Just because you maybe homebound with a chronic illness does not mean you have to miss out on some fun teen experiences like prom!  Join us for our first annual Anti Prom coming up this Friday May 3.  Must preregister your tickets through our website at:  www.mikshiddenhearts.org.

Free makeup and hair makeovers for our ladies!  Must reserve your spot by email:  keri@mikshiddenhearts.org.  Makeovers will be done at the venue prior to prom.

**Please note:  At the beautiful venue:  Courtyard on St. James, parking is by valet and fee is $7.  

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Posted by http://www.mikshiddenhearts.org.  Helping teens with Dysautonomia and other life changing hidden chronic illnesses.

Don’t miss YOUR Prom – for chronically ill teens!

Reminder – rsvp your tickets for Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance (for teens with Dysautonomia and other hidden life changing chronic illness) first annual “Anti – Prom” to be held on Friday May 3 at the beautiful Courtyard on St. James in Houston, Tx.  

Join us for a specially planned prom by chronically ill teens for chronically ill teens!  Dinner, casino games, tons of prizes and more!

RSVP your tickets by emailing at kerionco@entouch.net.  (Please note, our website is temporarily down and is being fixed asap.  Please message us through the email for rsvp or other questions.)

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Check us out on Facebook – Click Here!

Cool apps to help in the chronically ill Dysautonomia world!  See link below!  

What helps you manage the organization of dr appt, medicine schedule, etc?  Thanks for the recommendation from my fellow Dysautonomia moms, I am a huge fan of Cozi now!  

Read below for details on the latest apps to help:

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/Beleaguered-caregivers-getting-help-from-apps-204108081.html

Posted by:  www.mikshiddenhearts.org  Helping teens with dysautonomia and other hidden life changing chronic illnesses.

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Mikaela kicking back in her homecoming dress circa 2011. This was the day she was determined to step foot at this event just to show she can conquer her 1 year anniversary of falling ill.

For our first annual Anti Prom guests we have exciting news!   We have dozens upon dozens of prom dress donated for our first annual Anti Prom for chronically ill teens!

Come select your dress THIS Sunday from 3:00 – 6:00pm to be held at the Aschoff casa. Email us at info@mikshiddenhearts.org for address and directions.

And an amazingly big THANK YOU and blessings go to Jackie with Pruning Hooks Ministries for working so hard to get these dresses donated.

And last, but not rsvp your prom tickets today!

Financial assistance available and “non chronically ill” guests of hidden (chronically ill) teens are welcome to attend. RSVP tickets at: www.mikshiddenhearts.org

Reminder – rsvp your tickets for Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance (for teens with Dysautonomia and other hidden life changing chronic illness) first annual “Anti – Prom” to be held on Friday May 3 at the beautiful Courtyard on St. James in Houston, Tx.  

Join us for a specially planned prom by chronically ill teens for chronically ill teens!  Dinner, casino games, tons of prizes and more!

RSVP your tickets at:  www.mikshiddenhearts.org

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Check us out on Facebook – Click Here!

Bringing about Dysautonomia Awareness is one of our primary goals at Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance.  Please review some of the main symptoms below and share with your doctor!  Many doctors are just now becoming aware of this frustrating condition and we need to keep this momentum forward.

And remember, no two cases of Dysautonomia is exact.  Not everyone faints or passes out (common misconception).  We – those who suffer from the impacts of Dysautonomia day in and day out – can NO longer accept the old advice “well, at least it is only temporary and you (a teen affected by it) will outgrow it.”  This advice brings out my momma grizzly bear.  Try living every day feeling like you ran a marathon on a daily basis not knowing if you will unexpectedly collapse at any given moment.  It breaks my heart to see my daughter have days on end like this and I know I for one would not like the unexpected falling, collapsing then, in Mik’s case, legs not working for hours on a regular basis.  

And, contrary to some of the advice we hear going around the country:  dysautonomia teens WANT to participate in life.  Their mind WANTS to participate, but their body is not cooperating.  So, in many cases, it is not mind over matter.  Once the teen and their caregiver(s) accept this, it is easier to accept the limitations and work within them.  This is one reason Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance offers socials and classes for our teens.  (See our calendar here.)  We organize events, classes (and now prom!) to work within the limitations and endurance of our hidden teens.  Interested in starting events in your area?  Contact us at info@mikshiddenhearts.org for ideas!

Yes, we believe in hope of the better tomorrow.  We are huge believers in regular physical therapy, counseling, massage therapy, relaxation techniques and socialization!  However, this advice that this is “only temporary” trivializes the physical and emotional pain a teen has to live with for possibly years before they get better.

We love hearing more and more stories of the teens who had a severe case and is managing to go to college now with modifications.  And we pray for you who still struggle and just getting out of bed is an accomplishment.  Whichever group you fall into, know we are here for you!

Want to nominate a teen with dysautonomia or other debilitating chronic illness for a Hope Kit filled with teen focused gifts and necessities?  Nominate them here!  

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Posted by http://www.mikshiddenhearts.org.  Serving teens and their families who suffer from Dysautonomia and other life changing debilitating chronic illness.

We are getting many great questions in about our first annual Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance “Anti-prom”.  Here is one for today:

Why is it called “anti-prom”?

Our first annual Mik’s Hidden Hearts Alliance prom is called the “anti-prom” because many teens with debilitating chronic illness do not fit in at a regular prom and live a life that is opposite of a “regular” teen life.  Regular prom includes dancing, standing/socializing and long hours.  Many chronically ill teens are unable to even stand for a few minutes and can feel excluded because they miss so much school and have difficulty feeling included with friends.  Needless to say, because they are just one of a few chronically ill at a regular prom, attending something as fun as prom can make them feel even more hidden. 

In between hospitalizations, doctor appointments and many being homebound from school, they are not able to engage in many fun teen activities… especially prom.  The anti-prom is the opposite of a regular prom in that it is planned by chronically ill teens FOR chronically ill teens and focuses on fun activities they can do sitting down (casino games, dinner being served to them and great volunteers that will assist them with whatever they need.) 

Yes, they will get to dress up and get to socialize with other teens who understand their “opposite” world.  However, it is planned all within their endurance and abilities.  At the anti-prom, they will not be one of a few that is chronically ill.  They will be surrounded by teens just like them! 

The courageous teens on our anti-prom committee really want to work on spreading hope to their fellow chronically ill teens by helping them embrace this opposite world and learning to work within it…. All the while not missing out on key teen experiences like a prom. 

Chronically-ill teens – join us at the anti-prom!  Financial assistance available!  See more on our website at:  www.mikshiddenhearts.org

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