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Call me paranoid, overprotective, preoccupied or just crazy....


To say my life has changed drastically since Scarlett and I were diagnosed with a rare Platelet Storage Pool Disorder, is an understatement. My parenting has turned into nothing I could've ever imagined and we are faced with new obstacles every day. There is a plethora of character traits that I have taken on, that help to keep my little bleeder safe. And I'm being forced to adapt new ones with every milestone she meets. 

So call me paranoid, overprotective, preoccupied, unjustified, relentless, or just a crazy mom.....but this is who I've become. Some things I'm not proud of, some things I am. . But all, are a part me. . .

  • I put my hand in front of my kids every time they go down the stairs.
  • I have bandaids, instant ice packs and napkins EVERYWHERE I go.
  • I have our emergency information taped to the inside of the dashboard in our cars.
  • Scarlett isn't really encouraged to wear shorts and skirts because I don't want people to see all the bruises on her legs.
  • We always try and have our emergency bracelets on.
  • I have nose clips stashed everywhere for our nose bleeds.
  • I still (3 years after Scarlett's diagnosis) gasp for air, wince and my heart skips a beat every time she bumps into something or falls.
  • I say "be careful' more than 100x a day.
  • I watch Scarlett put on her pajamas every night so that I can monitor her bruising.
  • Scarlett just got to take off her bed rail.....and she's in 2nd grade.
  • 9 out of 10 times my kids play together..... I have to separate them before someone gets hurt.
  • I feel like everyone is staring at us when we are in public and that they notice our bruises.
  • I don't let Scarlett play ANY contact sports.
  • I often find myself putting my hand in front of Scarlett while she is sitting at the table so she doesn't bump her chin.
  • I don't let her climb with anything but running shoes on.
  • I filled my backyard with rubber pavers as soon as Scarlett started playing outside.
  • Scarlett can't go on the playground unless she has an adult right next to her. (yes, even at school. I've cut back my hours so that I can be on campus with her, and she can play on the playground)
  • When I'm at the park I usually spend more time following my 6 yr old bleeder around than my 2 year old non-bleeder.
  • Scarlett has only had several play dates, for my fear of something happening to her when she's in the care of someone else.
  • I've become that smothering parent that doesn't leave their kids alone. I've gone to every birthday party they've been invited to, so I can keep a close eye.
  • I am a proud wish kids mom.
  • I know in the back of my head where the nearest emergency facilities are anytime we travel.
  • Most days when I'm showering I have to convince myself I'm not hearing one of the kids crying and that someone didn't get hurt.
  • Driving in traffic makes me super paranoid.  I don't trust other drivers are paying attention and could cause a wreck and we don't have a proper emergency plan or treatment.
  • I pray ALL the time that my kids don't get hurt and that nothing happens to me.
  • I feel like most people don't understand the daily stress I go through involving me and my daughters bleeding disorder.
  • I am an advocate for women bleeders and those affected with rare platelet disorders.
Written by,
Kari Peepe
©KariPeepe/atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com





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