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

Thursday, January 30, 2014

HAPPY JDM NEWS!!!

In the week of Connor's 4th year anniversary of being admitted to Chicago's Memorial Children's Hospital we got some of the best JDM related news in regards to Connor's care.

NO MORE PREDNISOLONE/STEROIDS AS OF TODAY!

This is huge in so many ways! The Prednisolone and Solumedrol have been our biggest mental fight and for Connor a physical and emotional fight. We know the steroid is one of the biggest drug in the fight against this disease but watching your son put this drug into his body for 4 years, 1460 days plus, has been heartbreaking in its own way. The side effects are so wide reaching, 'minor ones' are weight gain and slowing of growth. A bigger concern had been his eye sight which were checked almost every 3 months. On an emotional battle Connor had to deal with the mood swings steroid causes. From sadness, depression to anger and frustrations. Emotions that can't be controlled and are all do to the impact steroids have on the brain.

So to get the e-mail that Connor's blood work from Monday came back looking great again and that we can stop the steroid for now was in our book one of the best news we had in relations to JDM in 4 years!
Is the battle over? No not yet. He is not in remission and will still need his weekly Methrotrexate/Chemo injections for now, but one step at a time!

Thank You to everyone of you that celebrated with us yesterday through FB. You all, or most of you, have been with us from the get go and so you realized what complete joy this brought to us.

On a little by note, when I received the e-mail I called everyone together and sad I had some great JDM news for Connor. Connor yelled out; "YAY THEY FOUND A CURE!'. 
This makes you realize how much that is in the front of Connors mind. No Cure yet but that day will come! I am counting on it.

I am off now to take Alexander soon for his Orthopedics Appointment. While one is celebrating progress our other dumpling is worried he might need surgery on his foot or feet soon. No rest yet in the medical world but one step at a time.

Much Love!


1 comment:

  1. Its been a long four years, but finally a light at the end of the tunnel! This is amazing news. We are so happy for Connor and your whole family.

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