In January I wrote a diary entitled, "Just Say Her Name". I was asked by many Kos readers to write more about my daughter Kelly. It was a single car accident that took her life over six years ago. But the truth is, it wasn't that simple. Actually it was a long and messy course that brought her to that night. I am attempting to introduce Kelly through a series of diaries, clustering events in her life that stole my daughter away bit by bit.
Follow if you wish beyond the orange curly cue.
Maybe it was all the medications.
Born with Respiratory Distress Syndrome Kelly spent her first two weeks of life in Neonatal Intensive Care. Strapped to a board, splayed out, under a heat lamp; Tubes of varying sizes in her nose, belly button, veins, urethra. I finally held my firstborn two weeks after her birth. Until then I had only her fingers to hold. http://s3.amazonaws.com/...
She came home with monitors and medications. Diagnosed as an asthmatic complicated with a slew of allergies Kelly lived many of her childhood days with inhalers & nebulisers; So many upper respiratory infections, so many sinus infections, so many medications. With each antibiotic prescribed for respiratory or sinus infection came a complication once she was menstruating. During the course of treatment it is not uncommon for females to contract yeast infections, more medications. With her adolescence came severe menstrual cramps treated with, yet again, so many medications. At the young age of fourteen Kelly was diagnosed as depressed. For a child who was known for her bright smile and infectious laugh, this could not be possible, more medications. For a year I fought the inevitable seeking second opinions and alternative treatments. At nineteen she was diagnosed as bi-polar. So many many medications for such a lovely, considerate and compassionate soul living with a mind that was anything but lovely, considerate nor compassionate. Was it so many medications that bit by bit stole my daughter Kelly?