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Cali Horton, a 21-year-old student from Blue Springs, was a survivor from day one.

Her mother, Heather Horton, was pregnant with twins and diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome—uneven blood flow between twins sharing a placenta. Both twins, Cali and her sister Kara, were born prematurely and spent three weeks in Saint Luke’s neonatal intensive care unit.

As a result, Cali suffered from a rare vascular malformation of the brain, which required radiation treatment at age 2. Over time, the treatment fully cured her malformation.

Distinguishing between everyday worry and an anxiety disorder can be difficult since they share some similar symptoms. However, there are key differences to help identify when worry may be more than just a natural response to life’s challenges. Key differences to consider include:

Frequency and intensity. Normal worry is typically situational and temporary, tied to specific events or challenges. Anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive worry that is difficult to control and can occur frequently, even without an obvious reason.