Into the Unknown – a Column by Jendi Solka

As humans, and especially as caregivers, we do not give ourselves enough credit. It’s a widely accepted expectation that we should always strive to do better. I don’t necessarily disagree with that sentiment, as without direction or goals in life, how are we to be successful? With Lennox-Gastaut syndrome…

No matter how cliché it sounds, if there’s anything I can get across as a Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) caregiver, it’s that the experience is truly an emotional roller coaster. At the time of writing my previous column about signing off, I was at one of the lowest lows on…

It’s good to be back and writing again. My last column was posted over a month ago, before the winter holidays. I wish I could say the entirety of my time away was spent in merriment and relaxation. Alas, I am a Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) caregiver and parent. Seizures and…

“What should I get Brian for Christmas?” It’s a question I get every year, but as the years have passed, it’s become increasingly difficult to answer. I used to be able to say airplane or dinosaur toys, which he once loved. Unfortunately, his seizures have taken such a toll…

Thanksgiving just passed, and I’m back to work after a peaceful week off. On Sunday, I experienced a real case of the pre-workweek blues, and I can’t seem to pick myself up out of this funk. This time of year is normally stressful for a teacher, given both the excitement…

In the spirit of Halloween and the constant uncertainties in our life, I had to revisit the first risk I took for my boy, Brian. I was in the final weeks of my pregnancy, my belly was impossibly huge, and we knew nothing of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Everything was…

With Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), you don’t get lucky for very long. The honeymoon phase we enjoyed over the summer has passed, and we’re right back into unknown territory. What do we try next? Because our efforts are not working. As our son Brian’s seizures persist and our options dwindle, I…

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is without a doubt the most daunting experience I’ve ever faced. Time and time again, the seizures outsmart us, leaving us scrambling to find the next solution to provide the best possible quality of life for our son. Although our efforts have taken a physical and emotional…

Lucky 7/11 My husband and I just celebrated our “7/11”: seven years married and 11 together. We often receive props for being the “model couple.” In our circle of friends, we have been together the longest. I take pride in the fact that we are where we are today because…

It’s been a long five months in quarantine. Teaching virtually while supporting my own two children and their virtual schooling was a challenge, to say the least. Doable? Yes. Bicycling uphill in reverse with no hands while reciting the digits of pi is also doable, but I’m not jumping at…