Mayor Robert Zimmerman and Committeewoman Eileen Lukens (right) present a proclamation to Carolyn Baldwin – whose three children were diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome as children – recognizing her efforts to educate the public on Tourette’s syndrome.
Mayor Robert Zimmerman and Committeewoman Eileen Lukens presented resident Carolyn Baldwin with a proclamation on June 17 recognizing the month as Tourette’s Syndrome Awareness Month.
A teacher at J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School, Baldwin is the mother of three children who were all diagnosed with the syndrome in early stages of their lives.
“As a family with three children diagnosed with TS, we have definitely had our challenges,” she said. “Tourette’s affects each of our kids differently. Although the most common symptoms of TS are motor and vocal tics, many times, it is the other aspects of TS that are the hardest to cope with. Many people living with TS also have OCD, ADHD, anxiety and sleep disorders along with other co-morbidities.Â
“Our children have all of these,” Baldwin added. “While they have had to learn how to work around their challenges, each of our kids are very successful. Our oldest, Anna, is a sixth-grade teacher, and getting married this summer to a great guy. Our middle daughter, Sarah, is currently in college studying to be a teacher and our son, Eric, just graduated college with a degree in astrophysics.”
Initially terrified about their children’s future, Baldwin and her husband, Scott, had hope after Baldwin’s sister told them about the film, “I Have Tourette’s, But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me.” It showed that the happiest child in the film was the one teaching others about the disorder.
“This was a game-changer for us,” Baldwin recalled. “We spoke to the school nurse, who offered to go into our son’s classroom and explain what tics were and why some kids do different things. It wasn’t until a couple years later that our older girls were diagnosed. They also showed signs of tics at a young age (eye blinking), but they were misdiagnosed as having allergies.
“Our oldest wanted to teach others about TS herself and prepared a speech for her 6th grade class,” Baldwin added. “That was such an empowering experience for her.”
The Baldwins are now involved with the New Jersey Center for Tourette’s Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS), and all their children have become youth advocates with the organization to raise awareness.
Those efforts were eventually recognized by the township committtee, which presents the Tourette’s proclamation to the family every June.
“It has really helped to put TS on the map in Mantua,” noted Mayor Robert Zimmerman. “The Baldwins are wonderful people, and this is just another way that we’re able to enhance the voices for the really good people of our incredible community.”
“As a teacher in Mantua schools, I see the benefits these (proclamations) have not only for students with TS, but for all students,” Baldwin said. “They learn acceptance, tolerance and kindness. Each year, more children are newly diagnosed with TS.
“Although my kids are all adults and doing great, we still need to keep educating and spreading awareness for others.”
