Liam has been diagnosed with PANDAS, which stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. PANDAS is unfortunately not widely known and is still considered controversial among many doctors. After a long wait, we have finally gotten into a specialist, and he will need to begin different types of testing.

Liam has always been a happy, go-with-the-flow child. He loved doing art and going to Life Force Ninja gym. He was planning to join the team, with a dream of one day competing in New York. He was always social and loved going out to try new things or just accompany me on errands. However, his life and all of our lives have been turned upside down. Last year, after a bout of strep, it was as if someone flipped a switch, and Liam has not been the same since. He has been suffering from headaches, anxiety, insomnia, loss of coordination, OCD, skin picking, sensory dysregulation, food restriction, defiance, emotional outbursts, and motor tics, just to name the biggest things. We have had to start homeschooling because of the major separation anxiety and the school setting being too much for him to handle. He often prefers to be at home and gets easily overwhelmed. Any illness causes a flare where the symptoms get worse. He has lost the physical and mental ability to do the things he once loved. Not only is Liam suffering, but it has also taken a toll on the whole family. I feel like we have been robbed of our child, and he feels like he has lost himself. We have had to watch him scream and cry out of anger, sadness, and grief from what this horrible disorder has done and taken from him.

The best treatment for PANDAS, and what we are hoping for, is called IVIG therapy. If not covered by insurance, it can cost between $5,000-$10,000 per treatment. Some kids need it once, some need it once a month for a year or more. Either way, we are at a complete loss on how we are going to afford to help him get what he needs, beginning with the testing scheduled for next month. The initial testing alone will be several thousand dollars out of pocket. This is just the initial bloodwork. He will also need scans and other testing depending on the results of the first tests.

We know that times are rough for many of us right now. Any little bit that can help us get him what he needs is so appreciated beyond what words can describe.