Sydney – A Chronic Illness Warrior
My name is Sydney and I am 15 years old from Central New Jersey. I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in January 2020. At the time, I wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but no one else around me felt the same way I did. I was passing out frequently and had severe head and stomach ache. Being a student athlete, it was difficult to get through most days. I was extremely fatigued most days and my teachers and peers didn’t really understand why, which was so frustrating for me. For the past couple months, I have found other teens who feel the same as me. The best advice I can give to someone who is struggling with POTS is know that you are not alone and your symptoms and pain are real and valid!”