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Girl writes of her struggles of living with a bipolar brother
By JOE HARLESS
| Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 |
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| Karina and her mom, Debra MacLean, discuss the struggles and hopes of living with a family member who has bipolar disorder. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – Matthew MacLean has been hiding in his room ever since company arrived. After a few minutes he finally ventures into the living room and picks up a Russian doll.
“What’s in this one?” he asks his mom, Debra. They open it together and find a smaller doll inside. “Now what’s in that one?” This continues until he gets up and runs into the other room.
Almost 7-years-old, Matthew was diagnosed with pediatric bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when he was 4.
“I like to say he has two speeds: overdrive and off,” Debra said.
He is also the inspiration behind his sister’s book, published this summer after she wrote it for a home challenge project at the end of the school term.
Titled “My Special Brother Turtle,” the book focuses on the challenges of living with a family member with pediatric bipolar disorder and ADHD. Shy and quiet in person, Karina said she wrote the book to help educate and help other people.
“I wanted to help other families like mine with siblings like this,” she said.
After showing the book to her teachers, the story was published through Cafe Press. Soon people started asking for copies, and things started to happen. The book gained national attention, with sales reported in eight states. Author Tracy Anglada featured the book in the summer 2007 edition of the BPChildren online newsletter.
While the book has done well, Debra said she takes particular pride in her daughter’s achievement because it has been something Karina has had for herself. With much of her energies focused on Matthew’s needs, Debra said siblings of bipolar children do not always get the same amount of attention.
“There are not a lot of books out there for children with siblings like this,” Debra said. “This has been all about her.”
Karina addresses this in the book, writing how the other sibling deals with the varying emotions that come with having a brother who has special needs. In the book, the special brother turtle can pitch a fit when he does not get his way, even in public places. Sister Turtle says she can feel embarrassed by the outburst, but she also feels bad because he’s different. This means trips to the mall have to be cut short and special activities, like trips to a theme park, can be almost impossible due to the large crowds and noise.
In addition to caring for both children and working a 32-hour workweek at Tampa General Hospital, Debra has worked with an exceptional student education advisory council and the Pinellas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Her goal is to raise awareness on pediatric bipolar disorder.
Despite her heavy workload, Debra said she keeps going due to her faith and because she feels many parents in her position never had a chance to learn more about what they can do.
“I have faith that God has a plan,” Debra said. “We never know what the next moment is going to bring.”
Still, the tightly-knit family stays together and keeps moving forward and they try to do as much as they can together, from going to parks to going shopping and coloring posters together. Karina has been recognized by the Mary-Louise and Archie A Silver Child Development Center as an honorary member and said she plans on writing another book, although she couldn’t say when the publication date will be.
“I want to write about abilities instead of disabilities,” Karina said.
To that, Debra smiles. “We’ll play it by ear.”
For information about how to order My Special Brother Turtle, visit www.cafepress.com/brotherturtle.
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Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007
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