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)-

Hope

Hope

Monday, May 30, 2011

Remembering .... and Thank You!

Memorial Day ....



I know I was not raised in this country but one can not help to remember family member that has died in a war. For me it was my Great Grandfather from my Dad's side in WWI, and the much beloved Dad of my Mom, in WWII. Both I have never met but the stories have kept them alive for me. Listening about each man has taught me that their death was a great loss. For a more current war there was the heartbreaking loss of one of my best friends brother during Desert Storm. An amazing young man who never got to meet the son that was born after his death.
I know there are so many who gave their life to fight for what they believed in and in some cases they fought for what they were told to fight for. Either way the loss came at a cost for the families that loved them!

Today my family has four members in the Army. My Son In-Law, Alexander who is in the Army. My nephew Gene who is on his second deployment in Iraq. His beautiful wife, my niece and friend Tammy, who joined the Army last year, and as of this month their son Andrew.

We are also blessed to know the Olson Family. Matt, my friends Jennie's husband, has served twice in Iraq and just returned home early due to being injured while in Iraq. It was a big scare for all of us but especially for his wife and their two precious boys.

Last but not least a Thank You to my husband as well who served in the Green Berets and was stationed in Korea and Japan. He not only served his country but it made him the amazing man he is today!

The boys and I now get to enjoy the freedom that was fought for by so many... and one of the Freedoms I cherish the most on top of all is the reason you are reading this post right now. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!! it is something we take for granted but many do not have! I know I would be in huge trouble if that right was ever lost. Another thing I cherish so much is the right to treat everyone equal no matter what our religious or non religious beliefs are, or what our political leanings are. The beauty in respecting each other even when we do not agree.

So again we are Remembering all of you that lost their life fighting for our Freedom and Thank You to those of you still fighting for us to keep those Rights!

Hugs,

R A C A

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