Friday, December 30, 2016

Life in the Undiagnosed World: Our Journey for a Diagnosis

“Take him home and try to give him as normal of a life as possible.”

What is normal? For one extremely, amazing four-year old little boy named Cohen, normal, means absolutely nothing can enter his body to nourish him. He survives solely on nutritional life support. It means being hospitalized for low grade fevers, extremely aggressive medications to combat infections, and being confined to an IV pole everyday. Normal, means his time outdoors is limited, no swimming, or rough little boy games. It means, leaving the house with a heavy backpack which contains a large volume of infusing fluids. This is Cohen’s reality and he deserves a better normal.

This brave little boy’s entire life has been full of invasive procedures and hospitalizations. All attempts to feed and medicate him through his digestive system have failed, ending with violent vomiting and internal bleeding. His body can only tolerate ice chips, which must be vented back out of his stomach through a gastric tube. Due to lack of motility, even small amounts of water can cause hours of painful episodes where he screams, begging for help. An extremely large colon and intestines are another source of his stomach aches, requiring continuous venting of air pressure from his belly to reduce discomfort.

Two years ago, Cohen’s growth and development reached a critical point and his doctor placed a central line (permanent IV) in his chest. It is through this line that Cohen receives TPN (total parental nutrition). His daily caloric intake is measured through blood draws which ensure all of his nutritional needs are being met. This medical nutrition is administered through 24 hour infusion, seven days a week. Without this life sustaining medication, Cohen could not survive.

Cohen’s body is in a constant state of inflammation and any illness can send his immune system into extreme overdrive, shutting down organs in its path. Cohen recently had emergency surgery to remove his severally inflamed gallbladder which was dangerously near perforating. In 2016, he went into acute liver failure from an infection that progressed quickly, wreaking havoc on his little body. Therefore, even low grade fevers must be met with aggressive medications to prevent extreme inflammatory responses and sepsis. Since he becomes ill so quickly he must be transported by air. Cohen's medical team is six hours from our home and it would be to dangerous to drive that distance during an acute situation.



Severe food/medicine allergies and intestinal failure are just a facet of Cohen’s illness. His list of symptoms and diagnosis cross over into every system in his body. Genetic sequencing revealed two additional diseases, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and Factor V Deficiency (bleeding disorder). However, Cohen's physicians do not believe these diseases are his main illness. He has also been diagnosed with dysautonomia, which is an umbrella term used to describe a lack of communication in the autonomic nervous system. For Cohen, this means he has fatigue and issues with temperature regulation, making it challenging for him to be outside. It means he screams in pain when touching snow or sweats profusely in warm temperatures. Other evasive health issues include; antibodies in his platelets,  pancytopenia (all blood systems low, making blood transfusions and iron infusions necessary), hands and feet turning blue, chronic pancreatitis, as well as malacia in his upper and lower airway and nodules on his throat and vocal cords. 

Normal for Cohen means heartfelt conversations with amazing doctors which begin with, “I know you’re going to ask me some really tough questions that I am not going to have the answers for, and I am going to feel awful about it.” It’s hearing the words, “Everything we try for him is experimental at this point.” Normal, is not having a plan for lack of a diagnosis.

Our team of care givers includes gastroenterology, hematology, pulmonology, immunology, ENT and rheumatology. Although, this is an amazing team of physicians, at one of the top children’s hospitals in the world, they don’t have a name for Cohen’s illness. His care is coordinated between all of these services and their resources, but they are limited by the boundaries of modern medicine. 

Without a diagnosis, we have no prognosis or plan of care. Our best hope is to keep him as well as possible. For now we simply pray that the extreme measures used to nourish him, do not eventually destroy the same organs they are currently keeping alive.

Physicians have no more medical intervention to offer him. No more treatments. No better plan. We find ourselves with an unclear picture of Cohen’s future. Currently, our entire care team agrees that Cohen’s illness has yet to be identified by science. 

What does all of this mean for Cohen? We wait, hoping and praying that the science of tomorrow will arrive today.

When Cohen’s disease finally gets a name we will have hope for a better treatment plan and the possibility of a cure. For now we simply pray that our story connects with individuals who hold the possibility for answers. Unfortunately, until that day arrives he will continue to be a member of the undiagnosed world and remain on a journey for a diagnosis.

“Take him home and try to give him as normal of a life as possible.” The ugly truth is although we are frustrated and hurt, we know these words come from well-intended and equally frustrated physicians, not because they want to deliver this kind of news, but because they have no more options at this point.


This is Cohen’s normal. My question is, “How can we make it better?”



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Monday, August 8, 2016

"What Do You Mean He Can't Eat?"




Did you know that our Super Cohen has a very real Super Power....
He can live without eating food!



“What do you mean, he can’t eat?” people ask. Two years ago I would have had a similar response. That was before I knew people can survive without consuming food.


Cohen on a swing, wearing his superhero cape.
Cohen on a swing, wearing his superhero cape.

HPN Awareness Week is August 7–13, 2016. About 40,000 Americans,including my son, live on home parenteral Nutrition or TPN (total parenteral nutrition). Parenteral nutrition (PN) is the feeding of a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion. The person receives nutritional formulae that contain nutrients such as glucose, salts, amino acids, lipids and added vitamins and dietary minerals. It is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or total nutrient admixture (TNA) when no significant nutrition is obtained by other routes.
Our journey with TPN began in March 2015, when attempts to feed Cohen through his GI system failed. Cohen’s doctor describes his condition as idiopathic intestinal failure, which simply means we have yet to figure out why his intestines don’t function like they should.
All of Cohen’s nutrition comes from this amazing source of life sustaining medication. In the past,patients on TPN would have had to remain hospitalized to receive this type of treatment, but now because of advancements in medical equipment, patients like Cohen can live at home.
TPN is made especially for each patient; it’s a “made to order” form of nutrition, extremely specific to each individual’s blood lab results. In order for Cohen to grow at an
appropriate rate, he must receive continuous nutrition through his veins (or as Cohen says, he eats through his heart) and his infusion lasts for 20 hours. Unfortunately, this only enables him to be disconnected from pumps and IV poles for a few hours each evening, but this is his time to be like other kids his age. Watching him run, jump and play with his friends and siblings is a gift I will never take for granted.
There is no doubt that TPN provides us with many blessings, allowing us to live outside of the hospital. However, TPN does not come without risks, and should not be considered unless all other options of nutrition have failed first.
One potentially devastating side effect is liver damage, which can occur from long term use. Because TPN is administered through an IV catheter, there is also a great risk of life-threatening infections. Last February Cohen developed a fungal infection which progressed to what his physicians described as an overactive immune response by his body. He went into acute liver failure and septic shock. It was a very scary time for us, but we are grateful that he is doing much better now.
Because of the danger of infection, we must be vigilant in the way we care for Cohen and his IV line. This requires us to do weekly sterile dressing changes at the catheter insertion site. He must also avoid contact sports and swimming, because the line must remain protected and dry to avoid bacteria growth.
TPN allows him to do things like mop the floors,
dressed as Buzz of course!
We live in a world where food is the center of much of our daily experiences, such as parties, movies, and other events. But for someone who can’t eat, it can be another reminder of how different they are from others. This week gives us a chance to share a glimpse of what life is like for those who can’t eat food. For a 3-year-old, it means no swimming, and limited time on the playground. It means no birthday cakes or treats like other kids his age.
TPN is not easy to deal with, but it allows Cohen to be part of life. Our family strives to enjoy the blessings and gifts each day has to offer.
My hope is that by answering questions about TPN, we can build a pathway to education and understanding, breeding compassion and inclusion.

This is a very special week for us. It is our chance to remind the world that we are all beautifully different.
Visit the Oley Foundation for more information about living on HPN or enteral feeds.


HPN Awareness Week! 


August 713, 2016 



Please check out our friends at the Oley Foundation for more information about living on HPN or Enteral Feeds.


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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

A Letter to A Friend

A while back, I had a conversation with someone who revealed the true fears of her heart to me. It was apparent that her words were not at all intended to hurt me or judge our family's journey but truly express her very real fear.

I haven't been able to get that conversations off my mind. Her fears are not isolated to her, in fact I imagine that there are many others that share the same feelings as this beautiful woman, but have not found the courage to speak the words.

"I am afraid to have a baby, I don't think I could handle having a sick child."

Here is a letter to her and others that share her fear.

Dear Friend,

I do not begrudge you for your fear of being faced with the idea of living my journey, having a sick child can be frightening. None of us feel equipped emotionally, mentally, or even physically to keep up with the demands of caring for a child with special needs, but take heart there is far more to this journey than the struggles we face.

Your words of fear broke my heart. Not because you hurt me but because I can see that your fear is deep and has paralyzed you, denying you one of life's greatest treasures. I hope that my words can speak to your heart and paint a different picture for you of motherhood.

No one would ever choose to have their little one suffer in any manner. As parents we want to believe that our children will be born into a perfect world, never experiencing pain or disappointment, however that is not a reality for any of us. I can't promise you that your pregnancy will go smoothly without complication or that your child will be born with all of their parts working properly, but what I can promise you is this... their birth makes you their mother. In one brief moment you are instantaneously transformed into the most important person in the life of another human being, and that feels amazing. The fear you have now transforms into love, a love like no other.

Every journey of motherhood is full of ups and downs whether your child is healthy or not. For the first time in your life you will question every decision you make because the consequences effect more than the person in the mirror. But those decisions evolve you into an incredible person, one you never imagined you could be. You will struggle at times but in return you will find more joy than you ever dreamed possible. 

These little lives bring purpose and balance to a world of chaos. They remind us of everything good in the world and inspire us to find that same good within ourselves. Not all days will be easy but true happiness can be found in each of them if we choose to find it. 

There are many good reasons to choose to not be a parent but I pray that fear will never be one of them for anyone. Every life has purpose. Every life is beautiful. Every life is worth the cost that comes with living. Your greatest loss would be missing out on this kind of love due to fear.

So please dear friend do not fear my journey, for my journey is a good one and this little life that I have been entrusted with is worth fighting for. I would rather know a life with him, this way, than live a life never having known this incredible little spirit. 

All of My Love, 
A Mother of a Special Needs Child
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A Letter to A Friend

A while back, I had a conversation with someone who revealed the true fears of her heart to me. It was apparent that her words were not at all intended to hurt me or judge our family's journey but truly express her very real fear.

I haven't been able to get that conversations off my mind. Her fears are not isolated to her, in fact I imagine that there are many others that share the same feelings as this beautiful woman, but have not found the courage to speak the words.

"I am afraid to have a baby, I don't think I could handle having a sick child."

Here is a letter to her and others that share her fear.

Dear Friend,

I do not begrudge you for your fear of being faced with the idea of living my journey, having a sick child can be frightening. None of us feel equipped emotionally, mentally, or even physically to keep up with the demands of caring for a child with special needs, but take heart there is far more to this journey than the struggles we face.

Your words of fear broke my heart. Not because you hurt me but because I can see that your fear is deep and has paralyzed you, denying you one of life's greatest treasures. I hope that my words can speak to your heart and paint a different picture for you of motherhood.

No one would ever choose to have their little one suffer in any manner. As parents we want to believe that our children will be born into a perfect world, never experiencing pain or disappointment, however that is not a reality for any of us. I can't promise you that your pregnancy will go smoothly without complication or that your child will be born with all of their parts working properly, but what I can promise you is this... their birth makes you their mother. In one brief moment you are instantaneously transformed into the most important person in the life of another human being, and that feels amazing. The fear you have now transforms into love, a love like no other.

Every journey of motherhood is full of ups and downs whether your child is healthy or not. For the first time in your life you will question every decision you make because the consequences effect more than the person in the mirror. But those decisions evolve you into becoming an incredible person, one you never imagined you could be. You will struggle at times but in return you will find more joy than you ever dreamed possible. 

These little lives bring purpose and balance to a world of chaos. They remind us of everything good in the world and inspire us to find that same good within ourselves. Not all days will be easy but true happiness can be found in each of them if we choose to find it. 

There are many good reasons to choose to not be a parent but I pray that fear will never be one of them for anyone. Every life has purpose. Every life is beautiful. Every life is worth the cost that comes with living. Your greatest loss would be missing out on this kind of love due to fear.

So please dear friend do not fear my journey, for my journey is a good one and this little life that I have been entrusted with is worth fighting for. I would rather know a life with him, this way, than live a life never having known this incredible little spirit. 

All of My Love, 
A Mother of a Special Needs Child
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Monday, January 25, 2016

My FaceBook Farewell

Her words were simple, sweet and full of wisdom, "Mama can we have a FaceBook-free home?"

If I have learned anything in the past two years, through our journey with Cohen, it has been that family-time is precious. 

Unfortunately, it is also easy for me to take this gift for granted. Even though I desire to seize every opportunity to enjoy each moment our family has together, I often fall prey to
the distractions of the Internet. Usually, those distractions start out with a meaningful purpose but I often find myself lost in a sea of social media.

I'll be honest, I enjoy seeing my friends and their beautiful families, hearing about what amazing things they have going on in their lives, and especially the occasion when I get to encourage someone else for a change.


However, it's been a goal of mine for a while now to cut back on the amount of technology that streams into our home. 


The older my kids get the more valuable this decision has become. I can feel our time ticking away and with it the opportunities for me to connect with these amazing little people in
my presence.


That's the key, isn't it... To be present in our conversations, present in the moment... present with those that are in our presence.

It seems like such an obvious little observation, yet how often do we find ourselves neglecting those that are in the same room with us because we are virtually interacting with others?

What message are we sending to those closest to us? 


It took one little question, posed to me by my sweet, wise child, to prompt me to reflect on my goals for what I want my children to learn from me. 

My children deserve my attention more than anything else in the world, and doing so makes them feel valued. 

I want them to see me treat those people that are in my physical presence... valuable.

One of the many things I desire for them to understand is the significance of personal communication, the kind that can only happen when we look into another human's eyes. 

We all deserve to feel valued.

It frightens me to think that this is quickly becoming a lost art on our next generation. It is easy to just text or message someone instead of speaking directly to them.


The truth is, there is far more accountability when the words we say are spoken out loud to an individual, allowing us to see their reaction and feel their emotions. We receive a unique interpersonal gift that happens in those types of interactions.

But I can't teach this to my children if I don't model it, which brings me to my decision.


I have decided to leave FaceBook.... indefinitely.


Why? Because I can't turn back time... or stop it, so I thought perhaps I would do my best to try to create more of it. 


Using technology less will allow me to focus solely on the people that are in my presence... and lets face it, there is plenty going on right there to keep me busy enough!


Don't get me wrong I am not abandoning all technology. I will continue to blog, when time allows for it, to keep those that are praying for us up to date on our journey.


Please know that I will be thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers. I hope you will do the same for us. 

Remember, you can always reach out to me through "last generation's" means of communication... lol


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