Christine, mum of Katie (13) who has Turner Syndrome

In May of 2002 Katie, who was nine, wanted to go on a school trip for a week. She had a slight problem with bedwetting. I arranged a trip to the doctors for some tablets to help this. She advised us to see a paediatrician “just as a precaution”.

Turner Syndrome
We had no idea that Kate had Turners, and although we thought she was small, so were her dad and uncle at that age, and her best friends were no taller.

As soon as we walked into our local hospital and met with the paediatrician, he said "Don’t worry about the bed wetting, she’ll grow out of that. She’s too small.”

He ran a test for Turners straight away and while we awaited the results, we looked it up on the internet and spoke to the Child Growth Foundation. We immediately knew that Katie had Turners as we were able to tick many of the characteristics. The test results confirmed it and our lives were turned upside down, or so we thought.

Growth hormone
She started on growth hormone almost immediately, which she has injected herself right from day one.  We were very lucky as she seemed to take things in her stride, and her interest made it easier to explain.  We were honest with her from day one and still are.  She couldn’t go to all the meetings at hospital, and meet with other girls with Turners if she didn’t know the full facts.

That was four years ago. Katie has blossomed into a beautiful, happy young lady (now thirteen) and while she struggles sometimes socially, she has made some good friends and is doing well at school. I am extremely proud of her for many reasons, but the main one is the way she just gets on with it. Turners hasn’t stopped Katie doing anything, from triathlon to trekking though the jungles of Thailand. She’ll give almost anything a go!

Turner Syndrome Support Society
We have had tremendous support from the TSSS. We have both found comfort from talking to other parents/girls with the condition. We have both made some wonderful friends, with whom we shall be friends for a long time. Support is a must. No one really understands what you’re going through, only some else in the same situation. All Turner girls are different and each girl has her own individual problems, but they all share the same caring loving nature that I wouldn’t want to change for the world!

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