A few days later, Mom left work early so she could pick-up Joy and me from school. Mom asked if I had remembered to drink plenty of water. I had made sure to drink all day for it was easier for the lab technicians to draw blood when I had enough fluids in my body. As we traveled to Quest, Mom tried to answer the question Joy had asked concerning the reason I had to continually have my blood drawn. Mom said my body was not like hers. She explained that my body lacked Cortisol and if it was not monitored closely, it could cause low blood sugar, drowsiness and even a coma. I finished the explanation by saying once the nurse finished drawing my blood; it was sent to be analyzed. My endocrinologist would read the result. He would know how well my medications are working and if the dosages needed to be changed.  

As we pulled into the parking lot, Mom explained that hormone medications needed to be adjusted as a person grows and labs are the best way to see what is happening in the body. As soon as my mom stopped our Blue Volkswagen Bug, my sister and I slammed the doors to the car and raced to the front door of the building. She beat me again or did I just let her win. I like to believe that I allowed her to win because she is younger than me. It is easier than accepting the truth that she is actually faster than me. We entered the building together.  

There was one person with a two year old waiting. Mom went to the window and Joy and I sat down. I was not sitting long when the lab technician called my name and I went back. Mom stayed with Joy in the waiting room. The lab technician introduced herself as Lisa. As I sat down, she asked if I had ever had blood drawn before. When I said three or four times a year since I was born, she said, “Then you must be a pro.” I said, “I have to be, for I have CAH and I will never outgrow it.” She said she had never heard of CAH. I told her I had inherited it from both of my parents who were carriers of the trait. For my body to function normally, I take two medicines daily. Then every four months, I must have my blood checked to see if my medicines need to be changed. She asked which arm I usually have blood taken from. I put my right arm up and she tied the rubber band around to stop the blood flow. She cleaned the spot she was going to inject with the needle and then counted to three. She hit a vein right away. She is one of the better lab technicians that I have seen over the years. It did not take long. Soon, Lisa was asking me what color wrap I wanted for my arm. I chose pink for she was out of blue, my favorite color. I walked back to the lobby where Mom and Joy were waiting. Mom said we needed to get a bone-age x-ray today, as well.  

In the car, as we traveled to Prima-Care, Joy asked why I needed an x-ray. Mom explained that with my disorder I get too much androgen. This can result in rapid growth of my bones. The growth plates will close up too early and I will stop growing. My doctor does not want that to happen because it would make me a short adult. I interrupted and explained how a bone age x-ray is taken. Since only one person is allowed in the x-ray room, I always go back by myself. I told Joy that I put my left hand on a square pad with a letter “L” in the corner. The technician puts a heavy lead apron on me and goes into a room to snap a picture of my hand. Then he develops it. He puts the x-ray on a lighted screen to make sure it is what the doctor needs. Then he puts it in an envelope for me to take out to bring to the endocrinologist’s office.  When we arrived at Prima-care, Mom gave the form to the front desk and was about to sit down, when the technician said I did not have to wait. I went immediately back to the x-ray machine. I was only with the technician for about five minutes. When I met up with my Mom, she took the envelope from me so it would not get bent. She showed it to Joy and said it looked like my bone age was thirteen and half. She then explained that my bones were 18 months ahead of my actual age. She said that normal children’s bone-age, like Joy for example, can range a little above or below the actual age they turn on their birthday. As we walked back to the car, Mom asked what we wanted for dinner. Joy and I argued about what we wanted since we rarely agree on anything.