Growing Up With HPV

For those who don't know, HPV is a sexually transmitted disease usually given to one person from another. Though, in other cases, it's given to a child from the mother at birth. Which, as the fact I've had HPV my entire life might imply, was how I got it when I was born.

Basic questions I actually get quite often are ," What was it like to grow up with it?" "How did you and your parents find out you had it?" "How does it affect your daily life?" I'm here to possibly explain all the little details of this disease and how it affects me, right here on this little passage! I might even make more in the future.

How did your parents realize you had it?

When I was at the age of three, many people had pointed out weird things about how I talked, how I breathed, and even how inactive I was. All basic concerns parents should have, I believe, yet my parents never paid it any mind, saying, " Oh, maybe she's just quiet," "Maybe she's constantly out of breath," "Maybe she just isn't energetic like other children."

I believe it was my pre-K teacher that actually got them to seek medical help. She pointed out that in class, I would frequently end up not able to breath, or I'd talk so softly and raspy that my teachers couldn't hear me, despite being up in my face. My parents finally caved and went to ask a doctor about it. That specific doctor denied that I had anything wrong with me, and refused to see me, even after constant hounding from my parents.

Stay with me here, the rest of the story might be wrong; But what I believe I was told was that they finally got another doctor to see me, and ran some tests. As you could probably guess, The tests for HPV came back positive, and when I was three years old, My parents were told I wasn't going to last more than six weeks, due to my airway being closed up by the papillomas around it.

Boy am I glad that a different doctor stepped in. This doctor sent me to Arkansas children's hospital in Little Rock, where I got my first surgery! That doctor saved my life, and I'm forever grateful.

How does it affect my daily life?

Surprisingly, having a disease that grows in my airways isn't that bad. There are a few arguably miserable things about it, like the struggle to breath before I went into my surgery, but other than that, it doesn't give me much difficulty. In fact, I would even say I enjoy a few aspects of it.

Every time I went down to ACH, I'd get to stay at a decent hotel with a nice pool. The hotel's bed was comfortable compared to the one I had at home, and I got to go swimming, even if it was winter! The hospital beds were comfortable, and I adored the anesthesiologists (One used to pretend to be Donald Duck and hand out bubbles. I remember that clearly.)

I always had my favorite stuffed animal with me when I went under. I named him Two Tag, Can you guess why? If you said because he had two tags, you'd be correct.

The hospital beds were always warm and inviting, and the nurses were sweet as can be, aside from one or two from time to time. Going into surgery was almost always scary, yes, but it was also nice. I'd wake up and get sick the first time, but the second time I woke up I'd be well rested and comfortable, aside from a soar throat. Not to mention, it got easier and easier as I continued going!

Do you still have HPV?

Unfortunately, yes, but it isn't as bad, and it might even be gone soon! I have little to no issues, even after 2 years without surgery, and now all I have to do is take 4 pills a day. Better than a soar throat for days, in my opinion.

With over 20 surgeries, and LOTS of prayers, we might've finally gotten rid of the horrible disease. I send my love and thanks to everyone in my life who supported me throughout my journey, especially the wonderful doctor who saved my life, and I hope to continue to be rid of HPV for years to come.