This blog post is about Turner syndrome heart issues.
by Emily Markowski, blog contributor for Leaping Butterfly Ministry
From the beginning, my story with TS has been full of health issues.
I was born with Aortic Stenosis and my aortic valve was fused shut.
I had open heart surgery when I was two weeks old.
As I grew, I had to accept my body with scars, especially throughout my school years.
Emily Markowski
The teasing and the bullying from classmates never stopped.
Going to school in Neenah, Wisconsin, it seemed like every school year that there always someone who teased me about my scars.
Physical education (P.E.) class was the worse. Getting changed into clothes to exercise always meant that there would be girls staring at my scars and bullying me.
What made the difference and got me through these hard times was this scripture…
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalms 139:14
God made me who I am on purpose.
When someone bullied me in school, I would put a smile on my face and remember that God created me and He did not make a mistake.
Emily’s Heart Scar
What other people think of me has no meaning in my life. I live my life for God alone.
Over the years, I have found my purpose. I first met another TS sister when she rolled her pencil on the floor in front of me in class and I bent down to grab it for her. Nicole bent down too and asked me if I had TS.
I said yes and we became friends; this friendship truly helped me get through the school years.
Today, I enjoy visiting and hanging out with my TS sisters that are spread across the United States.
With six women with TS that live near me, I have been blessed. We are able to have lunch or dinners and talk about life. It helps to know that I have support from TS women.
As the TS In-reach Director for Leaping Butterfly Ministry, I’m here to support my fellow TS Sisters. Feel free to email me. I’m here to listen and provide you support from within the LBM organization.
Leaping Butterfly Ministry relies on donations to change lives, to create awareness of Turner syndrome, contribute funds for research, and support for those touched by TS. Click here to see how you can help.
