Just a Chapter, Not the Whole Book

In February, we withdrew Leyden from school so she could take a much-needed break from the incredible stress that she was experiencing in the high level classes she was attending. The stress was exacerbating side effects from her JRA medication, and it just wasn't worth the toll it was taking on Leyden. She worked with her Dad until she got a job at a local retail store and she worked through the summer, and is now preparing to start school again. This is not how we expected her senior year to go. We are taking a detour from our original plan, which was for Leyden to graduate in May 2015. Now, she will graduate in May 2016.

Leyden left the school that she has attended since 10th grade, but she will still graduate from high school. Leyden is simply taking a different route to get her diploma... a zig-zag instead of a straight line. Sometimes, we have to get creative in achieving our goals, especially when life gets in the way. Leyden has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and chronic pain and fatigue syndrome, which makes it difficult for her to do what her classmates can do with ease, so this zig-zag was a necessity to ensure Leyden's success.
 
We are so excited for Leyden to have the opportunity to enjoy a "normal" senior year, while planning for college and applying for scholarships. Her new school is more flexible, so students with health issues have more options if they hit a snag. 

I am so proud of how Leyden has rolled with the punches on this detour. She is looking forward to starting school, and making new friends. She has come so far on this journey, and I couldn't be more proud of how she has overcome these challenges!

Twenty years from now, all of this will be a faded memory. This is just a chapter in Leyden's life, not the whole book. The important thing is for Leyden to enjoy her senior year, graduate in a beautiful ceremony, and celebrate with her friends and family!