Our Journey thru JDM and Life!: An uneventful but Happy Day ... Day 8 at Home

Timeline from first symptom to diagnosis

Our son Connor was diagnosed with JDM in January of 2010 and here is a bit of a timeline to show you how this diagnosis was reached...

Towards the end of November 2009, Connor mentioned some pain in his right foot. We found a Plantar Wart and began treating it. We went on vacation in Germany were he mentioned a pain in his knee's, to feeling in his own words, pain 'inside his legs'. By the time we got home on December 9, he needed to be carried almost everywhere. By the end of December he was unable to feed himself, dress himself, sit up or down, lay down and of course walk. Here is a list of tests he went through between December 10 to December 28, 2009

X-ray of his Hips

MRI of his spine

X-ray of his chest

CAT Scan of his brain

CAT Scan of his chest

MRI of his chest

MRI of his hips

Numerous Blood Work

Spinal Tap

and we finished with a Muscle Biopsy

There were many speculations of what might be causing Connor so much pain and one of them was Gullian Barre Syndrom (GBS) due to his first symptoms showing up within a few days of his H1N1 Flu Shot.

The final Diagnosis came on January 11, 2010

-Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM)-

Saturday, March 27, 2010

An uneventful but Happy Day ... Day 8 at Home

Today was a wonderful lazy and relaxing Saturday for all of us. Connor always has a hard time the day after his infusions, dealing with mood-swings that reach from being grouchy to being sad. He did experience each of those emotions but they never lasted for more that 10 minutes at a time.

We were able to have some school today focusing on reading which my two dumplings are not to excited about. They can sit and work on math for an extended time, but bring a book out and they try to hide. Lucky for me Connor really can't get away from me ... :)

Due to all the snow we got, Alexander, my Dad, our two German Shepherds Apple & Tasha and I got to go on a wonderful snow hike on 'our mountain'. It was so peaceful and relaxing to be out in the fresh air. We all felt like a nap afterwards other then Alexander of course who's energy level can match that of 3 kids combined.

Hope You all had a good Saturday as well. I have to tell all of you that followed my post about Henry , that the biggest highlight came today in the form of an e-mail from his Mom telling us that he is awake and doing well. H does have some heart damage but they was so much happiness coming through this e-mail that my heart felt lighter after reading it!

Hugs,

R A C A