In September of 2023, our family was forever changed.

Our son, Caleb, came down with what seemed like a routine illness—strep. But almost overnight, everything about him changed. He began showing signs of OCD and tics, became overwhelmed with anxiety, and started having aggressive outbursts that were completely unlike him. It felt like we lost our child in a matter of days.

For nearly two years, we lived in a constant state of confusion, fear, and heartbreak, searching for answers while watching Caleb struggle more and more.

In September of 2025, we finally got a diagnosis: PANDAS—an autoimmune disorder triggered by strep, where the body mistakenly attacks the brain, causing inflammation and severe neurological and behavioral symptoms.

Caleb is now under the care of a pediatric neurologist who specializes in PANDAS, but his case is severe and continues to impact every part of his daily life. He started first grade this past fall, but due to his symptoms, he can only attend school for about three hours a day—and often misses entire days because he simply isn’t sleeping. On average, Caleb gets more than four hours of sleep only once every three days.

We are watching our child suffer from something that is treatable.

His neurologist strongly believes that IVIG is the best chance to significantly improve Caleb’s condition. IVIG works by infusing healthy donor antibodies and has been shown to reduce PANDAS symptoms by 60% or more in many children.

But there’s a devastating barrier: insurance.

For the past six months, we have fought tirelessly to get this treatment approved. We’ve faced denial after denial and have now exhausted every level of appeal. Our only remaining option is to file for an external review through the Maryland Insurance Administration—a process that can take a long time, with no guarantee of approval.

Meanwhile, Caleb’s condition continues to decline.

We cannot afford to wait.

Each round of IVIG costs $6,924 out of pocket. Caleb will need at least three rounds—likely six or more. Like most families, covering nearly $7,000 per month is simply not possible for us.

We are humbly asking for your help to fund Caleb’s first round of IVIG so he can begin treatment immediately while we continue fighting the insurance decision.

Every donation will go directly toward Caleb’s medical care, including IVIG treatments and specialist visits that are not covered by insurance.

As parents, there is nothing more painful than watching your child suffer and feeling powerless to help. We are doing everything we can—but we cannot do this alone.

If you are able to give, share, or support in any way, it would mean more to our family than we can ever express.

Thank you for being part of Caleb’s fight. ❤️