Defeating Tourettes

Growing up can be challenging for most children. It is always more challeging after being diagnosed with a condition that will never go away.

Curtis Davis, a 20-year-old student attending Lynn University, was disganosed with Tourettes Syndrome at the age of six.

"I was so young and didn't reall know what was going on," said Davis.

Tourettes Syndrome is not common and most people are not educated about the conditon.

Steven and Patrice Davis, the parents of Curtis, did not know how to react as they received the news.

Davis' mother said, "We were concerned about how he was going to be treated as he got older."

The doctor told Davis and his parents that Tourettes Syndrome is "a disorder characterized by physical tics and vocalizations that are involuntary."

Davis was certainly too young to completely understand what was going on with his body, which made it more difficult for his brother to comprehend.

Harrison Davis, Davis' younger brother, was not sure what Tourettes was.

"I can only remember the times when Curtis had Tourettes so I don't know him any differently," said Davis' brother.

"It never seemed weird to me,"said Davis' brother.

More than just Davis' family was affected by the diagnosis.

Ben Cantwell, one of Davis' friends, can recall when he first met Davis and witnessed some of Davis' tics.

"It was really scared," said Canwell. "I had no idea what was going on and I thought there was something wrong with him."

Cantwell wasn't the only person to look at Davis' condition strangely.

Davis had gone to a small, Catholic elemtary school until it was time to move onto high school.

He attended Central Catholic High School where he would meet hundreds of new kids and be surrunded by unfamiliar faces.

"I was nervous to go to a bigger school where no one knew me and had no idea about my Tourettes," said Davis.

"I just wanted people to accept me for who I am," said Davis.

In elemtary and middle school, Davis' peers were well-informed about Tourettes and what it is.

People learned to get used to the tics and loud noises.

High school would be a different story.

"I was really nervous for Curtis when he went to Central," said Davis' brother. "Kids can be really mean."

At first, Curtis got strange looks and heard that people thought he was "weird" or "retarded."

Davis' father said, "Curtis has really intense coughing fits that can last minutes at a time."

It took some time before students got accustomed to the tics, loud vocalizations, and coughing.

"I just want people to know what Tourettes really is," said Davis.

"I always have to correct people when they think Tourettes is the 'swearing disorder,'" said Davis.

Awareness is being raised through Davis' actions.

"I've created a Facebook group called 'The Basic Understanding of Tourettes Syndrome,'" said Davis.

This group has been messaged to all of his 700+ friends in order to help them understand the condition, learn more, and become involved in reaching out to others.

"It means a lot to me that so many people are supporting me through this group," said Davis.

Being diagnosed at the age of six was not the hardest part of this medical journey for Davis.

Meeting new people and being put in awakward situations was the tough part.

"I will never forget all of the hardships I've had to face every day from having Tourettes," said Davis.

Even though he knows his life hasn't been the easiest, he refuses to let Tourettes defeat him.

"I can do anything that anyone without Tourettes can do," said Davis. "I won't let it discourage me."

Not only is Davis teaching others about Tourettes Syndrome, he is working towards an even bigger goal.

"I want to work on making a Relay for Life for Tourettes, just like the Relay for Life for cancer," said Davis.

Davis already knows that he has the support of his friends and family.

"We will do anything to support his dreams about raising awareness for others and trying to help other people that have Tourettes," said Davis' mother.

His goals don't stop there.

Davis plans to eventually graduate school with a degree in Administration of Law and work towards becoming a special agent for the DEA.

Davis said, "I've never been afraid of Tourettes and I'm never going to be."

Davis has already been successful in his endeavors as a student and football player at Lynn and hopes to continue on this path.

"Tourettes wasn't going to stop me."