hard to pick just one

My inspiration ...

my family and husband

Parenting & Pregnancy > Special Needs ADHD: Could enlarged tonsils be the cause?

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ADHD is the medical phenomena of the new century, with thousands of children and adults diagnosed in the past 8 years. Could enlarged tonsils be the cause of ADHD? Repeated tonsillitis is accompanied by high fevers, sore and inflamed throats, enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Children with tonsillitis have difficulty sleeping as pain and fever impair their ability to sleep deeply. Over time, the child's enlarged tonsils and poor breathing ability while sleeping could lead to classic sleep deprivation. Without the necessary deep sleep the brain needs each day, the child's brain cannot perform ...

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