Hi Terrin!

Great website! Our son was diagnosed about 9 years ago. He was 16 then. I was horrified! But let me tell you our story. (You can include this on the website if you'd like.)

Jacob was our first child. We now have 6! When he was born we didn't see anything wrong! He was quite healthy, but he was a bit blue and needed some oxygen. Other then that he was perfect! He learned to sit up and walk  at the normal times. He didn't talk, however, until he was almost 3. He struggled in school. The first time we really noticed something was different about him, was he couldn't run. He ran, but he got so tired and couldn't keep up with the other kids. This was due to the poor muscle tone and the doctor noticed the poor muscle tone, but couldn't figure out why. He was three then. Then when he was about 14, we took him to the doctor again because of his poor muscle tone. He was sent to a neurologist. He said he was just lazy and needed to get off the couch. (He got a nasty letter from me later.)

As his two younger brothers were going into puberty, we noticed that they surpassed him in physical maturity. That was the first time I began to wonder if there wasn't something seriously wrong with Jake. His Dad and I are both nurses, in pediatrics no less! But other then a vague mention of Klinefelter Syndrome in school, we had never heard of it. But I started doing research on it online. I spoke with some men who were taking testosterone replacement that I found out had Klinefelter Syndrome. That was when I realized that Jake probably had this. Off to the doctor we went. I worked for his pediatrician and I had to coerce him almost into having Jake tested. He finally agreed to do it and of course, it came back positive-he had 2 X's instead of 1. Even though I had figured it out already, it was no less of a blow!! I cried for days. Jake was 16 and his Dad took him for a drive to explain the problem. Jake cried and said "All I've ever wanted to be was a Dad like you." That was tough......

Jake struggled in school so much that I took him home in high school and home schooled him. I got tired of hearing from his teachers how lazy he was and just didn't pay attention of do his work. He wasn't great at sports because he couldn't keep up. He got teased about his "differences" but at the same time, he was so kind and friendly that he had a lot of friends.

Jake went through a tough time when he turned 18. He decided to go on his own, and he did just about everything he was taught not to do, but wasn't violent or criminal. At 21, he came home, said he wanted to straighten up his life. He went on a church mission for 2 years. He came home, dated a sweet gal he met while on his mission, and they were married in July! She has two beautiful daughters that are our grandchildren. He wants to be a forensic scientist, and here's the best part of the whole story........He has a 3.7 GPA and was just inducted into Phi Theta Kappa...college honor society!!!!

Who cares if they struggle with school!! In the end, they'll figure it out!! He is doing great! He's happy, we love his wife and daughters, he takes his testosterone, hopes to be able to go through medical intervention so him and his wife can have a child together! His my pride and joy and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that he is MY  son!!! I am blessed!

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