A 10 Year Tic-Tas-Tic Thank-You

10 years. 10 years today I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Today is my Tourette Syndrome Anniversary. For you uneducated folks out there Tourette Syndrome by definition is a neurological disorder marked by uncontrollable movements of the head and body, which also includes sounds and words. For example like unnecessary cursing (copralalia) and repeating of one’s words (echolalia), and let’s not forget about OCD. In the end I have the whole darn package, and I am not afraid to admit or talk about it. To be honest if anything I am quite fascinated about the disorder, the brain is one of the most amazing things in the world. I often tell people I use more than 10% of my brain, and that’s why I have Tourette Syndrome. Oh, and lets not forget about how I can move things with my mind or read your thoughts.

Anydoodles, when most people first meet me they would never guess I have this disorder. Let’s just say I hold it all in pretty well. To elaborate, you can never get rid of a tic (spasm), it will only build up and get worse unless I release it at a later point in time. As I have grown up it’s actually been easier to do this, but most importantly it has been easier to understand the importance of being considerate of others. I know it’s uncontrollable, but if anything its manageable, and that’s what brings me to this blog post.

10 years I have had this disorder, and 10 years I have had some of the most amazing people in my life to believe in me, to love me, and to push me where I never thought I would get to. In sense I want to immortally thank you all via this blog. Now it would be virtually impossible to remember to thank everyone (especially all my peeps out there) on this post so I apologize in advanced if I didn’t mention your name specifically…don’t fret you are all loved.
I would like to first start with my family. These past 10 years were hard, real hard for them, and I cannot express how thankful I am for their patience, kindness, sincerity, and yes…tough love. My two brothers were especially good about it. My older brother Lee , as much as we don’t get along, has shown to ALWAYS be that typical “big brother.” Folks no lie, if someone EVER teased me in High School, Lee would be the one already putting on those boxing gloves to go fight the schmuck who caused me the grief. With that, all of Lee’s friends became one huge supportive boy band of older brothers for me, and I thank you Tomer, Jig, and Mike to name a few. Now Josh (my twin) probably had it the worst…we shared a room, and that doesn’t mesh well with two growing teenage boys. Thankfully my twin is half deaf, so it wasn’t that bad (I hope, *GULP*), but in the end my lil bro to me has the biggest patience in the world and I thank you for it broham. Now my parents. Myyyyyyy Parents. Probably the two strongest people I have and will forever ever know. To have seen their child go through so much is probably the most painful thing in the world. Especially the tough love department, that shit is hard for both parent and child. Now, a lot of what they taught has made me, me. Mom. Dad. I am proud to be your greatest accomplishment, and I am proud to be called your son. Oh, and yes I am being incredibly modest…I am purdy darn badass in the accomplishment category.

Going through life there is a point in time where you meet someone who becomes your role model. Who molds you into the person you become in the future. That individual for me was a man named Peter Cherney. Peter was a friend of my mother in college and just out of a random act of kindness, Peter became my my role model. A person who took me under his wing, and sorta adopted me. A man whose patience shows no bounds. I can simply go on forever here folks. In the end Peter taught me to be me, to forget the Tourette, and as time went taught me to love life for what it is. Thank you Peter…for everything.

Now to my friends. Let me first start by saying, I fully acknowledge to you all that I, Zack Rosenberg can get annoying at times, and with that folks, kudos to all of you for understanding that sometimes it was just as hard for me as its for you. GOOD FORM MY PEEPS, GOOD FORM INDEED! With that, thanks for being there when it was hard, when it was funny, when it was painful, when it was interesting, and especially when it was awkward. You ladies and gents are essentially my life…my second family. Thank you.

To wrap up this soppy post, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you. To be honest I wouldn’t want to take back these past 10 years at all. It was one heck as long roller coaster, but like I said it made me…me. Lastly to any other newly diagnosed or struggling Touretteians out there. Keep up the good fight, and ALWAYS remember you never alone. There are millions of people out there ready to be there right with you. To laugh, cry, and listen to you. To especially love you for whom you are, so remember that. We have Tourette’s, but Tourette’s doesn’t have us.

P.S. I want to send all my love to all the family’s affected by one of the most tragic events of our nation. It truly affected the whole world, and I give you my greatest gratitude, sincerity, and respect to everyone who shined as a hero, or mourned a loved one. You are stronger than I can EVER imagine. Peace, love, and afrogrease .