Re: Jodi and any RSS kids out there that ARE on the growth curve?

February 12, 2000

Hello everyone! I'm Bauer, mother to , age 15. I've been receiving

updates from the RSS-onelist, and appreciating all of you for a while now, and

thought it was time I finally shared a bit myself. You might remember a

communication from my husband Jim about two or three months back.

is doing really well! He's a freshman at our local high school, in two

honors classes with a solid B+ average. plays tennis and golf, and hopes

to play tennis for the school team. always played soccer and baseball

growing up and could participate as an average player. As things have gotten

more competitive he has found that more individual sports are better suited to

him. As to the growth curve question, he has hovered around the 50th percentile

mark for a few years now. I should explain that Jim and I are tall, 6'3 " and

5'8 " respectively. However before began treatment he was so far off the

growth chart that we couldn't even determine a percentile. has been on

growth hormone since age 5 1/2, and periactin since about age 4 3/4. I share

the observation that his initial response to pericatin was greater than later

on, however, if you were to discontinue treatment you'd notice a significant

change. My guess is initially there is catch-up growth.

Jodi, it was wonderful to 'hear' how you and Max are doing. I've always hoped

we'd see one another again at Dr. Harbison's office. Max sounds like quite a

young man! I still envision him as a toddler with the pack on his back. It's

been awhile! I was really impressed with what you said about trying to help Max

feel in control of his life. I've felt this is an important issue for

too. I think all of the children will need our sensitivity to this issue as

they try to deal with the naturally distressing feelings about having a medical

problem to grapple with.

I'll be in touch again. In the meantime, thanks for all of your support!

> ---------------------------

Recommended Posts