26/07/2025
Hi.
I want to share a deeply personal story that just happened.
A few weeks ago we were on our first cruise to Greece. We were soaking up history, learning the language, enjoying the wonderful architecture, eating amazing food, and lots of sunshine. It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.
But one afternoon during our shore excursion, my 12-year-old son noticed some spots on his arms and legs. I thought, "Oh. It's so hot. It's probably a heat rash." Nope. It wasn't. It got worse.
More spots all over that were tiny, reddish-purplish spots, but no itchiness and not exactly a rash. He wasn't feeling tired or sick. Nothing else was outside the norm. Just these weird spots that kept appearing everywhere.
We took him to the ship doctor, who took blood and got really scared. His platelets were dangerously low. They recommended immediate boat departure at the next port and to see a doctor on land. The doctor in Greece requested an instant check-in to the pediatric hospital. That's when our vacation ended, and the scary part started.
My heart was racing, thoughts swirling. My son had never been to the hospital since birth. I didn't understand what was happening. But then, something kicked in.
Executive functioning.
The very skills I teach parents and kids every day. The ones we often take for granted came alive in me that day. Not in a spreadsheet, not in a color-coded planner, but in a real-life emergency, thousands of miles from home.
They saved my son’s life. Here’s how:
🗂 Organization
As chaos unfolded, I mentally sorted through everything. Passport, travel insurance info, resources, contacts, emergency numbers, social worker, and embassy contact info. I already had all the critical documents in a travel folder. In the ER, the nurse said, “You’re the most prepared person I’ve seen all week.” That organization bought us respect, gave the doctors the necessary information, and it bought us time.
🎯 Prioritization
In a crisis, everything feels urgent. But not everything is urgent. I had to quickly determine what mattered right now—hydration, vitals, translating symptoms, using my Google Translate app, and getting a doctor who spoke English. I let go of worrying about our hotel, our tour schedule, or even our luggage. My brain sorted the noise from the signal.
⏱ Time Management
We were told it would take several hours to get imaging, sonogram, urine samples, and more bloodwork done. I kindly pushed. “He needs help now. Can we escalate this?” I managed our time and the staff’s without being pushy, just persistent and clear. The right words. The right tone. And it worked.
⚡ Processing Speed
The ER doctor was fast, speaking in a mix of Greek and medical jargon. I had to listen, process, translate, respond within seconds through tears and emotion. Processing speed isn’t just about tests; it’s about keeping up in high-stakes moments and asking the right questions when it matters most.
🧠 Working Memory
I had to recall all the information while I relayed it in real time by text to my husband, who was packing up our stuff back on the ship. Remembering what I read online, what friends and medical professionals told me via text about what his symptoms might be, and then relaying it back to the doctor. Lots of memory centers were working! Working memory is the sticky note in our brain, and mine was on high alert.
❤️🩹 Emotional Regulation
I was terrified. But I couldn’t let my son see that, at least not initially. So I breathed. I grounded myself. I used every emotional regulation tool I teach parents: body scan, self-talk, and co-regulation. I sat by him, smiled gently, and said, “We’re going to figure this out. You’re safe now.” He looked calmer. That mattered. A lot. When I heard news about a possible brain hemorrhage, I shared it with him through tears so he could be prepared for whatever we both needed to be prepared for. I wasn't sure in that moment if he would make it. Through the tears, we processed the news, prayed, cried some more, and then I reassured him, letting him know I was there and we were both going to make it through this moment.
😤 Frustration Tolerance
Language barriers. Long waits. No air conditioning. Delays in care. Painful and uncomfortable medical procedures. Sleeping in an uncomfortable chair for hours. Terrible hospital food. All frustrating events. But frustration would’ve clouded my judgment. Instead, I tapped into flexibility and grace. I kept reminding myself: “The goal is not comfort. The goal is care. Survival.”
📋 Planning
I had to think two steps ahead: medication, tests, more tests, when the doctor would see him again, canceling our outgoing flight, staying at the hospital for 5 days, booking hotels for a several-day or possibly several-week stay, follow-up care, hotel check-out, contacting our pediatrician and hematologist back home. I wrote everything out in my Notes app, set alarms, translated key terms. By the time the sun rose the next day, every next step was already in motion.
But here’s the part that stays with me the most.
💬 When I Had to Tell Him
I had to explain to my son what was going on. That we were in a serious situation. That we needed to trust the team and stay calm. That I wouldn’t leave his side. I drew on every ounce of empathy and clarity I had. I didn't sugarcoat it, but I also didn’t scare him. I shared the truth with compassion. And he trusted me.
That moment cracked something open in me. I saw how deeply executive functioning is connected to parenting. To leadership. To love.
The doctors confirmed it. If we had waited any longer on the ship sailing around Greece, the outcome could’ve been very different.
That’s the power of executive function skills. They’re not just academic. They’re not just for school. They’re life skills. They’re parenting skills. They're survival skills.
You're probably asking at this point, "So, what did he have? What was his diagnosis?"
So, my son was diagnosed with Acute ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura). Acute ITP is a bleeding disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body’s own platelets, leading to easy bruising, bleeding gums, petechiae (tiny red spots), and in some cases, internal bleeding. It often occurs after a viral illness and is most common in children.
It was treated with an intravenous medication, Kiovig which rapidly increased his platelet count from 10,000 to 240,000 in 24 hours. Kids his age should be at 150,000. When we checked into the hospital, he was at 10,000 (he was hemorrhaging internally, because his blood wasn't clotting).
He will be followed by a pediatric hematologist at least for a year and get regular blood tests.
💡 If You’re a Parent Struggling With EF in Your Household…
If you’re raising a child who has a hard time with focus, follow-through, time, emotions, or transitions, it’s not about being lazy or disobedient. It’s about lagging skills. And you can help them build them.
That’s why I want to tell you about TEFOS (The Executive Function Online Summit).
I’ve been honored to be part of this amazing resource as a bonus speaker, and it’s helped thousands of parents around the world get tools, strategies, and support to better understand and support their kids.
🧠 Learn more about TEFOS 2025: https://bit.ly/4luSefc
📅 Mark your calendar for Aug 15-18. Your family’s future self will thank you.
You never know when life will test you. But when it does, I hope you’ll have these tools to fall back on.
Because they don’t just make life easier. Sometimes they save it.
It's FREE, sign up here > https://bit.ly/4luSefc
Mark your calendars for Aug 15-18 and get ready to immerse yourself in learning!
There's even a VIP Pass if you want your own copy with bonuses, and it's on Early Bird Sale right now.
Learn more about TEFOS here > https://bit.ly/4luSefc
💕 Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart
