Hi! I'm Peggy. I'm ten years old and in the fifth grade in school in Pennsylvania.  I have something called a bipolar illness and I've been in the hospital two times this year. Sometimes I don't know why I feel the way I do, and I can't explain what it's like to people. Believe me, that is *so* frustrating! Sometimes I have panic attacks, but it's not so bad because my mom is a yoga teacher and she tells me how to get through them.  A panic attack is when your thoughts race and when you can't breathe very well.  All of this makes me feel sad sometimes, but luckily I feel OK right now. 

Unfortunately, School is not very fun for me.  Some kids make fun of me. Some of them say that I was in the hospital because I had fleas and then they called me flea girl on the playground. I have trouble concentrating in school, and math is hard for me. Most of the time  I like to work alone, because it is hard for me to be in a large class room. 

I have three best friends.  They are very nice to me and they don't make fun of  me.  Good thing that I have them! Some kids are not my friends and those are the people who tease me and make fun of me. 

My mom takes great care of me. And I see lots of doctors. And I take all sorts of medication. The doctors change my medicines a lot.  Because of that, I have to go to the hospital to get my blood tested all the time. 

I am a very nice person, and I think that you'd like me. What I have is definitely not contagious, so you don't have to worry. I have two cats, two birds and  three fish.  My one kitten Fluffy thinks I am her mother.  She was sad when I was in the hospital. 

The best thing about me is that I am a great artist and a good writer. I hope that you'll write me a little note to tell me what you think of my story!