Shiloh's Journey

Jessica, a kind, caring, and loving, single mother of 3 amazing kids, is facing an impossible difficult time. 

Towards the end of August her sweet son who has Autism, Shiloh, was first hospitalized for Catatonia after the doctors ruled out silent seizures.  

**Catatonia caused Shiloh to have extended pauses while doing normal every day things, such as walking, talking, eating, and drinking. After Shiloh was hospitalized for 10 days, he was considered stable enough to be treated from home for his catatonia with medication, along with required weekly appointments to Children’s Hospital, and his local PCP to adjust the medication as needed as the catatonia progressed.

Unfortunately, the only treatment for Catatonia are certain medications and electro convulsive therapy. Jessica and Shiloh’s team had strong hope that the medication would be able to help greatly…

Unfortunately, Shiloh's condition has progressively worsened (despite being treated with high doses of medication). He stopped responding to the medication and was admitted back in to Children’s Hospital when the episodes worsened to the point that he wasn’t fully breathing through them. He has now been living at the hospital for almost two weeks again.

Shiloh's pausing has now affected other parts of his body such as heart rate, body temperature and even breathing. The doctors are now saying Shiloh's diagnosis has unfortunately progressed to Malignant Catatonia (MC) which is rare, and can be a life-threatening condition that occurs when catatonia develops complications. 

The only chance of a miracle they have left is to transfer him to another facility as soon as possible for the electro convulsive therapy. (A ridiculously hard decision for Jessica, but the only chance to try to save Shiloh from the worsening Catatonia.)

In the next few days we expect Shiloh will be released from Children's hospital to the care of the new facility.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).  

This therapy is usually used as a last option after medication is no longer working. 

As scary as this therapy sounds it is weighing on Jessica even more as she will not be allowed to stay the night with Shiloh like she is currently. She will only be allowed to visit with Shiloh during visiting hours. This means multiple 3 hour round trips a week, as she shares time between Shiloh, his siblings, and her students.

Jessica works in Special Education at a local school district. She loves her job and all of her students. However, due to the severity of Shiloh’s condition, has had to use intermittent, unpaid FMLA, and her work days have been greatly reduced.

Traveling back and forth from home to the facility, (a 3 hour round trip) has been extremely difficult on her.  

Unfortunately, I am unable to give her time back while spent in the car, but I am asking for help with her travel expenses. 

I met Jessica in the 6th grade, we became instant best friends. Over our 24 years of friendship we have helped each other navigate life and everything it has thrown at us. 

She has always been the friend who would help anyone, anytime with no hesitation. She has always been one call away. Jessica has never asked for anything in return except love and friendship.  

I am now asking for your help. 

Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in helping Jessica navigate this challenging period. My hope is we can give Jessica one less worry so she can focus on her family. If you are unable to help with monetary donation, I ask that you share this with your friends and loved ones. Please keep Shiloh in your thoughts and prayers. We have a long road ahead. Thank you.