About Me! The Author

Although born in the southeastern corner of China and didn’t immigrated to the United States until age of 10, I consider myself a full-blooded American (who just so happens – like almost everything – to had been Made in China). Filled with too many aspirations, I am now in my 30’s and still trying to figure out what to do in life.

I am a graduate from both University of Utah and Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Accounting, respectively. I am also an aspiring writer and wannabe landscape photographer. My goal in life is to do what I love and be my own boss. One of my many dreams is to have my work one day be published and shared with the world, which was fulfilled in 2018 when one of my stories got published.

I will try to be positive even when all around me is sad and gloomy. My optimism is a blessing and a curse at times as I often have to wade through trouble waters when it comes to my relationship with my mother and her family. Even my therapist was impressed by my hopefulness in the midst of troubled times.

scan0029

Every person has a back story, a story they are dying to tell anyone who will listen. For me, it’s the mysterious battle I’ve been dealing with since I was just a toddler. Taken to see numerous doctors in the first 3 or 4 years of my life and unable to diagnose the condition that causes lumps in my arms and legs, my mom gave up until one night when I was 3. I had developed a high fever and in the middle of the night, my entire body went into a full seizure.

I didn’t even know I had spent 5 days in the hospital until my mom told the story to her friend a few years ago while we were walking to see the Old Faithful Geyser erupt at Yellowstone. My mom did learn a lot from that night, though. My body is Calcium deficient because the code to absorb calcium from food as well as convert from Vitamin D is missing from my genetic code. Fortunately, there’s a pill I can take (and most likely have to depend on it for the rest of my life) to allow my body to function. It’s sort of like a crutch to help my body absorb calcium.

After my dad passed away (still a mystery) and my mom immigrated to the U.S. in search of a new life more than 20 years ago, I remained in China, enduring the difficult life of a Chinese elementary school student (lots and lots of homework and exams).  During all that, I was shuttled back and forth between my aunt and grandparents, all who watched closely to make sure I don’t suffer another seizure episode while my mom was away.

Thankfully, I didn’t have another seizure until 2004, on the third anniversary of my arrival in the U.S. I contracted the flu, suffered from high fever the week before.  Just as my fever broke, my body went into a seizure. Unlike the last time, this time, I was older and have complete memory of this night. It was my one and only near-death experience, one which probably no one will believe. The experience both opened my eyes and scared the hell out of me not to mention spending the night in the ER waiting room with the order that I could not go to sleep.

Then my doctor visit once again became frequent.  After seeing an internal medicine doctor who then referred me to another internal medicine doctor at the USC Children Hospital, I was finally diagnosed with pseudohypoparathyroidism at 14 but the diagnosis was not confirmed and I wasn’t properly diagnosed with Albright’s Osteodystrophy until 18 when I visited a geneticist at the Primary Children Hospital in Salt Lake City.

After all these years, my mom have never managed to give up even though she lost hope for a while and so did I.  She grew more and more optimistic as one after another doctor’s visit gone by that her daughter was one step closer to being diagnosed and properly treated.

Even though now that I’ve been properly diagnosed with this rare genetic disorder, the geneticist said I was the 10th patient with Albright’s Osteodystrophy in his 30 years of practice, I learned that there’s no cure for the disorder other than to turn back time and be diagnosed at a younger age. But I will remain optimistic and hopeful that one day, with the continuous advancement in technology, some sort of prevention or cure would be discovered.

180 thoughts on “About Me! The Author”

  2. Pingback: A-Z Challenge 2016: A for Aspirations | This is Another Story

  3. Thanks Yinglan for sharing such a personal story. You have written so much here in your blog. It will take me a while to catch up! But I know I’m going to enjoy the journey. Thanks for following me!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Thank you for sharing your story. You are such a strong and inspirational person & I look forward to reading more of your posts!
    Wishing you the best,
    MimiTa

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Geez! Your photos are soooo cute! ❤ ❤ ❤ I can see you haven't aged! 😀 Good luck on your master's degree! 😀 And thank you for the prompt! 🙂 It was tough yet thought-provoking! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks. Nope, I haven’t aged for 20 years!
      I should rewrite the bio since I’m no longer pursuing a master degree but a second bachelor degree. Six months to go! 😀
      Thank you for visiting and I’m looking forward to read your response for the prompt.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. It’s great in a way, I guess, while not great in others like when I want people to look at me as an adult instead of a child.

        Like

  7. Pingback: Special Child – A Reading Writer
  9. Pingback: Sacrifices | Only 100 Words
  11. Pingback: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Smiles | This is Another Story

  15. Hey Yinglan! 🙂
    Life need not be long. But whatever span of time we have been gifted to live, we should live that time lively, and you seems to be a very lively, and of course an optimistic and hopeful person.
    God always remains fair to such people. He must have beautiful plans for you. I am sure. ❤ 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. Glad to come across your blog from Jackie’s party, Yinglan!
    I had to google about Albright’s Osteodystrophy, to realize that you are one hell of a positive person(sorry for the slang though!). Keep shining, Cheers! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Hello Yinglan. I found your blog on Jacqueline’s blog party page. Nice to meet you. This story of your life so far is inspirational! Continue to stay optimistic and happy 🙂 I’ll look forward to reading more from you. Take care. Carly

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. Hey there! I just came across your blog, and I gotta say that I really enjoy your posts that give us readers a look into your life. It’s very brave how you’re so willing to share your stories and thoughts with the world 🙂 Also, your background is beautiful.

    I discovered the post where you went hiking with your aunt in Utah, and I’m really, really jealous of the amazing scenery you get there, especially compared to my country, where most of our available land space tends to be optimised for urban development, and the highest hill you can climb is… well, just a hill. Takes less than thirty minutes to reach the peak, even for the less physically endowed haha

    Looking forward to your future posts 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed my posts. Utah is really a beautiful place to live and hike. I’m sorry your country is lacking in natural places. Thank you for visiting my blog. ☺

      Like

      Reply

  31. Wow! I certainly hope that you get all the proper medical help you need. I think you live in a beautiful place. The nature in Utah is appealing to me. Looking forward too see more of your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  36. What a complicated medical history you have. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all of that. But here you are, an accomplished adult who has achieved so many things. Your blog is fascinating. Thanks for joining me by reading my blog and leaving comments. I’m wishing you a healthy, happy, independent, and prosperous New Year. Lots of love, Marsha 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Anything you want to ask? Want to know?