ADEM MOG RECOVERY FOR ALEX

Hello,

My name is Mindy, I am Alex's mom and I just wanted to tell you a little of this nightmare with a silver lining we are going through. On August 2, 2023 I brought Alex to Childrens hospital Dallas because I beleived he was dehydrated from a stomach virus. Saturday had been a normal day for us as he swam and played at his aunt's house with his brothers and cousin. Sunday and Monday he couldn't hold anything down and I thought it was just a stomach bug. On Tuesday he could not walk straight and seemed very lethargic so we went to Childrens. I saw my baby go from somewhat responsive to unresponsive in a matter of 2 days. It has been the scariest experience for all of our family. With an MRI doctor's found he hand inflammation in his brain and spinal cord. They told us they suspected a rare autoimmune disease called Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Basically it is when your antibodies attack your brain and spinal cord creating inflammation and lesions in your brain. Alex has been through alot in a week he has been intubated he was unresponsive and had doctors very worried for a while. I am happy to say he has been slowly recovering, he can now open his eyes and is conscious. He is starting to have some movement in his fingers and arms. We are hoping with time and his steroid and blood infusións he will recover. I am so grateful for the team at children's hospital and everyone who has prayed for my baby. I am hoping he will get better and we can celebrate his 13th birthday on September 21st. He had asked me since the beginning of the year to throw him a spongebob party and I just pray and hope that we can do that for him. We just need some help as I do not know how our future will look with physical and ocupacional therapies and medical bills. Please don't hesitate on taking your babies to the doctor or hospital for mundane things a week ago I knew nothing of the horror of ADEM, this rare disease presents itself to 1 out of every 250,000 people mostly kids. Thank you everyone for your kindness and prayers they are really appreciated.