Our Journey thru JDM and Life!: Thank You! Danke!

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 17, 2012

Thank You! Danke!

So I turned one year older this week and I truly had a most lovely week all around.
It seems the older I get (41) the more I have to celebrate and this year I was spoiled again with three days worth of celebrations.

First we had a most fun week with the Tossell Family that came from Texas to spend their Spring Break with us. Connor and Alexander adore their twin boys, Dylan and Ryan, and it is a match made in heaven when they play together. No fighting or arguing, just a house filled with a lot of laughter all day long.
The day before my Birthday my beautiful Sister In-Law Sam arrived and we all went to the local Irish Pub for an early Birthday Dinner and Drinks (may I mention a very delicious Peach Drink times two :).
The next day the Tossell Family headed home and the rest of us had a quiet and relaxing Birthday here at home and me getting more spoiled with Cards, Songs and another little Apple Symbol :)
Yesterday I was treated by my lovely friend Jennie to a four course Dinner and Wine Extravaganza at the Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant. The food and wines were beyond yummy and the company and five hours of conversation was truly heavenly.
I also want to say a big Thank You to all the Birthday Wishes through FB, e-mail and phone calls. I am a lucky girl and as always I do know that I am blessed with a most amazing family and some of the best friends one could ask for.

Next week we will be traveling to Chicago for Connor's and Alexander's checkup and I am confident that the news will be great. Next month we have an appointment with Dr. Soep in Denver and after that we should be looking at more tapering and also the possibility of Connor's Port removal. Huge steps in the right direction. I am thinking 2012 might just be our year!