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London, United Kingdom
Welcome to Shay's story and thank you for taking the time to find out how Shay is doing. It is a place to share our hopes, sadness and the happy times that our little man has. Shay in April 2008 was diagnosed with Pearson's Syndrome a Mitochondrial disease with no cure. Pearson syndrome is very rare, less than a hundred cases have been reported worldwide. It characteristically present in early infancy with pallor, failure to thrive, pancytopenia and diarrhoea. Additional manifestations often include progressive external ophthalmoplegia, proximal myopathy with weakness, and neurologic disturbances. Multiple organ involvement is quite variable. Most infants die before age 3, often due to unremitting metabolic acidosis, infection, or liver failure. Those few individuals who can be medically supported through infancy may experience a full recovery of marrow and pancreatic function. These children eventually undergo a transformation from Pearson's syndrome to Kearns-Sayre syndrome with the development of ptosis, incoordination, mental retardation and episodic coma. Life as we use to know it I cannot remember. We have to live in hope that a miracle will happen for our son.

Friday 15 July 2011

2nd Hospital Visit!

Shay was recently tested to see if his body had developed antibodies against the childhood disease chickenpox. Back in March he developed some spots which the hospital thought was chickenpox. He was quickly put on antiviral drugs over a five day period. The test came back negative meaning Shay has not had chicken pox previously.
A couple of days later Shay wakes up one morning covered in spots his temperture was starting to rise, I really couldn't believe what I was seeing. A very Quick call to the hospital and we were on our way in. Shay was kept in for five days again, he was closely monitored as he is still neutropenic. His temperture went up to 40 and down again numerous times throughout his stay. The doctors did not know what effect the chicken pox was going to have on his body. Thank God all that is over!!! We are going to have his antibodies checked in approximately 8 weeks again. This should show us that it was indeed chickenpox. Also a very big thank you to Shay's community nurses who made it possible for Shay to come home for one afternoon. They were able to bring a mobile iv machine which enabled Shay to have his meds in the comfort of his own home. Little things like this makes all the difference to our little man.

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