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Reflux and constipation are not pretty words to hear. Unfortunately, when you’re the parent of an Angel, you may hear them a lot. My 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, is now far removed from the digestive issues that plagued her as an infant and a toddler.

When you’re raising a child with Angelman syndrome, even Halloween plans need modifications. For the past several years, we have been changing the way we handle the beloved event of trick-or-treating. The modifications resulted in part from my Angel’s anxiety when traveling out and about on Halloween night. Now…

As the parent of an Angel, I have learned that things don’t always go as planned. My 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, is getting better at a lot of things as she gets older. However, sometimes she continues to have unpredictable behavior. It is medically proven that Angels have…

If I hadn’t seen it countless times, I would never believe a smile could make someone’s day. Leave it to my 11-year-old Angelman child’s happy demeanor to do just that. The first Friday in October is World Smile Day. It’s supposed to be a day for a random act…

“Do you know what middle school Juliana is going to next year?” “Nope,” I answer, shaking my head with a smile. Juliana, my 11-year-old Angel, will be going to middle school next year. I’ve spent some time catching up with friends recently, and I’ve been getting this question a lot.

Taking my 11-year-old Angel, Juliana to the store with me is a trip that always has the potential to lead to an unexpected or unwelcome adventure. However, I received a pleasant surprise when we headed to the store on a recent hot summer day. We made it through the entire…

There’s a lot to do when it’s time to send the kids back to school. Like many moms, I work from a to-do list that helps me prioritize. As the years have rolled by for my 11-year-old Angel, Juliana, I’ve simplified my plans by changing one thing. A…

When raising a child with Angelman syndrome, life can be stressful. Taking vacations to ease that stress can sometimes have the opposite effect. Although my family doesn’t have picture-perfect exotic getaways, we do have a plan for relaxing that works for us. We don’t take a lot of vacations,…

Because many Angels are considered nonverbal, it is important for parents to get creative to help them communicate. My 11-year-old daughter, Juliana, is beginning to use her talker to communicate, but it will take some time. Through the years, I have relied on labels, notes, and even…

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) is a bedrock for both families who are newly diagnosed and those continuing their journey with Angelman syndrome (AS). Every other year, ASF hosts a conference to bring together experts, doctors, and families in the AS community. Our daughter Juliana is 11, and we…