Quote From: heyjewel Diane;
OMG, you and your daughter are my heroes!! I've been in PWS hell since I found out about this show and read this msg board. See, I am the father of a 4 year old girl with PWS. Some days are OK, but some days are like these past 2 when I think about Mirabelle and 300 lb 13 yr olds and how it must feel to be hungry ALL THE TIME.
But there have been some hopeful messages on this board too - and yours tops the list. Your daughter is 23 and weighs 125 lbs! That's amazing. Ever since my daughter was diagnosed I've been searching for what I call 'PWS succes stories'. And I've found they are few and far between. One I recently learned about is a young woman about the same age as your daughter who has recently graduated college with a dual major!! This gal struggles with her weight for sure, has had lots of support from family and friends, but she is a hero to me.
I hope to be able to talk to you off line to see what your 'secrets' are. If u haven't written a book yet, it's time to get out the word processor! There are lotsof parents out here ready to read it.
My best to you and your daughter.
Sorry it took me so long to respond - I don't spend a lot of time on-line. Have to admit I got curious about seeing whether any dialogue was continuing on the subject. Thank you for your positive feedback on my comments. I remember 4 years old - it was tough but I also remember how loving and sweet my baby always was.
I am open to communicating with you off-line - just not sure how to achieve that without sending my e-mail address to all and sundry.
I have talked about writing a short book and once my job balances out somewhat - speaking at conferences. I picked up a lot of useful coping strategies which I know can work - because they did. I was luck y to have a lot of creative people around me with helpful suggestions. I was also never in denial - so that makes bringing up any child with challenges more doable.
I think today persons with PW have a great opportunity to live good, healthy lives. We know more about the problem, this generation of parents are creative and resourceful.
Hopefully, if Dr Phil staff reads this, they will know that they have my permission to put the two of us in touch via e-mail and then I would be pleased to talk to you on a more one-on-one basis.
Hug your little one - rejoice in every step she takes and take a long walk when things get tough!
Cheers, Diane
(Original Air Date: 11/03/05) What if you were so obsessed with eating that it almost killed you, or craving food so badly that you yelled, kicked and screamed when you couldn't get enough. Nichelle's 6-year-old daughter has Prader-Willi Syndrome and constantly wants to eat. She once threw a fit so loud, the neighbors called the police. Can Nichelle learn to control her own temper when her daughter has a tantrum? Then, Dr. Phil follows up with Kathy, an anorexic whose condition was so severe, she weighed only 68 pounds. She spent three months in treatment, but her struggle is not over yet. Can her family learn the difference between supporting her and enabling her? Talk about the show here.
