 A Real Princess! ~ ¡Una verdadera princesa! “We went back home finally and I remember being at work and getting a phone call from the doctor saying our daughter may have Batten disease. Batten …. What is that? How? why? I looked it up really quickly on the internet and I just fell on the floor.” ~Estela Rosko~ Frankie’s Mom and Advocate The thing that I find most striking when I write about the kids that battle are the love stories that their lives create. I do think that these stories may spread a bit of awareness concerning Batten and other rare diseases but that was never my objective. One thing led to another and I just started to write. I really wanted to honor these children and their families and I’ve also learned some things along the way. One of the things that I’ve learned is that there is a type of love that is like none other. It’s been a while since some very special words were told to me and those words created a moment that I will never forget. It’s been sometime since I’ve chatted with a FB friend of mine named Shannon but I know that she won’t mind me sharing something with you. That is the words that she had placed in my chat window. Shannon was the mom of a son who had a terminal condition that left him bedridden, oftentimes in the hospital. Most days, Shannon would stay by her son’s side until the day of his passing. These situations can play out without the knowledge of the outside world, in fact, they most often do. Special families like this can live in isolation. This is what Shannon said to me on one particular day, “All we can do is show these kids our undying love”. That is a phrase that has never left my consciousness and it is one that I often refer to in my writing. Those are Shannon’s words, not mine and they have helped me to better explain what these families are feeling. When love is mixed with grief, it becomes a profound type of love. One that is undying. A bond is created. It’s a bond that is so strong that it can never be broken. The love that you have for a child never dies and it only becomes intensified at a time of loss. It can become a love that hurts even before the loss takes place. Time will pass but that connection always remains, no matter what. It always amazes me what the parents of a rare child will do to help their young warrior(s) battle. There is no distance that they will not travel in order to find help. There isn’t a need that is so large that they won’t do everything in their power to fulfill it. Nothing is more important. Not a career or a house, or any ambition will get in the way when finding that help is possible. I’ve often shared with my readers the fact that I am the father of a son who has special needs. I’ve also shared recently that my son Benjamin just received a diagnosis for his disorder in the last few months. We now know that he has PACS2 syndrome with the answer being found through whole exome genetic testing. Benjamin was 32 years old when he received his diagnosis. What was it that drove me to find a diagnosis for Benjamin at such a late age? I was actually prompted by a day program provider who gave me a list of concerns that she had concerning my son's health. The swelling in his legs had her concerned about the condition of his heart and she was also concerned about diminished mobility. The thing that really caught my attention was a concern over some supposed cognitive decline. In her opinion, my son was not doing everything that he once was and he was losing interest in things that he had liked doing in the past. Having knowledge of kids that decline cognitively and what that can mean caused me great concern. Please forgive me for trying to draw an unfair comparison but I just wanted to share what I was feeling at the time I looked at her list. That was that we could be in the process of losing our son. I remember this sinking feeling inside of me. I was thinking that his decline meant that we would soon be without him. I shared those feelings with my wife and she agreed that losing Benjamin was always a possibility. Why is it unfair to compare ourselves to a rare disease family in this situation? It is because most of them would love to know that they had 32 years or more with their child in front of them. For me though at that moment, it was an awful feeling. We still don’t know what Benjamin’s future holds. This is because he is one of the oldest known cases of PACS2 in the world. We are providing more answers about the longevity of these people than we are receiving from others. Even so, we’ve been blessed to have him all these years. Benjamin’s life is a love story also. So often have I stated that while some things have been sacrificed to keep my son in our home they are nothing compared to what a rare disease family will experience. When they receive the news that their child has a disease like Batten and they learn what this means, it brings extreme devastation and sadness. Unlike a temporary feeling like I had experienced, these parents' hearts are broken in a way that is lasting. That is why the families that battle have our heartfelt love and respect. A Romantic Beginning  Romantic Beginning. ~ Comienzo Romántico. Most of the stories that I’ve written begin with this theme and it’s sometimes written in words like this, “two people meet and fall in love”. Love begins when we notice someone and an interest sparks inside of us. We then decide that the person opposite of us is someone that we can’t live without. We have no idea at that point what life will bring to us. However, one thing that we do know is that this is someone that we want to go through life with, no matter what life might bring.There will always be challenges along the way as this is part of living in this world. At that moment though, all we think about is that we love the one we’re with. People normally make plans for their future. Sometimes, they just move forward as the future reveals what life will bring. Things can change drastically through a chain of events or circumstances not seen and the course of our lives can be altered. This is so often the case and that leads us into this next story. This one begins with the story of a young lady named Estela Gutierrez Olmos. Estela was born in a little fishing town in the state of Veracruz in Mexico. When she was 17, her family moved back to her mother’s hometown of Guanajuato. There, she was surrounded by a big extended family but she herself was an only child. Estela’s life was carefree and happy overall as she grew up and her life continued to take shape. One day, she would begin to attend college at the Universidad Santa Fe. Her college was located only about an hour away from where she had lived and this allowed her to see her family on the weekends. Estela would be successful in gaining her four year degree in tourist business administration and this would be a perfect education for what she wanted to do for a career. Estela was quick to find a job at a restaurant near where she lived and this would allow her to start saving. It would not be long before Estela would land a position at a hotel in Cancun, Mexico. Her savings from the restaurant job would help with traveling to her new position and this had to be an exciting time for her. There would be much that would take place in Cancun in the not too distant future and Estela couldn’t wait to get started. Life would continue on and she would prosper in her job and in life for the next couple of years. It was in the year 2005 that Estela would meet the person that would one day be her husband. She had no way of knowing that at the time though. Brian Rosko was serving in the United States Marine Corps at the time that he and Estela would meet. He was working as a security guard in Havana, Cuba but found himself there in Cancun at the time of their meeting. An interest in each other would take place but each of them were busy in their individual careers which were in two different places. And still, a friendship was formed and they would both stay in touch through phone calls and emails. For Brian, it was love at first sight with Estela approaching the relationship with caution. For Brian, it was more than just words as he would be back to visit Estela just a couple of months later. He would take her on a date to Margaritaville where they would talk. Over time, Brian’s love for Estela would be proven through his actions.  A Beautiful Story. ~ Una hermosa historia. Brian was getting ready to transfer to Germany and they decided to continue to stay in touch. There was definitely a mutual interest in each other and they wanted to see if it would be lasting. Both Brian and Estela knew that a relationship from such a long distance away may not survive. Estela especially as she didn’t believe that this type of relationship could last. However, in the course of time an event that would change everything would take place. It was on October the 15th of 2005 that Hurricane Wilma would hit Mexico. Cancun was greatly affected and that would soon change the circumstances surrounding Brian and Estela’s long distance relationship. Cancun was destroyed and Estela would be forced to live in a shelter before she could leave. One of the girls that she lived with was from England and her friend had planned to return there soon. This gave Estela the idea that she would like to go to England with her friend in order to try the job market there. Let’s use Estela’s own words to share what the result of this decision would be, “I decided to go there with her to try my luck. I have to say I had not too much luck with work but, I found love…”. And indeed she did. Brian had already been in Germany when Estela had gone with her friend to England and her birthday would soon roll around in November. Brian sent flowers to Estela for her birthday. In fact, he sent them twice in order to make sure that she would receive them and she did. In Estela’s own words, “the rest was history”. A month later, Brian had asked Estela to come visit him in Germany and she would make the trip to see him. Estela shared with me what happened when she took that trip and here is how it was stated to me, “I found in this man another kind of love. A selfless, mature, and beautiful love. And I got to say we fell in love with each other. He never gave up and I decided to give love another chance.” Brian was sent to Africa after 6 months and Estela returned to Mexico. Their relationship would again be tested as they had to be separated from each other for an entire year. The demands of the military can be difficult on relationships and they both knew that. They both felt that if the feelings remained, they would one day be married. Their relationship was meant to be a lasting one. A relationship that would pass the test. Some months later, Estela received flowers all the way from Brian in Africa and they included a marriage proposal in spanish. Surrounded by family on August the 11th of 2007, the couple would be married in Guanajuato, Mexico. With their vows exchanged as family looked on, Estela would move to the United States with Brian. Their life together would begin and Brian would continue to serve in the Marine corps. Together, they would travel to duty stations all over for the next five years while enjoying Brian’s off hours together. How different was this than what Estela had originally envisioned for her future? It must have been so much fun to see so many different places together. This while their life together continued and their relationship grew. They also discussed the future. Building a Family Their plans for the future of course included building a family together. This is something that Estela desired, especially because she had been an only child. Brian and Estela’s desire to begin a family would start to become a reality after that first five years of marriage. It would be in the Fall of 2012 that Estela would learn that she was pregnant and both her and Brian were very happy to receive the news. Her first pregnancy would go well overall and the day would arrive that Estela would give birth to a baby boy. They would name him Luciano. Their first son was born in Okinawa, Japan on July 26th of 2013. Both mom and dad were very happy and their life together as a family was really taking shape. Estela loved being a mom. That was something that she had always wanted and having a big family was part of what she had wished for. It wouldn’t take long for the size of their family to increase. Estela found out that she was pregnant for the 2nd time when Luciano was six months old. Again, her next pregnancy would go well. She would also carry this next baby without complication. Like any expecting couple, Brian and Estela would look forward to having another child in their home. This, even as they enjoyed their time with baby Luciano. The day would arrive and this time, their 2nd child would be born in Albany, Georgia in the United States. The date would be January the 9th of 2015 and Estela would give Brian another son. This little baby was perfect, with all of his fingers and toes, and they would name him Geronimo.  A Perfect Baby. ~ Un Bebé Perfecto. Brian and Estela’s attention was now being given to two sons and life together was good. Their romantic beginning had blossomed into full fledged family life. Estela was busy at home while Brian continued in his career as a Marine. They enjoyed what they now had and would wait a couple of years before increasing the size of their family. As those two years passed, they started to talk about maybe having another child. They didn’t know it at that time but Estela was already pregnant and expecting baby number three. This news did not disappoint them as it was something that they had desired for the future of their family. Luciano and little Geronimo were both growing and thriving, each in their own way as the days continued on. Each of Estela’s pregnancies with her two boys went well but the next one however, was really stressful. This was because she was told that her next child may be born with Down syndrome. What do you do in such a situation? Estela shared that there were some really dark days for her. She had days of confusion and she had so many questions that needed to be answered. There were also brighter days that were filled with joy. She was going to have another baby and it was very possible that her new little one would be happy and healthy. That was the hope that she was clinging to. The other issue was that Estela had a condition called placenta previa. To make a long story short, her baby’s placenta was not formed with it being placed in the most desirable position. This can lead to a lot of bleeding in the expecting mom and that is also something that she had to deal with. This would all make for some depressing days but Estela worked her way through it. Finally the day would arrive, that day being September the 21st of 2017. Estela’s first child, Luciano, had been a hard delivery. This was because of Estela’s small frame. Her pelvic bones were too narrow and she was in labor for a long time. Her next baby boy would be delivered by Cesarean section as a result and so would be baby number three. The concerns over the placenta previa would only add to the doctor’s worries and the need for another C-section. She would also need a blood transfusion after the delivery. All of the concerns that Estela had to overcome were swallowed up in the joy that she would experience after delivering her’s and Brian’s next child. This time, Estela gave birth to a baby girl. She shared what her words were as her new daughter was delivered. Estela said, “I remember the first thing I asked my husband after I heard her cry. That was, is she healthy? Tell me please that she is healthy.” Estela shared that Brian then came over with a beautiful and perfectly healthy baby girl. One that would have the two of them wrapped around her tiny finger from that day forward. Yes, she was beautiful and perfect in every way. She was born at the Naval hospital in San Diego, California and they would name her Francesca Louise. This was to honor the memory of Brian’s mother and it was a beautiful name. The new princess of the family would become affectionately known as Frankie. Things would go perfectly with Frankie’s health in her beginning years. Estela shared that she had struggled with postpartum depression with both her boys but that was not an issue for her with Frankie. This special little girl had made all of those kinds of feelings go away and Estela’s days were filled only with love and happiness. She felt as if Frankie’s life was meant to be and who could argue that this is the case. Frankie would continue to grow and develop, reaching all of her milestones and her future looked so bright. As a family, they had grown together. Life was busy but overall, it was wonderful. Things were just as you would expect for a young family. Then came the early months of the year 2020 when Covid-19 began to impact everyone’s lives. Brian, Estela, and the children had to move from San Diego to the state of Florida. They would have to sell their house and move in what were the very stressful days of a worldwide pandemic. At the beginning, there were restrictions placed on children’s play at parks in Florida but then some of those restrictions would be lifted. Kids would begin to play and interact with other people again and that is when they would notice something different about Frankie. It was at that time that Estela noticed that Frankie was not at the same level as her peers. She wasn't performing at the level of a 3 year old. Frankie couldn’t climb by herself, swing, or go down the slide. What was also noticed is that her speech wasn’t at the same level as the other kids. It wasn’t there as it should be. A Nightmare Begins  So Sweet! ~ ¡Tan dulce! Estela did what most any mom would do once all of this was noticed and that was to take her daughter to the doctor. The doctor recommended speech therapy. Estela didn’t worry too much about the speech delay and perhaps Frankie was just a little slower at developing new skills. In regards to her speech, Estela thought that the fact that two languages were spoken in their home had something to do with the delay. These were things that could be overcome in time but then, it all became more complicated. An event would take place that would shake Estela and Brian as well. Estela shares in her own words, “The nightmare started one morning in February when I felt the bed shaking, it was my daughter having her first seizure.” Anytime that a child has a seizure, it’s a signal that something isn’t right. There is something abnormal going on with the child’s health or it’s a symptom of a condition yet unknown. Either way, a seizure is a very frightening occurrence. It was a morning in February of 2021 and Brian had left for work. It was fortunate that Frankie had slept with her parents that night, otherwise it may not have been noticed. Estela could feel the bed shaking at around 6 a.m. She didn’t know exactly what was taking place but she knew it was serious. Estela called Brian and asked him to return home and they would take Frankie to the hospital. By that time, the staff at the emergency room couldn’t tell if Frankie had experienced a seizure or not, even if it had been suspected. They urged Brian and Estela to check in with Frankie’s pediatrician and then released them to go home. The pediatrician also found it difficult to know if a seizure had occurred in Frankie but that would not be the end of it. Frankie would have a 2nd seizure, this time shaking violently and throwing up as well. All of a sudden, life was so different. Something had happened that parents would never expect to take place. All of a sudden it was felt that things were not the same. Life would be different. The family would spend the night in the emergency room this time as the staff performed testing. Everything looked okay at the time that they tested Frankie but they felt that she may have epilepsy. Frankie would soon be referred to a neurologist for further care and testing. A 3rd seizure would take place in the course of time but it was the 4th seizure that Estela shared had “scarred” her for life. This actually happened when she was driving home from the neurology appointment in Ft. Lauderdale. Estela was on the highway and everything looked fine at the time. Then, a few minutes later, she looked back at her daughter in the mirror and she could see it coming. Estela pulled off at the nearest exit but Frankie had already turned purple by the time that she could reach her daughter. Estela thought that she had lost Frankie. In fact, she shared, “To this day, this has been the most horrible feeling I have ever experienced.” Estela called 911 and as they coached her, the paramedics would be on their way.  She's a Little Beauty! ~ ¡Ella es una pequeña belleza! Minutes later, they would arrive and would transport the princess to the emergency room. The doctor that day again felt that Frankie was suffering from epilepsy. This made perfect sense at the time, especially since epilepsy existed in other people within Estela’s family. It was after this that Frankie’s neurologist wanted her to undergo an entire panel of tests that he called “the million dollar testing”. Francesca would be admitted to the hospital for a week in order to undergo all of this testing. During that time, every test that was being performed would result in a negative finding. However, the EEG that was performed did look somewhat abnormal and because of this, the neurologist would order genetic testing for Frankie. As was mentioned earlier, Estela had noticed a speech delay in Frankie along with some delay in the development of her skills. This after she was exposed to children her own age when certain restrictions were lifted. The difference was noticeable but it was felt that it probably had to do with Frankie’s environment. She was also having some behavioral issues and was scared to be around other kids. Never would Frankie’s parents have thought that all of this put together pointed to something more sinister than simple epilepsy. They had no way of knowing that these individual symptoms were pieces of a puzzle that would soon be solved. The answer would be revealed as genetic testing was ordered at Broward Health hospital in Coral Springs, Florida. It was decided that using the swab method and collecting saliva was the quickest way to do the genetic testing. This was done through a well known company named Invitae Medical Genetics. Frankie and both her parents would be swabbed and the samples sent through the mail. Receiving the results for genetic testing can take a few weeks but sometimes it can be much longer if delayed. As would be the case with the Rosko family, the lab was on top of things. Invitae generally provides excellent service. The results would come back only weeks later but there would still be time to wonder. I know of so many stories in the past where families would have to wait an extended period of time. This was sometimes because of either mistakes that had been made or because of a lack of urgency within the system the family was working with. In this case Frankie’s neurologist would make sure that everything got expedited and he would stay by the family’s side until an answer was found. When the test results came back, they showed that two mutated copies of the tpp1 gene were present. Both mom and dad had a form of this mutated gene. This is the gene that is affected when a rare disease named Batten is present in a child. The neurologist would call and tell Estela that Batten disease was a real possibility but that more testing had to be performed. Just like it would be with most any mom or dad, Estela had never heard of Batten disease. She did what anyone would do in that situation and that is to look the disease up on the internet. A Battle Not None  A Mother's Love. ~ El amor de una madre. Estela shared that the prospect of Frankie having something like Batten caused her to fall to her knees. How could this be possible? In an instant Frankie’s situation had changed and had become much worse. Epilepsy was something that they could live with but the information Estela read revealed the worst possible situation for her daughter. This disease was fatal and it had no cure. With Batten disease, the body is not able to produce an enzyme that is needed for ridding certain cells of waste. This waste instead builds up in the body and it does great harm. Frankie would have to be tested again to learn what level of this enzyme her body carried. She and her parents would meet with the geneticist to go over the findings of the first test. Frankie would then have her blood drawn, this was in order to check her level of the tpp1 enzyme. The results from this test would take another three weeks to come back. It was then that Estela would receive a call from the geneticist who had the results concerning Frankie’s level. Her enzyme level was low. At first, Estela thought that this was a good thing but once explained, she was devastated. Frankie had a level of only 9% of the tpp1 enzyme. Estela’s little girl had the CLN2 variant of Batten disease. That day was June the 3rd of 2021 and for Frankie’s mom and dad, it was the worst day of their lives. Both of them knew that things would never be the same. What had begun to become a whirlwind of events would only continue to grow in intensity. Estela asked the neurologist about what the next step would be, even knowing that surgery would be coming. CLN2 is the only variant of Batten disease to date that has a treatment available. Enzyme replacement therapy is possible once a port is surgically implanted in the child’s head. A solution named Brineura is then infused into the child’s brain through the port every two weeks. The only problem is that this surgery and the corresponding treatment is not available at every hospital throughout the country. It was not available at a hospital near the Rosko family and this left Estela with feelings of anger and desperation. Frankie’s neurologist tried to move mountains in order to make the treatment available in their area but he was not successful. The family would somehow have to get Frankie to a location where it was available. They would discover that their very best option was to go to Ohio, specifically Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Estela’s aunt had done some research and had found a physician named Emily De Los Reyes in Columbus. She was an expert in knowing how to treat CLN2 Batten, being greatly involved in the start of enzyme replacement therapy for these kids. That was the place that the Rosko family needed to take Frankie. Estela asked Fankie’s Brineura counselor if they could go to Ohio for this life changing treatment and the answer would turn out to be yes! The speed at which everything moved in Frankie’s case was both amazing and critical. The faster a child can get started with enzyme replacement, the less the total regression of the child at the start of their journey. That is why an early diagnosis is so important. The Rosko family would make the trip to Ohio and they did so at whatever cost because of love. Frankie would have appointments all week after being accepted. Her surgery was June the 11th of 2021 and her first Brineura treatment took place on the 21st. Can you imagine how drastically life had changed for this family in such a short period of time? I wanted to use Estela’s words in a quote to show what she was feeling from the day of the diagnosis forward. This as they were forced to take action so quickly. Here is what Estela told me, “That day, something in me died. I remember it was like a sand castle that somebody had stepped on. These were the most sad and dark days of our lives. Mine and my husbands, and I’m sure my family’s too. But, we picked ourselves up, grabbed our precious little girl and went to Ohio to get that surgery done.” It happened so quickly but this is generally what happens with each parent that receives this type of news. It all begins with shock and great dismay when they find out that their child has such a horrific disease. The initial feelings are then pushed to the side although the sadness continues. There is then a determined type of strength that takes over as action is taken. Estela continued with this, “I saw it as a burden to have to travel to Ohio but it’s true, that saying that everything does happen for a reason. We were met with the best doctors we could ever ask for, the best nurses , the best care, and the best people.” Any Distance for Frankie  Father and Daughter Time. ~ Tiempo de padre e hija. With Frankie at their side, the family would travel to and from Ohio for about four months in order for their princess to undergo the treatments. The cost of this type of thing, financial and otherwise, is always tremendous. This was especially true because the trip had to be made every two weeks. The entire time, Frankie not only had the staff at Nationwide Hospital in Ohio working for her but also her team of doctors in Florida. Both her pediatrician, Dr. Lopez and Frankie’s nurse practitioner Mendez were working to have the treatments made available closer to home there in Florida. They would be successful and the Brineura treatment would soon become available at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Their days of being in Ohio for the infusions were over, or so they thought at the time. Knowing how loved Frankie was by the staff, the Roskos were sad to be leaving Nationwide children’s. They were however very happy and relieved to know that the long trips were over. The days of being separated as a family were over as well and that was also a relief. There would be more that would take place that would affect Frankie and her family. A concern that every family has when they battle CLN2 Batten is that their young warrior will one day lose his or her eyesight. A clinical trial has begun recently that works to help avoid the loss of eyesight in a CLN2 Batten child. This is in addition to infusions for enzyme replacement therapy. Estela had heard about the trial during Frankie’s first infusions as a doctor had mentioned it to her. Estela of course wanted this treatment for her daughter but she was told that the trial was by invitation only. Not only this but Frankie would have to qualify as well. The family would take Frankie back home to Florida after her latest treatment and would then be back in a couple of weeks for the next. This time, the ophthalmologist would examine Frankie to see if she would qualify for the trial involving the treatment of her eyes. The answer would turn out to be yes and for this, Brian and Estela were grateful. The only issue now was that they would have to start to travel back and forth again, from Florida to Ohio. When asked if they were willing to travel, the Roskos would of course say yes. They already knew how difficult the trips were but they were willing. Brian thought that this was the time to talk to people within the Marine corps to see if there was something that he could do nearby in Ohio. In other words, he wanted to see if he could get a transfer on a humanitarian basis. This would allow them to move to Ohio as a family while being relieved of the stress of traveling so often. Much to their satisfaction, Brian would end up being granted a transfer to Ohio. They would move in the Summer of 2022 after the kids completed their school year. Oftentimes, the circumstances of a single child or other family member can affect the lives of everyone in the household. This is especially true when we are talking about the needs of a special child. They also sometimes take attention away from their siblings.  A Child's Joy! ~ ¡La alegría de un niño! Frankie’s diagnosis brought with it some drastic changes and a big one was having to leave a place that the entire family loved and was comfortable living in. Frankie is so loved though that this family would have done whatever it takes to get her what she needs. This was in order for her to battle Batten to the fullest and it included starting over in an unfamiliar place. They also moved to a climate that was not as comfortable for someone like Estela, having lived in a warm place like Mexico most of her life. When Brian transferred to Ohio, he was putting the needs of his daughter and his family before any career ambitions he may have had left regarding the Marine corps. Promotions sometimes involve checking all the right boxes and that includes going where the Marines think they need you the most. This may include being deployed overseas. Brian put the needs of his family first because it was the right thing to do. It’s hard to imagine that the Marines would have something for Brian in or near Columbus, Ohio but they did! The move would come and go and Frankie would start the trial for treating her eyes. This was in June in 2022 at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus as the family settled into their new life in Ohio. The trial involves a three year commitment. Estela shared that the first year involves just one eye and then the 2nd year involves both eyes. The third year is saved for check-ups in hopes that Frankie’s vision will remain whole. Estela shared a little about the whole experience, “Witnessing Frankie going under anesthesia once a month and getting her eye injected is no joke but we are in my opinion lucky, very, very lucky. She did qualify and here we are. Our bodies may be frozen in this weather we are not used to at times but our hearts remain warm. This is because we know that we would move to the end of the world if we had to for our little girl.” Everything that this family has done for their princess has been because of the love that they have for this little girl affectionately known as Frankie. They would go anywhere possible in order to help her. Since moving to Ohio, they’ve learned that gene replacement therapy may soon become available in the United Kingdom. They will certainly go there when and if gene replacement becomes a reality. Frankie was diagnosed quickly and that helped her to get started soon after on Brineura treatments. This has helped to slow the advancement of Batten disease in her and she would certainly be a candidate for gene therapy. Estela is hopeful, choosing hope over fear. She believes that a miracle for Frankie can happen. She was reminded of a saying that comes from a Mexican song and she asked me to share it. This is what it says, “but my faith is so big that even though I don’t have a yard, I’ve already bought myself a lawnmower”. This musically lyric, Estela says she repeats to herself over and over again. For now, life goes on in Ohio and the family takes each day one at a time. A Day at a Time  Beautiful Family for Sure! ~ Hermosa familia seguro! Estela shared that Brian has another two years of commitment to the Marine corps and will have served 24 years by the time he retires. It was his goal to have already retired and to have moved on to another career but that was perhaps delayed by what happened with his daughter. Will the fact that Frankie battles Batten interfere further with his future plans? Only time will tell. We’ve never met but this veteran sees in Brian a squared away individual. I know that he will be successful in whatever he sets out to accomplish. There are some things that are uncertain for this family. Life as they had planned things was interrupted by Batten disease and this can cause Estela to become anxious over things that are out of her control. Brian’s steady hand and leadership in this family is a big help to her and Estela says as much right here, “Like I said before, the future, who knows what it will bring. All I know is that when I want to cry because I have no answers, when my anxiety kicks in and I feel that I can’t breathe or go one more step, he holds my hand. He looks me in the eye and tells me, everything will be okay when those moments kick in.” To some that they know in Florida, it seems crazy that the family would leave Florida for a place like Ohio. Estela shared their question and her response to them, “How could you leave the sunshine state? Why? The answer is, for love. Has it been easy? No. Nobody I think will ever be ready for something like this. Are we strong? We have to answer no, there is just no other choice, no other way.” I’ve heard a saying here in America on several occasions that fits this family’s situation and it goes something like this, “You never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice”. That describes the resilience that is found in the people that make up almost every Batten family. There are other types of rare disease families that I’m thinking about as well. Estela also shared, “This new life has taught us to live one day at a time, appreciating every moment. I would say good or bad. We became, of course, more aware of the world around us and I would say more human.” Hardships of our own often make us more empathetic and more aware of what other people may be going through. Maybe the person that we see having a really bad day is going through a hardship that we know nothing about. I can’t help but to share more from Estela as we come close to closing, “We have our bad moments like everybody else but a dear friend told me one day, you cannot have fear and faith at the same time, so we choose hope, we choose love. That, I think, is at the end of the day, the answer too. I do believe that my daughter gets to live in this lifetime. I do believe a cure is near. I do believe she is already a miracle, my miracle, and that is how we choose to live, convinced that the best is yet to come.” Frankie is another beautiful little girl, is she not? Francesca Louise is a beautiful name as well. I see the joy in her smile even from a great distance away and I know that her smile will continue to shine for a long time to come. I want a cure for her and all of the kids that battle CLN2. People do care and I feel that progress is being made. Prayers for this family, as well as all the others, are in order. So often I repeat myself in saying that these kids are the most special and the most amazing. I may be a little biased because I’ve spent so much of my time pouring out my own feelings concerning those who battle. I do, however, think that my observations are true. There truly is something special about a child that faces such a plight. They battle while enduring a life that should be free of care and concern. These children do so while maintaining their childlike resilience. This is on full display to be seen by people who know and love them. Concerning her daughter, Estela recently stated to me, “I’m in love with her Greg, since day one.” I can only imagine how Frankie’s dad feels about her as well. Frankie’s big brothers, affectionately called Lukie and Momo, are a part of this battle as well. It’s not easy to watch your child or sibling having to endure endless needles and other medical treatments on a regular basis. They too have had to adjust and have done a great job of doing so. Estela shares just a little more, “I think about my amazing resilient child that goes through hell every month and still gives me the most beautiful smile, so I get up, wipe my tears and keep fighting for her.” That in itself helps to tell this story. Is my writing about the Rosko family going to spread a lot of awareness concerning Batten disease and the kids that battle? I don’t know if I can answer that question. My purpose here is really just to honor this family while helping them tell their story. I’m happy to have been given the privilege. Another precious family, this for sure. I just wanted to also say to Brian, thank you for your service to our country. It really matters to this writer. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this. Sincerely, ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate Por amor - La historia de Frankie “Finalmente volvimos a casa , recuerdo que estaba en el trabajo y recibí una llamada telefónica del médico que decía que nuestra hija podría tener la enfermedad de Batten.…. ¿Qué es eso? ¿Cómo? ¿por qué? Lo busqué muy rápido en Internet y me caí al piso “. ~Estela Rosko~ Mamá y defensora de Frankie Lo que encuentro más sorprendente cuando escribo sobre los niños que luchan son las historias de amor que crean sus vidas. Creo que estas historias pueden generar un poco de conciencia sobre Batten y otras enfermedades raras, pero ese nunca fue mi objetivo. Una cosa llevó a la otra y empecé a escribir. Tenía muchas ganas de honrar a estos niños y sus familias y también aprendí algunas cosas en el camino. Una de las cosas que he aprendido es que hay un tipo de amor que no se parece a ningún otro. Ha pasado un tiempo desde que me dijeron unas palabras muy especiales y esas palabras crearon un momento que nunca olvidaré. Ha pasado algún tiempo desde que conversé con una amiga mía de FB llamada Shannon, pero sé que no le importará que comparta algo contigo. Esas son las palabras que ella había colocado en mi ventana de chat. Shannon era la madre de un hijo que tenía una enfermedad terminal que lo dejaba postrado en cama, a menudo en el hospital. La mayoría de los días, Shannon se quedaba al lado de su hijo hasta el día de su fallecimiento. Estas situaciones pueden desarrollarse sin el conocimiento del mundo exterior, de hecho, la mayoría de las veces lo hacen. Familias especiales como esta pueden vivir aisladas. Esto es lo que Shannon me dijo un día en particular: "Todo lo que podemos hacer es mostrarles a estos niños nuestro amor eterno". Esa es una frase que nunca ha dejado mi conciencia y es una a la que me refiero a menudo en mis escritos. Esas son palabras de Shannon, no mías y me han ayudado a explicar mejor lo que sienten estas familias. Cuando el amor se mezcla con el dolor, se convierte en un tipo profundo de amor. Uno que es inmortal. Se crea un vínculo. Es un vínculo que es tan fuerte que nunca se puede romper. El amor que tienes por un hijo nunca muere y solo se intensifica en el momento de la pérdida. Puede convertirse en un amor que duele incluso antes de que se produzca la pérdida. El tiempo pasará pero esa conexión siempre permanece, pase lo que pase. Siempre me sorprende lo que hacen los padres de un niño raro para ayudar a su(s) joven(es) guerrero(s) a luchar. No hay distancia que no viajen para encontrar ayuda. No hay necesidad que sea tan grande que no hagan todo lo que esté a su alcance para satisfacerla. Nada es más importante. Ni una carrera, ni una casa, ni ninguna ambición se interpondrá en el camino cuando sea posible encontrar esa ayuda. A menudo he compartido con mis lectores el hecho de que soy padre de un hijo que tiene necesidades especiales. También compartí recientemente que mi hijo Benjamin acaba de recibir un diagnóstico de su trastorno en los últimos meses. Ahora sabemos que tiene el síndrome PACS2 y la respuesta se encuentra a través de pruebas genéticas de exoma completo. Benjamin tenía 32 años cuando recibió su diagnóstico. ¿Qué fue lo que me llevó a encontrar un diagnóstico para Benjamín a una edad tan avanzada? De hecho, una proveedora de un programa diurno me sugirió que me diera una lista de inquietudes que tenía con respecto a la salud de mi hijo. La hinchazón en sus piernas la tenía preocupada por la condición de su corazón y también estaba preocupada por la movilidad disminuida. Lo que realmente me llamó la atención fue la preocupación por un supuesto deterioro cognitivo. En su opinión, mi hijo no estaba haciendo todo lo que hacía antes y estaba perdiendo interés en las cosas que le gustaban hacer en el pasado. Tener conocimiento de los niños que declinan cognitivamente y lo que eso puede significar me causó una gran preocupación. Perdóneme por tratar de hacer una comparación injusta, pero solo quería compartir lo que sentía en el momento en que miré su lista. Eso fue que podríamos estar en el proceso de perder a nuestro hijo. Recuerdo este sentimiento de hundimiento dentro de mí. Estaba pensando que su declive significaba que pronto estaríamos sin él. Compartí esos sentimientos con mi esposa y estuvo de acuerdo en que perder a Benjamin siempre era una posibilidad. ¿Por qué es injusto compararnos con una familia de enfermedades raras en esta situación? Es porque a la mayoría de ellos les encantaría saber que tenían 32 años o más con su hijo frente a ellos. Para mí, sin embargo, en ese momento, fue una sensación horrible. Todavía no sabemos qué le depara el futuro a Benjamin. Esto se debe a que es uno de los casos más antiguos conocidos de PACS2 en el mundo. Estamos brindando más respuestas sobre la longevidad de estas personas que las que recibimos de otros. Aun así, hemos tenido la suerte de tenerlo todos estos años. La vida de Benjamin es también una historia de amor. Tantas veces he dicho que, si bien se han sacrificado algunas cosas para mantener a mi hijo en nuestro hogar, no son nada en comparación con lo que experimentará una familia con enfermedades raras. Cuando reciben la noticia de que su hijo tiene una enfermedad como Batten y aprenden lo que esto significa, sienten una devastación y una tristeza extremas. A diferencia de un sentimiento temporal como el que yo había experimentado, los corazones de estos padres están rotos de una manera duradera. Por eso las familias que luchan tienen nuestro cariño y respeto de corazón. Un Comienzo Romántico La mayoría de las historias que he escrito comienzan con este tema y, a veces, está escrito con palabras como esta, "dos personas se conocen y se enamoran". El amor comienza cuando notamos a alguien y se enciende un interés dentro de nosotros. Luego decidimos que la persona opuesta a nosotros es alguien sin la cual no podemos vivir. En ese momento no tenemos idea de lo que la vida nos traerá. Sin embargo, una cosa que sí sabemos es que se trata de alguien con quien queremos pasar nuestra vida, sin importar lo que la vida pueda traer. Siempre habrá desafíos en el camino, ya que esto es parte de vivir en este mundo. En ese momento, sin embargo, todo lo que pensamos es que amamos a la persona con la que estamos. La gente normalmente hace planes para su futuro. A veces, simplemente avanzan a medida que el futuro revela lo que traerá la vida. Las cosas pueden cambiar drásticamente a través de una cadena de eventos o circunstancias no vistas y el curso de nuestras vidas puede verse alterado. Este suele ser el caso y eso nos lleva a la siguiente historia. Este comienza con la historia de una joven llamada Estela Gutiérrez Olmos. Estela nació en un pequeño pueblo de pescadores en el estado de Veracruz en México. Cuando tenía 17 años, su familia se mudó de regreso a la ciudad natal de su madre, Guanajuato. Allí, estaba rodeada de una gran familia extendida, pero ella misma era hija única. La vida de Estela fue despreocupada y feliz en general a medida que crecía y su vida seguía tomando forma. Un día, ella comenzaría a asistir a la universidad en la Universidad Santa Fe. Su universidad estaba ubicada a solo una hora de donde había vivido y esto le permitía ver a su familia los fines de semana. Estela tendría éxito en obtener su título de cuatro años en administración de empresas turísticas y esta sería una educación perfecta para lo que quería hacer como carrera. Estela no tardó en encontrar trabajo en un restaurante cerca de donde vivía y esto le permitiría empezar a ahorrar. No pasaría mucho tiempo antes de que Estela obtuviera un puesto en un hotel en Cancún, México. Sus ahorros del trabajo en el restaurante la ayudarían a viajar a su nuevo puesto y este debió de haber sido un momento emocionante para ella. Habría mucho que sucedería en Cancún en un futuro no muy lejano y Estela no podía esperar para comenzar. La vida continuaría y ella prosperaría en su trabajo y en su vida durante los próximos años. Fue en el año 2005 que Estela conocería al que algún día sería su esposo. Sin embargo, no tenía forma de saberlo en ese momento. Brian Rosko estaba sirviendo en el Cuerpo de Marines de los Estados Unidos en el momento en que él y Estela se conocerían. Trabajaba como guardia de seguridad en La Habana, Cuba, pero se encontraba allí en Cancún en el momento de su reunión. Se produciría un interés mutuo, pero cada uno de ellos estaba ocupado en sus carreras individuales, que se encontraban en dos lugares diferentes. Y aún así, se formó una amistad y ambos se mantuvieron en contacto a través de llamadas telefónicas y correos electrónicos. Para Brian, fue un amor a primera vista por Estela abordando la relación con cautela. Para Brian, fueron más que solo palabras, ya que volvería a visitar a Estela solo un par de meses después. Él la llevaría a una cita a Margaritaville en donde hablarían. Con el tiempo, el amor de Brian por Estela quedaría demostrado a través de sus acciones. Brian se estaba preparando para trasladarse a Alemania y decidieron seguir en contacto. Definitivamente había un interés mutuo el uno en el otro y querían ver si sería duradero. Tanto Brian como Estela sabían que una relación a tan larga distancia podría no sobrevivir. Estela sobre todo porque no creía que este tipo de relación pudiera durar. Sin embargo, con el transcurso del tiempo ocurriría un evento que cambiaría todo. Fue el 15 de octubre de 2005 que el huracán Wilma azotó México. Cancún se vio muy afectado y eso pronto cambiaría las circunstancias que rodeaban la relación a distancia de Brian y Estela. Cancún fue destruido y Estela se vería obligada a vivir en un refugio antes de poder irse. Una de las chicas con las que vivía era de Inglaterra y ella había planeado regresar allí pronto. Esto le dio a Estela la idea de que le gustaría ir a Inglaterra con su amiga para probar el mercado laboral allí. Usemos las propias palabras de Estela para compartir cuál sería el resultado de esta decisión: “Decidí ir allí con ella para probar suerte. Tengo que decir que no tuve demasiada suerte con el trabajo pero encontré el amor…”. Y de hecho lo hizo. Brian ya estaba en Alemania cuando Estela se había ido con su amiga a Inglaterra y su cumpleaños pronto llegaría en noviembre. Brian le envió flores a Estela por su cumpleaños. De hecho, las envió dos veces para asegurarse de que ella los recibiría y así lo hizo. En palabras de la propia Estela, “el resto es historia”. Un mes después, Brian le había pedido a Estela que fuera a visitarlo a Alemania y ella haría el viaje para verlo. Estela me compartió lo que pasó cuando hizo ese viaje y así me lo dijo: “Encontré en este hombre otro tipo de amor. Un amor desinteresado, maduro y hermoso. Y tengo que decir que nos enamoramos el uno del otro. Él nunca se rindió y decidí darle otra oportunidad al amor”. Brian fue enviado a África después de 6 meses y Estela regresó a México. Su relación volvería a ser puesta a prueba una vez más ya que tuvieron que estar separados el uno del otro durante todo un año. Las obligaciones de los militares pueden ser difíciles en las relaciones y ambos lo sabían. Ambos sintieron que si los sentimientos permanecían, algún día se casarían. Su relación estaba destinada a ser duradera. Una relación que pasaría la prueba. Unos meses después, Estela recibió flores de Brian desde África e incluyeron una propuesta de matrimonio en español. Rodeados de familia el 11 de agosto de 2007, la pareja se casaría en Guanajuato, México. Con sus votos intercambiados bajo la mirada de su familia y amigos más cercanos . Estela se mudaría a los Estados Unidos con Brian. Comenzaría su vida en común y Brian continuaría sirviendo en la Infantería de Marina. Juntos, viajarían a lugares de destino de todo el mundo durante los próximos cinco años mientras disfrutaban juntos de las horas libres de Brian. ¿Cuán diferente fue esto de lo que Estela había imaginado originalmente para su futuro? Debe haber sido muy divertido ver tantos lugares diferentes juntos. Esto mientras su vida juntos continuaba y su relación crecía. También discutieron el futuro. Construyendo una familia Sus planes para el futuro, por supuesto, incluían construir una familia juntos. Esto es algo que Estela deseaba, sobre todo porque había sido hija única. El deseo de Brian y Estela de formar una familia comenzaría a hacerse realidad después de esos primeros cinco años de matrimonio. Sería en otoño de 2012 que Estela se enteraría que estaba embarazada y tanto ella como Brian estaban muy felices de recibir la noticia. Su primer embarazo iría bien en general y llegaría el día en que Estela daría a luz a un niño. Lo llamarían Luciano. Su primer hijo nació en Okinawa, Japón, el 26 de julio de 2013. Tanto la mamá como el papá estaban muy felices y su vida juntos como familia realmente estaba tomando forma. Estela amaba ser mamá. Eso era algo que siempre había querido y tener una gran familia era parte de lo que había deseado. El tamaño de su familia no tardaría mucho en aumentar. Estela supo que estaba embarazada por segunda vez cuando Luciano tenía seis meses. Una vez más, su próximo embarazo iría bien. Ella también llevaría a este próximo bebé sin complicaciones. Como cualquier pareja embarazada, Brian y Estela estarían ansiosos por tener otro hijo en su hogar. Esto, incluso mientras disfrutaban de su tiempo con el bebé Luciano. Llegaría el día y esta vez, su segundo hijo nacería en Albany, Georgia en los Estados Unidos. La fecha sería el 9 de enero de 2015 y Estela le daría otro hijo a Brian. Este bebito era perfecto, con todos los dedos de manos y pies, y lo llamarían Gerónimo. La atención de Brian y Estela ahora se estaba concentrando en dos hijos y la vida juntos era buena. Su comienzo romántico se había convertido en una vida familiar de pleno derecho. Estela estaba ocupada en casa mientras Brian continuaba con su carrera como Marine. Disfrutaban de lo que tenían ahora y esperarían un par de años antes de aumentar el tamaño de su familia. A medida que pasaron esos dos años, comenzaron a hablar de tener otro hijo. Ellos no lo sabían en ese momento pero Estela ya estaba embarazada y esperaba el bebé número tres. Esta noticia no los defraudó ya que era algo que habían deseado para el futuro de su familia. Luciano y el pequeño Geronimo estaban creciendo y prosperando, cada uno a su manera a medida que pasaban los días. Cada uno de los embarazos de Estela con sus dos hijos salió bien, pero el siguiente, sin embargo, fue muy estresante. Esto se debió a que le dijeron que su próximo hijo podría nacer con síndrome de Down. ¿Qué haces en una situación así? Estela compartió que hubo días muy oscuros para ella. Tuvo días de confusión y tenía tantas preguntas que necesitaban respuesta. También hubo días más brillantes que estaban llenos de alegría. Iba a tener otro bebé y era muy posible que su nuevo pequeño fuera feliz y saludable. Esa era la esperanza a la que se aferraba. El otro tema era que Estela tenía una condición llamada placenta previa. Para acortar la historia, la placenta de su bebé no se formó colocándola en la posición más deseable. Esto puede provocar desangrado en la futura mamá y eso también es algo con lo que tuvo que lidiar. Todo esto daría lugar a algunos días deprimentes, pero Estela se las arregló para superarlo. Finalmente llegaría el día, siendo ese día el 21 de septiembre de 2017. El primer hijo de Estela, Luciano, había sido un parto difícil. Esto se debió a la pequeña estructura de Estela. Sus huesos pélvicos eran demasiado estrechos y estuvo de parto durante mucho tiempo. Como resultado, su próximo bebé varón nacería por cesárea, al igual que el bebé número tres. Las preocupaciones sobre la placenta previa solo aumentarían las preocupaciones del médico y la necesidad de otra cesárea. También necesitaría una transfusión de sangre después del parto. Todas las preocupaciones que Estela tuvo que superar fueron reemplazadas por la alegría que experimentaría después de dar a luz a su próximo hijo y a Brian. Esta vez, Estela dio a luz a una niña. Compartió cuáles fueron sus palabras cuando dio a luz a su nueva hija. Estela dijo: “Recuerdo lo primero que le pregunté a mi esposo después de escucharla llorar. Eso fue, ¿ella está sana? Dime por favor que está sana”. Estela compartió que Brian luego vino con una niña hermosa y perfectamente saludable. Una que los tendría a los dos envueltos alrededor de su pequeño dedo a partir de ese día. Sí, ella era hermosa y perfecta en todos los sentidos. Nació en el hospital Naval de San Diego, California y la llamarían Francesca Louise. Esto fue para honrar la memoria de la madre de Brian y era un nombre hermoso. La nueva princesa de la familia sería conocida cariñosamente como Frankie. Las cosas irían perfectamente con la salud de Frankie en sus primeros años. Estela compartió que había luchado contra la depresión posparto con sus dos hijos, pero eso no fue un problema para ella con Frankie. Esta niña especial había hecho desaparecer todo ese tipo de sentimientos y los días de Estela estaban llenos solo de amor y felicidad. Sintió que la vida de Frankie estaba destinada a ser y quién podría argumentar que este es el caso. Frankie continuaría creciendo y desarrollándose, alcanzando todos sus hitos y su futuro parecía tan brillante. Como familia, habían crecido juntos. La vida era ajetreada pero, en general, era maravillosa. Las cosas fueron tal como cabría esperar de una familia joven. Luego llegaron los primeros meses del año 2020 cuando el Covid-19 comenzó a impactar en la vida de todos. Brian, Estela y los niños tuvieron que mudarse de San Diego al estado de Florida. Tendrían que vender su casa y mudarse en lo que fueron los días muy estresantes de una pandemia mundial. Al principio, se impusieron restricciones al juego de los niños en los parques de Florida, pero luego se levantaron algunas de esas restricciones. Los niños comenzarían a jugar e interactuar con otras personas nuevamente y entonces notarían algo diferente en Frankie. Fue en ese momento que Estela notó que Frankie no estaba al mismo nivel que sus compañeros. No estaba rindiendo al nivel de un niño de 3 años. Frankie no podía escalar sola, columpiarse o deslizarse por el tobogán. Lo que también se notó es que su habla no estaba al mismo nivel que los otros niños. No estaba allí como debería estar. Comienza una pesadilla Estela hizo lo que casi cualquier mamá haría una vez que se dio cuenta de todo esto y fue llevar a su hija al médico. El médico le recomendó terapia del habla. Estela no se preocupó demasiado por el retraso en el habla y tal vez Frankie fue un poco más lenta en el desarrollo de nuevas habilidades. En cuanto a su nivel de comunicación, Estela pensó que el hecho de que en su casa se hablaran dos idiomas tenía algo que ver con el retraso. Eran cosas que se podían superar con el tiempo, pero luego todo se volvió más complicado. Se produciría un evento que sacudiría a Estela y Brian también. Estela comparte con sus propias palabras: “La pesadilla comenzó una mañana de febrero cuando sentí que la cama temblaba, era mi hija con su primera convulsión”. Cada vez que un niño tiene una convulsión, es una señal de que algo no está bien. Hay algo anormal en la salud del niño o es un síntoma de una condición aún desconocida. De cualquier manera, una convulsión es un acontecimiento muy aterrador. Era una mañana de febrero de 2021 y Brian se había ido a trabajar. Fue una suerte que Frankie durmiera aún con sus padres esa noche, de lo contrario, es posible que no lo hubieran notado. Estela podía sentir que la cama temblaba alrededor de las 6 a.m. No sabía exactamente qué estaba pasando, pero sabía que era grave. Estela llamó a Brian y le pidió que regresara a casa y que llevarían a Frankie al hospital. En ese momento, el personal de la sala de emergencias no podía decir si Frankie había experimentado una convulsión o no, incluso si se sospechaba. Los médicos sugierieeon a Brian y Estela consultar con el pediatra de Frankie y luego los dieron de alta para que se fueran a casa. Al pediatra también le resultó difícil saber si había ocurrido una convulsión en Frankie, pero eso no sería el final. Frankie tendría una segunda convulsión, esta vez temblando violentamente y vomitando también. De repente, la vida era muy diferente. Había sucedido algo que los padres nunca esperarían que sucediera. De repente se sintió que las cosas no eran las mismas. La vida sería diferente. La familia pasaría la noche en la sala de emergencias esta vez mientras el personal realizaba las pruebas. Todo parecía estar bien en el momento en que le hicieron la prueba a Frankie, pero sintieron que podría tener epilepsia. Frankie pronto sería remitida a un neurólogo para recibir más atención y pruebas. Una tercera convulsión ocurriría en el transcurso del tiempo, pero fue la cuarta convulsión que Estela compartió la había “marcado” de por vida. Esto realmente sucedió cuando conducía a casa desde la cita de neurología en Ft. Lauderdale. Estela estaba en la carretera y todo parecía estar bien en ese momento. Luego, unos minutos más tarde, volvió a mirar a su hija en el espejo y pudo verlo venir. Estela se detuvo en la salida más cercana, pero Frankie ya se había puesto morada cuando pudo alcanzar a su hija. Estela pensó que había perdido a Frankie. De hecho, compartió: “Hasta el día de hoy, este ha sido el sentimiento más horrible que he experimentado”. Estela llamó al 911 y mientras la entrenaban, los paramédicos estarían en camino. Minutos después, llegarían y transportarían a la princesa a la sala de emergencias. El médico ese día volvió a sentir que Frankie sufría de epilepsia. Esto tenía mucho sentido en ese momento, especialmente porque la epilepsia existía en otras personas dentro de la familia de Estela. Fue después de esto que el neurólogo de Frankie quiso que se sometiera a un panel completo de pruebas que él llamó "la prueba del millón de dólares". Francesca sería ingresada en el hospital durante una semana para someterse a todas estas pruebas. Durante ese tiempo, cada prueba que se estaba realizando daría como resultado un resultado negativo. Sin embargo, el EEG que se realizó parecía algo anormal y debido a esto, el neurólogo ordenaría pruebas genéticas para Frankie. Como se mencionó anteriormente, Estela había notado un retraso en el habla de Frankie junto con cierto retraso en el desarrollo de sus habilidades. Esto después de que estuvo expuesta a niños de su misma edad cuando se levantaron ciertas restricciones. La diferencia era notable, pero se pensó que probablemente tenía que ver con el entorno de Frankie. También estaba teniendo algunos problemas de comportamiento y tenía miedo de estar con otros niños. Los padres de Frankie nunca hubieran pensado que todo esto en conjunto apuntaba a algo más siniestro que la simple epilepsia. No tenían forma de saber que estos síntomas individuales eran piezas de un rompecabezas que pronto se resolvería. La respuesta se revelaría cuando se ordenaran pruebas genéticas en el hospital Broward Health en Coral Springs, Florida. Se decidió que usar el método del hisopo y recolectar saliva era la forma más rápida de realizar las pruebas genéticas. Esto se hizo a través de una conocida empresa llamada Invitae Medical Genetics. A Frankie y a sus padres se les tomarían muestras y las muestras se enviarían por correo. Recibir los resultados de las pruebas genéticas puede demorar algunas semanas, pero a veces puede demorarse mucho más si se demora. Como sería el caso con la familia Rosko, el laboratorio estaba al tanto de todo. Invitae generalmente brinda un excelente servicio. Los resultados volverían solo unas semanas después, pero aún habría tiempo para preguntarse. Sé de tantas historias en el pasado donde las familias tuvieron que esperar un período prolongado de tiempo. Esto se debió a veces a errores que se habían cometido o a la falta de urgencia dentro del sistema con el que trabajaba la familia. En este caso, el neurólogo de Frankie se encargaría de que todo se agilizara y se quedaría al lado de la familia hasta encontrar una respuesta. Cuando llegaron los resultados de la prueba, mostraron que estaban presentes dos copias mutadas del gen tpp1. Tanto mamá como papá tenían una forma de este gen mutado. Este es el gen que se ve afectado cuando una enfermedad rara llamada Batten está presente en un niño. El neurólogo llamaría y le diría a Estela que la enfermedad de Batten era una posibilidad real pero que había que hacer más pruebas. Al igual que con la mayoría de las mamás y los papás, Estela nunca había oído hablar de la enfermedad de Batten. Hizo lo que cualquiera haría en esa situación y es buscar la enfermedad en Internet. Una batalla no ninguna Estela compartió que la perspectiva de que Frankie tuviera algo como Batten la hizo caer de rodillas. ¿Cómo puede ser esto posible? En un instante, la situación de Frankie había cambiado y se había vuelto mucho peor. La epilepsia era algo con lo que podían vivir, pero la información que leyó Estela reveló la peor situación posible para su hija. Esta enfermedad era fatal y no tenía cura. Con la enfermedad de Batten, el cuerpo no puede producir una enzima que se necesita para eliminar los desechos de ciertas células. En cambio, estos desechos se acumulan en el cuerpo y hacen mucho daño. Frankie tendría que hacerse la prueba nuevamente para saber qué nivel de esta enzima tenía su cuerpo. Ella y sus padres se reunían con el genetista para repasar los resultados de la primera prueba. A Frankie le sacarían sangre para comprobar su nivel de la enzima tpp1. Los resultados de esta prueba tardarían otras tres semanas en llegar. Fue entonces cuando Estela recibiría una llamada del genetista que tenía los resultados del nivel de Frankie. Su nivel de enzimas era bajo. Al principio, Estela pensó que esto era algo bueno, pero una vez que se lo explicaron, quedó devastada. Frankie tenía un nivel de solo el 9% de la enzima tpp1. La pequeña de Estela tenía la variante CLN2 de la enfermedad de Batten. Ese día fue el 3 de junio de 2021 y para la mamá y el papá de Frankie fue el peor día de sus vidas. Ambos sabían que las cosas nunca volverían a ser iguales. Lo que había comenzado a convertirse en un torbellino de eventos solo continuaría creciendo en intensidad. Estela le preguntó al neurólogo cuál sería el siguiente paso, aun sabiendo que vendría la cirugía de cerebro . CLN2 es la única variante de la enfermedad de Batten hasta la fecha que tiene un tratamiento disponible. La terapia de reemplazo enzimático es posible una vez que se implanta quirúrgicamente un puerto en la cabeza del niño. Luego se infunde una solución llamada Brineura en el cerebro del niño a través del puerto cada dos semanas. El único problema es que esta cirugía y el tratamiento correspondiente no está disponible en todos los hospitales del país. No estaba disponible en un hospital cercano a la familia Rosko y esto dejó a Estela con sentimientos de ira y desesperación. El neurólogo de Frankie trató de mover montañas para que el tratamiento estuviera disponible en su área, pero no tuvo éxito. La familia de alguna manera tendría que llevar a Frankie a un lugar donde estuviera disponible. Descubrirían que su mejor opción era ir an Ohio, específicamente al Hospital Nacional de Niños en Columbus. La tía de Estela había investigado un poco y había encontrado a una médica llamada Emily De Los Reyes en Columbus. Era experta en saber cómo tratar CLN2 Batten, estando muy involucrada en el inicio de la terapia de reemplazo enzimático para estos niños. Ese era el lugar que la familia Rosko necesitaba para llevar a Frankie. Estela le preguntó al consejero Brineura de Fankie si podían ir a Ohio para recibir este tratamiento que cambiaría su vida y la respuesta resultó ser ¡sí! La velocidad a la que todo se movió en el caso de Frankie fue asombrosa y crítica. Cuanto más rápido un niño pueda comenzar con el reemplazo de enzimas, menor será la regresión total del niño al comienzo de su viaje. Por eso es tan importante un diagnóstico precoz. La familia Rosko haría el viaje a Ohio y lo hicieron a toda costa por amor. Frankie tendría citas toda la semana después de ser aceptada. Su cirugía fue el 11 de junio de 2021 y su primer tratamiento con Brineura fue el 21. ¿Te imaginas lo drásticamente que había cambiado la vida de esta familia en tan poco tiempo? Quería usar las palabras de Estela en una cita para mostrar lo que ella estaba sintiendo desde el día del diagnóstico en adelante. Esto ya que se vieron obligados a tomar medidas tan rápidamente. Esto es lo que me dijo Estela: “Ese día, algo en mí murió. Recuerdo que era como un castillo de arena que alguien había pisado. Estos fueron los días más tristes y oscuros de nuestras vidas. La mía y la de mi esposo y estoy segura que la de mi familia también. Pero nos levantamos, tomamos a nuestra preciosa niña y fuimos a Ohio para que nos hicieran la cirugía”. Sucedió muy rápido, pero esto es generalmente lo que sucede con cada padre que recibe este tipo de noticias. Todo comienza con conmoción y gran consternación cuando descubren que su hijo tiene una enfermedad tan horrible. Los sentimientos iniciales luego se hacen a un lado aunque la tristeza continúa. Hay entonces un determinado tipo de fuerza que se hace cargo a medida que se actúa. Estela continuó con esto, “Yo lo veía como una carga muy pesada tener que viajar a Ohio y dejar a mis otros 2 hijos , pero es cierto eso de que todo pasa por algo. Nos encontramos con los mejores médicos que podríamos pedir, las mejores enfermeras, la mejor atención y la mejor gente”. Cualquier distancia para Frankie Con Frankie a su lado, la familia viajaría hacia y desde Ohio durante unos cuantos meses para que su princesa se sometiera a los tratamientos. El costo de este tipo de cosas, financieras y de otro tipo, siempre es tremendo. Esto era especialmente cierto porque el viaje tenía que hacerse cada dos semanas. Durante todo el tiempo, Frankie no solo tuvo al personal del Nationwide Hospital en Ohio trabajando para ella, sino también a su equipo de médicos en Florida. Tanto su pediatra, El Dr. López, como la enfermera practicante de Frankie, Méndez, estaban trabajando para que los tratamientos estuvieran disponibles más cerca de su hogar en Florida. Tendrían éxito y el tratamiento Brineura pronto estaría disponible en el Jackson Memorial Hospital de Miami. Sus días de estar en Ohio para las infusiones habían terminado, o eso pensaban en ese momento. Sabiendo lo querida que era Frankie por parte del personal, los Roskos estaban tristes de dejar Nationwide Children's. Sin embargo, estaban muy felices y aliviados de saber que los largos viajes habían terminado. Los días de estar separados como familia también habían terminado y eso también fue un alivio. Habría más cosas que ocurrirían que afectarían a Frankie y su familia. Una preocupación que tienen todas las familias cuando luchan contra CLN2 Batten es que su pequeño guerrero algún día perderá la vista. Recientemente comenzó un ensayo clínico que trabaja para ayudar a evitar la pérdida de la vista en un niño CLN2 Batten. Esto se suma a las infusiones para la terapia de reemplazo enzimático. Estela se había enterado de la prueba durante las primeras infusiones de Frankie, ya que un médico se lo había mencionado. Estela, por supuesto, quería este tratamiento para su hija, pero le dijeron que el ensayo clínico era solo por invitación. No solo esto, sino que Frankie también tendría que calificar. La familia llevaría a Frankie de regreso a Florida después de su último tratamiento y luego regresaría en un par de semanas para el siguiente. Esta vez, el oftalmólogo examinaría a Frankie para ver si calificaba para la prueba que involucraba el tratamiento de sus ojos. La respuesta sería sí y por eso, Brian y Estela estaban agradecidos. El único problema ahora era que tendrían que empezar a viajar de un lado a otro, desde Florida hasta Ohio. Cuando se les preguntó si estaban dispuestos a viajar, los Rosko, por supuesto, respondieron que sí. Ya sabían lo difíciles que eran los viajes pero estaban dispuestos. Brian pensó que este era el momento de hablar con la gente dentro de la Infantería de Marina para ver si había algo que pudiera hacer cerca de Ohio. En otras palabras, quería ver si podía obtener una transferencia por razones humanitarias. Esto les permitiría mudarse an Ohio como familia mientras se liberan del estrés de viajar con tanta frecuencia. Para su gran satisfacción, Brian terminaría siendo transferido a Ohio. Se mudarían en el verano de 2022 después de que los niños completaran su año escolar. A menudo, las circunstancias de un solo hijo u otro miembro de la familia pueden afectar la vida de todos en el hogar. Esto es especialmente cierto cuando hablamos de las necesidades de un niño especial. A veces también desvían la atención de sus hermanos. El diagnóstico de Frankie trajo consigo algunos cambios drásticos y uno grande fue tener que dejar un lugar que amaba a toda la familia y en el que se sentían feliz viviendo. Sin embargo, Frankie es tan amada que esta familia habría hecho lo que fuera necesario para conseguirle lo que necesitara. Esto fue para que ella luchara contra Batten al máximo e incluía comenzar de nuevo en un lugar desconocido. También se mudaron a un clima que no era tan cómodo para alguien como Estela, habiendo vivido en un lugar cálido como México la mayor parte de su vida. Cuando Brian se transfirió an Ohio, estaba anteponiendo las necesidades de su hija y su familia a cualquier ambición profesional que le quedara con respecto a la Infantería de Marina. Los ascensos a veces implican marcar todas las casillas correctas y eso incluye ir a donde los marines creen que más lo necesitan. Esto puede incluir ser desplegado en el extranjero. Brian antepuso las necesidades de su familia porque era lo correcto. Es difícil imaginar que los marines tuvieran algo para Brian en o cerca de Columbus, Ohio, ¡pero lo tenían! El movimiento vendría y se irían y Frankie comenzaría el ensayo clínico para el tratamiento de sus ojos. Esto fue en junio de 2022 en Nationwide Children's en Columbus cuando la familia se instaló en su nueva vida en Ohio. El ensayo implica un compromiso de tres años. Estela compartió que el primer año involucra solo un ojo y luego el segundo año involucra ambos ojos. El tercer año se reserva para chequeos con la esperanza de que la visión de Frankie se mantenga completa. Estela compartió un poco sobre toda la experiencia: “Ver a Frankie bajo anestesia una vez al mes y que le inyecten el ojo no es una broma, pero en mi opinión somos afortunados, muy, muy afortunados. Ella calificó y aquí estamos. Nuestros cuerpos pueden congelarse en este clima al que no estamos acostumbrados a veces, pero nuestros corazones permanecen cálidos. Esto se debe a que sabemos que nos mudaríamos al fin del mundo si tuviéramos que hacerlo por nuestra pequeña”. Todo lo que esta familia ha hecho por su princesa ha sido por el amor que le tienen a esta pequeña conocida cariñosamente como Frankie. Irían a donde fuera posible para ayudarla. Desde que se mudaron an Ohio, se enteraron de que la terapia de reemplazo de genes pronto podría estar disponible en el Reino Unido. Ciertamente irían allí cuando y si el reemplazo de genes se convierte en una realidad. Frankie fue diagnosticada rápidamente y eso la ayudó a comenzar poco después con los tratamientos con Brineura. Esto ha ayudado a retrasar el avance de la enfermedad de Batten en ella y, sin duda, sería una candidata para la terapia génica. Estela está esperanzada, eligiendo la esperanza sobre el miedo. Ella cree que puede suceder un milagro para Frankie. Se acordó de un dicho que viene de una canción mexicana y me pidió que se los compartiera. Esto es lo que dice, “ y es tanta mi fe que aunque no tengo jardín, ya compre una podadora “ Este mantra musical , Estela dice que se repite a sí misma una y otra vez. Por ahora, la vida continúa en Ohio y la familia toma cada día uno a la vez. Un día a la vez Estela compartió que Brian tiene otros dos años de compromiso con la Infantería de Marina y habrá cumplido 24 años cuando se jubile. Su meta era estar ya retirado y haber pasado a otra carrera pero eso quizás se retrasó por lo que pasó con su hija. ¿El hecho de que Frankie luche contra Batten interferirá aún más con sus planes futuros? Sólo el tiempo dirá. Nunca nos hemos conocido, pero este veterano ve en Brian a un individuo sensato. Sé que tendrá éxito en todo lo que se proponga. Hay algunas cosas que son inciertas para esta familia. La vida como habían planeado se vio interrumpida por la enfermedad de Batten y esto puede hacer que Estela se angustie por cosas que están fuera de su control. La mano firme y el liderazgo de Brian en esta familia son de gran ayuda para ella y Estela dice lo mismo aquí: “Como dije antes, el futuro, quién sabe lo que traerá. Lo único que sé es que cuando quiero llorar porque no tengo respuestas, cuando me entra la ansiedad y siento que no puedo respirar ni dar un paso más, él toma mi mano. Me mira a los ojos y me dice que todo estará bien cuando lleguen esos momentos”. A algunos que conocen en Florida les parece una locura que la familia se vaya de Florida a un lugar como Ohio. Estela compartió su pregunta y su respuesta: “¿Cómo pudiste dejar el estado del sol? ¿Por qué? La respuesta es, por amor. ¿Ha sido fácil? No. Creo que nadie esta preoarafo para algo como esto. ¿Somos fuertes? Tenemos que responder que no, simplemente no hay otra opción, no hay otra manera”. He escuchado un dicho aquí en Estados Unidos en varias ocasiones que se ajusta a la situación de esta familia y dice algo así: "Nunca sabes lo fuerte que puedes ser hasta que no tienes otra opción". Eso describe la resiliencia que se encuentra en las personas que componen casi todas las familias Batten. Hay otros tipos de familias de enfermedades raras en las que también estoy pensando. Estela también compartió: “Esta nueva vida nos ha enseñado a vivir un día a la vez, apreciando cada momento. Yo diría bueno o malo. Por supuesto, nos volvimos más conscientes del mundo que nos rodea y, diría, más humanos”. Nuestras propias dificultades a menudo nos hacen más empáticos y más conscientes de lo que otras personas pueden estar pasando. Tal vez la persona que vemos que tiene un día realmente malo está pasando por una dificultad de la que no sabemos nada. No puedo evitar compartir más de Estela a medida que nos acercamos al cierre: “Tenemos nuestros malos momentos como todos los demás, pero una querida amiga me dijo un día, no puedes tener miedo y fe al mismo tiempo, así que elegimos esperanza, elegimos el amor. Eso, creo, es al final del día, la respuesta también. Creo firmemente que mi hija va a vivir en esta vida. Creo que una cura está cerca. Yo sí creo que ella ya es un milagro, mi milagro, y así elegimos vivir, convencidos de que lo mejor está por venir”. Frankie es otra niña hermosa, ¿no es así? Francesca Louise también es un nombre hermoso. Veo la alegría en su sonrisa incluso desde una gran distancia y sé que su sonrisa seguirá brillando durante mucho tiempo. Quiero una cura para ella y para todos los niños que luchan contra CLN2. A la gente le importa y siento que se está progresando. Las oraciones por esta familia, así como por todas las demás, están en orden. Muy a menudo me repito al decir que estos niños son los más especiales y los más asombrosos. Puede que sea un poco parcial porque he pasado gran parte de mi tiempo expresando mis propios sentimientos con respecto a los que luchan. Sin embargo, creo que mis observaciones son ciertas. Realmente hay algo especial en un niño que se enfrenta a tal situación. Luchan mientras soportan una vida que debería estar libre de cuidados y preocupaciones. Estos niños lo hacen mientras mantienen su resiliencia infantil. Esto está en exhibición completa para ser visto por personas que los conocen y los aman. Con respecto a su hija, Estela me dijo recientemente: “Estoy enamorada de mi hija Greg, estoy enamorada desde el primer día”. Solo puedo imaginar cómo se siente el padre de Frankie por ella también. Los hermanos mayores de Frankie, cariñosamente llamados Lukie y Momo, también son parte de esta batalla. No es fácil ver a su hijo o hermano tener que soportar un sinfín de agujas y otros tratamientos médicos de forma regular. Ellos también han tenido que adaptarse y han hecho un gran trabajo al hacerlo. Estela comparte un poco más: “Pienso en mi increíble niña resiliente que pasa por un infierno todos los meses y todavía me da la sonrisa más hermosa, así que me levanto, me limpio las lágrimas y sigo luchando por ella”. Eso en sí mismo ayuda a contar esta historia. ¿Mi escritura sobre la familia Rosko va a generar mucha conciencia sobre la enfermedad de Batten y los niños que luchan? No sé si puedo responder a esa pregunta. Mi propósito aquí es simplemente honrar a esta familia mientras los ayudo a contar su historia. Estoy feliz de haber tenido el privilegio. Otra familia preciosa, estoy seguro. Solo quería decirle también a Brian, gracias por su servicio a nuestro país. Realmente le importa a este escritor. Gracias a todos por tomarse el tiempo de leer esto. Atentamente, ~Greg López~ Bloguera y defensora
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 Beautiful. Is she not? “Is it them (Children with Batten) or is it us? Is it the feelings that they produce in us or is it that there is something truly special about them? I think that the answer has to be all of the above. It is them, but they also do something to us. Once you give a little piece of your heart to these kids and their families, they come close to taking all of it. Let it happen!” ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate It has been a while since the time that I had last written a story about a child who battles. This has caused me to reflect upon the reasons why I first started to get involved in this way. I have often stated that while greater awareness is important, I really started writing these stories to honor the families who battle alongside their little warriors. I felt honored that people would entrust me with the details of their lives in order to put their stories in writing. The stories were simple in the beginning but they grew in complexity over time. They were also very moving emotionally for me to write. I can remember very clearly, causing myself to tear up because of the words that I chose to include as I was writing. Just thinking about a certain child and what their family was going through would bring me to tears. Sometimes, it would be in a most inconvenient place. Like at a stoplight or pulling into a gas station. Being at work in the shop was maybe the worst place of all. It is easy at times, as you do one story after another, for the details to become just a matter of fact. At a certain point, those types of feelings would not be present as much as I continued to write. That is perhaps a good reason why taking a break for a while was a good thing. I so missed writing about the kids that battle after a while. These children and their resilient ways do amaze me. The way that they adapt to life as they face the changes that take place.  In the presence of royalty. Their bodies go through changes as they battle a rare disease like Batten. Yes, they go through very frustrating circumstances but they do bounce back so often from the adversities that they face. These kids always find a reason to maintain the smile that one would expect in a child. This is in spite of going through things that would cause most adults to lose their joy. These kids are resilient. I had never heard of Batten disease but had been made aware through the life of one little girl. I followed her journey like so many others as she had a large following, both locally and through social media. So many were made aware through her journey. It would be through a series of events that I would learn about her and her family. These events actually started for me as I was following the legacy of a United States Navy SEAL named Adam Brown. A connection was made through social media to a little girl named Ali (sounds like alley). She was from the same small town as Adam was and she was battling CLN2 Batten disease. I had written these words about her for a previous story, “The image is etched in my memory and it will forever be there. I had followed my Batten princess in her journey and I knew from what I was seeing that she had taken a turn for the worst. The post on social media told the story. This created in me a sense of urgency which caused me to develop a plan. I had to meet her and it needed to be soon.…” We did develop a plan that was very “outside of the box” so to speak. We would make the trip of over 2,000 miles from our state of Oregon to the state of Arkansas. This was in large part to meet Ali and her family. Very sadly, Ali would gain her wings just a short time later. That trip was magical and the entire experience of following this one little girl’s journey changed my life. My eyes would be opened to kids who battle rare diseases. I am a father to a son who has special needs. I’ve stated that his life factors into the love that I have for these other children. What I’ve said in the past is this, “The love that I have for my own son with special needs has lent itself to a love that I have for the kids that battle.” This statement is absolutely true. Something has changed since my last story and that is that my son Benjamin has received a diagnosis for his disorder. This took place through Whole Exome genetic testing. Benjamin was born with a mutation of a recently discovered gene that has been designated as PACS2. Benjamin has PACS2 Syndrome. Developmental delay, facial dysmorphism, and a seizure disorder are things that had set him apart from other children. Now we know and we have a small group from around the world that we are a part of. As it turns out, our Benjamin is one of the oldest known cases. I have a strong appreciation for those in the rare disease community that encouraged me in seeking to have Benjamin tested genetically.  We have more knowledge now concerning our son’s condition and it has made a difference. I feel a connection between our family and all of yours. We have had our challenges along the way and have made sacrifices to keep Benjamin with us all of these years but having him in our lives has been a wonderful experience. Let’s be clear about something. Anything that we have gone through, pales in comparison with the things that a rare disease family will face in the course of their journey. They experience a depth of love for a child not felt by many and will know a level of heartache not known by most of us. There are struggles that a Batten family will go through as they journey with their young warriors. Some of these things are seen in people that are much older. I’m speaking of the degenerative aspects of the disease. My 90 year old father has been in decline and is experiencing some of this type of thing right now. He has, however, lived a good long life. Although these things are difficult to see take place, it’s understood that it’s normal that they do happen at his age. This is a normal part of what we know to be the cycle of life and what we expect can happen with the elderly. I’ve often said that this type of thing should not happen to children. Instead, they should be left to live a carefree life, experiencing childlike fun as they learn life’s lessons. A lysosomal storage disorder like Batten disease can bring about symptoms that should be left to people that are aged. Childhood is a time of life that is treasured by every family and it is tragic when something like a rare and fatal disease is revealed. In the course of time, love mixed with grief over someone who still remains with you will produce a love that is profound and undying. This creates a bond that is so strong that it can never be broken and memories that can never be taken away. These kids…. their lives are priceless and every effort towards new therapies and a cure should be made. Their fight should be our fight. I know that is the case when it comes to their families. This is also true for those in the research and medical field that are working for their care and a cure. Some good things have taken place in regards to help for kids that battle the CLN2 variant of Batten. There is more that is hoped for and more to be accomplished. Okay, it’s time to get to our story. Like I’ve stated already, my interest in the kids that battle all began with a little girl named Ali. It easily could have started with another little warrior. A warrior princess like Violet. This is a story about her and her family. Two People Meet  Peter and Michelle. Meant for each other! Like it is with almost every story that I’ve written, this one begins with two people that meet and fall in love. That was the case for Peter Jones and Michelle Curran even though it was not love at first sight for them. They were both 17 years old when the two of them would meet. This was at a club named The Grafton in Liverpool England. Their meeting took place in March of 2001, just before Easter. Infamous may be too strong of a word but The Grafton definitely had a reputation of being a rough kind of place. Peter and Michelle were just out to socialize with others and to have a good time. They had no idea that they would one day start a life together, nor what being together would entail. They had spoken a few times at The Grafton and Peter found Michelle to be fit, or attractive. They had kissed one night but things wouldn’t go any further for months. For Michelle’s part, while she thought that Peter was a handsome fellow, she also thought that he was a little bit full of himself. That is opposite of the type of person that Michelle was looking for in life. Her opinion of him would soon change however, as his true character would soon be revealed to her. One day, he would be the father of her children and her best friend in the world. As it would happen, Peter’s best friend lived by Michelle and he would drop her off at her home after the club closed. One night, Peter asked for Michelle’s number as they were leaving and he would soon call. He just knew after that first conversation that she was the one for him. Michelle also felt that one day, they would be man and wife. That would indeed take place in due time. Peter acknowledges that, in certain respects, they are opposites in their personalities but they would just click as a couple. Peter and Michelle’s love for one another would grow by the day and each of them would become the love of each other’s life. As their relationship progressed, Peter and Michelle would move in together. This was just before they each turned 21 years of age. Life together was good but it wasn’t complete without children. They both had wanted a family and so it would happen that Michelle would be expecting their first child soon after their move. Everything would go well with her first pregnancy and the time would arrive for them to welcome their first child. They would name her Millie. That’s right, Michelle would give birth to a baby girl on the day of October 16th, 2006. Millie was a big baby due to the fact that she was born two weeks beyond her due date, arriving at 9 pounds, and 11 ounces. She was flawless in every way. Although Michelle’s first pregnancy took place without complication, the delivery was a bit more challenging because of Millie’s size at birth and Michelle’s slim frame. Millie’s mum and dad were so happy to see her and she was born a perfect and beautiful baby. Together, they would settle in as a family of three. Life was good. Peter and Michelle enjoyed life together with Millie, spending time with friends and extended family. Holidays together were more special for them now that they had little Millie in their life.  Millie and her sister named Violet. Everything was just better and they hoped to increase the size of their family in the near future. Life was busy with work and play but Peter and Michelle had high hopes for what the future held for them as a family. All of the wonderful things that normally take place were anticipated. Michelle had hoped to have another child before turning 30 and that would happen one day. It would take a couple of years but both her and Peter would be given the news that Michelle was pregnant again. They were both elated to know that they would soon be a family of four. What would they experience over time as a family? Only time would tell but this news was met with a lot of excitement. Again, Michelle would do well with her 2nd pregnancy and one would expect that their next baby would be healthy and whole. Life continued in anticipation and the time would arrive for the next member of their family to be welcomed into this world. The big event would take place on July the 25th of 2015 at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Guess what? Michelle would give birth to another baby girl and her parents would name her Violet. Just like with her sister Millie, Violet was born with all of her fingers and toes. She also was a flawless and a beautiful little baby girl. Both of Violet’s parents looked at her and thought that she was perfect in every way. She had a perfect complexion and dark hair. To her mum, she looked like a real size little doll. Violet’s dad noticed that she looked just like Millie, only smaller. As Peter looked at his newborn daughter, he thought that his family was complete at that moment. In fact, four people would be the perfect size family to many. The possibilities for the good things that could take place in their future were many. More time spent together, experiencing all of the milestones that take place in a family home. From the first day of schooling to the graduation from college in some cases. Parents look on with pride as their children grow and achieve their goals. Marriage brings grandchildren and the feelings that surround being together intensify with each addition to the family. These are normal life events that one could expect. They will normally come to pass unless they are interrupted by problems that may yet not be seen. I may be stating the obvious here. Bumps and bruises and even broken bones happen when you raise a child but those are the things that a person might expect to come their way. Life in itself can be a journey but most parents will look forward to the future with joy and optimism when their children are young. Why would it be any different when you had just brought a little girl like Violet into the world? She was just beautiful and also an amazing baby according to her mum. Michelle stated that Violet slept well and she was easy to feed also. Violet’s little temperament was amazing. She was a happy little girl and very loving towards others. She was a little princess from the beginning and she was loved immediately by anyone who came in contact with her. Life Less Perfect  A real life Doll. Early in her development, Violet would thrive in the ways that one would expect a little girl to. She was learning life’s lesson while having fun and looking at the world in wonder. The only issue with her total health was that she had a speech delay. This is a common issue in preschoolers with it being present in as many as 10% of children. Michelle explained that Violet could speak in one word answers using terms like mamma and daddy. She then went on to use simple phrases like “there you go” and “oh mamma, where is green?” She wasn’t where she was expected to be with her speech but Violet was making progress. Something so simple wouldn’t necessarily cause a lot of concern and Michelle thought that they were turning a corner on Violet’s speech delay. But then, an event would take place that would shake them as a family. This would happen on February the 16th of 2019. That is a day that Peter and Michelle will never forget. It was not known at that time but this day would change everyone’s life forever. Life would never be the same. That day was a Tuesday and Michelle had just arrived home at her usual time of 5:30 in the evening. Walking through the door, Michelle walked into the kitchen. Once there, her neighbor came running into the house screaming that little Violet wasn’t breathing. She immediately ran to find her daughter in Peter’s arms. In Michelle’s own words, “I remember running next door where Peter sat with Violet in his arms. She looked so peaceful, I thought we'd already lost her.” Can you imagine the thought of such a thing racing through Michelle’s mind at that time? Not knowing it right then, this was the beginning of much more that would follow. Everything was not right with this little princess that everyone adored. As it turned out, Violet had vomited and turned blue while her dad was running her a bath after coming home from nursery. Thinking that she was choking, Peter had run out into the street looking for help from neighbors. So many people tried to help that night and it was something that Michelle would never forget. What caused this to happen? Eventually, an ambulance would arrive and Violet would be taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in West Derby, Liverpool. What was revealed is that Violet had a seizure and a pattern started to develop over the next few weeks. Violet would fall asleep and then wake up within the first hour while vomiting. Her eyes would go to the left or right and then she would seem to go back to her normal self. Can you imagine how terrifying this would be as a parent….the heartache over seeing this little girl going through such a thing? The trips to Alder Hey would become a regular occurrence for this family for the near future. All of a sudden, there was an abrupt end to what one would consider to be a normal type of family existence. Peter and Michelle were always on high alert after that first incident and tension increased. There had to be the fear that they might lose Violet to whatever had a grip on her. Violet would eventually be diagnosed with epilepsy and was prescribed a medication called Keppra. Was that all there was to this little girl’s condition? As Violet’s mum, Michelle had her doubts. Her intuition as Violet’s mum told her that there was more to the situation.  Mum holding her mini-me. Even at that early stage, she thought that there may be more going on with her daughter than just epilepsy. Violet’s initial care was being provided through the NHS, or National Health Service, and Michelle had her doubts about the diagnosis. Wanting to use every resource available, Michelle would seek the help of a private medical provider as she had health insurance through her work. Unfortunately, Michelle felt that this turned out to be just a waste of time. This was because none of the doctors through private medicine had a clue as to what was behind Violet’s symptoms. To make matters worse, they weren’t taking Michelle’s concerns seriously. It is outrageous to think about how she was treated by one doctor in particular. She explains, “I had a doctor laugh in my face when I told him something was off with her, I felt in my gut something wasn't right. He actually laughed at me and said "look at her, nothing’s wrong."’ Along the way, Peter and Michelle were advised to have an MRI performed for Violet as a precaution. This advice was given even though they were assured that there was nothing to worry about. What would seem to be alarming to most of us is the amount of time that it took to have the test performed and also, to receive the results. I have often heard of families, already in distress over their circumstances, having to deal with red tape and denials within a medical system. Between gaining the approval for the MRI and waiting for the results, it would take this family months to get the results of the MRI. Michelle explained, “The NHS made us wait for weeks before refusing to do the MRI. We then had to go through the longer process of waiting, being referred by an NHS doctor. The man waited 12 weeks for her results.” Weeks turn into months and the level of frustration increases by the day. Michelle would call weekly for some kind of an update but it was to no avail. On one occasion, Michelle would call and be told the following by a receptionist, “if there was anything to worry about you would have heard from us by now.” The MRI would be done in July of 2019 and the results wouldn’t come back until the following September. Peter and Michelle would finally be called to the hospital where Violet was seen by a neurologist and they would be told about the results. Michelle remembers the appointment like it was yesterday. After all of this they were only told that there were some abnormalities found. That is all. Genetic testing would be ordered the same month and that would of course, create another waiting period. At this point, other symptoms had started to creep in for Violet. The seizures increased and Violet was shouting things like the word mamma. One day the shouting sounded off and it was slurred. Violet also started wetting herself and she was stumbling over her own feet. Michelle had just thought it to be a phase that Violet was going through at that time. Looking back now, she knows that it was much more than that. The Painful Truth  What a flawless little face! Michelle remembers, “When I look back, I could scream at myself for not clicking on the fact that something more sinister was happening, but at the time everything happened so subtly. Is it crazy to say I can’t pinpoint a moment where I knew it was really, really bad?” In fact, Michelle had been convinced initially that Violet’s symptoms were related to a B12 vitamin deficiency. She would continue to google the symptoms over the time that her and Peter were waiting for the results of the genetic testing. This would take months and that would leave her a lot of time to wonder while she continued her research. One of the things that she ran across as she googled information was a genetic disease named Batten. Both her and Peter would have to be carriers of the same defective gene that causes Batten in a child. That makes Batten disease rare, affecting 2 to 4 children out of 100,000 here in the United States. She mentioned the disease to Peter and they discussed it. They both felt that the odds of Violet having such a thing were more that a million to one but Michelle knew that it was a possibility. The wait for the results of the genetic testing wouldn’t become available until the middle of January in 2020 and that would leave Peter and Michelle with time to wonder. Could Violet really have a genetic disorder? They would have no choice but to press on and put one foot in front of the other but then the day would arrive. Michelle tells us, “January 15th, 2020 will forever be embedded in my brain for all the wrong reasons.” Michelle’s baby girl, her mini-me, had CLN2 Batten disease. Her thoughts before that were conflicted. She perhaps had already known before the diagnosis that her daughter had Batten. However, she didn’t want to believe it to be possible. Michelle shared, “When I talk to people, I talk about life before that date and life after, and life will never be the same ever again.” Devastation has to be the word for any parent receiving this kind of news. That would certainly be the case for Peter and Michelle. No matter what would take place in the days to follow, it would take time to recover from the news that their little girl had Batten disease. Michelle had already done the research and her and Peter knew what this meant. Their little girl who had become the family princess had a disease for which there was no cure. It was fatal! There had been a groundbreaking treatment developed but they were told only vaguely about it. Peter and Michelle were just too overwhelmed with the news and the doctor didn’t know much about the treatment. The family was given a leaflet about it to read at home but didn’t think much about it at that moment. Michelle explained to me, “….I just thought we were given this devastating news by the hospital and just left to get on with it.” The information that was given to them was very important but it was lost in the grief that they were experiencing at that time. A family can feel so alone and confused at a time like this but help would come soon after the Joneses returned home.  A real princess! Michelle’s intuition combined with her need for help no doubt caused her to get on the internet as soon as they arrived home. She googled Batten disease and would find the help that she needed almost right away. She would actually find another mum dealing with Batten right there in Liverpool and in addition, would find a page for a couple of other young girls who lived in the UK as well. Their names were Nicole and Jessica Rich and they both also had CLN2 Batten disease. Their parents, Matthew and Gail Rich had started a non-profit foundation in order to help their little girls and to help others at the same time. Gail and Michelle were able to connect over social media and then Gail messaged her phone number to Michelle. Knowing Gail, it’s no wonder that she was a great resource and a fast friend to Michelle. She explains, “Gail was my rock when Violet was first diagnosed, I will always remember calling her the day after Violet’s appointment when we got the news. She was just so positive and made me dust myself off and get off the floor to fight.” And that is how it often happens. People come alongside you and you get picked up. Sometimes, you do so on your own accord but you do what is necessary in order to help your own child. In this case, Michelle had all of Gail’s experience and insight to draw from. Both of her daughters, Nicole and Jessica, had been receiving the new treatment for CLN2 Batten disease. Gail was certain to have had a wealth of experience to learn from. The therapy for CLN2 involves replacing an enzyme that is missing from the affected child with a solution named Brineura. This solution is infused into the brain through a shunt that is surgically implanted into the child’s head. Can you imagine what it is like for the parents as all of this is taking place. Knowing others that you can draw from as you experience all of this has to be so helpful but life after the diagnosis is still a struggle. Michelle stated, “The days and weeks after her diagnosis were a blur. I remember feeling numb and not being able to process the reality of what was happening. One minute you’re a family of four, you have the nice house, nice car, you go on two holidays a year, the kids have the best clothes and all of a sudden you are traveling to London every two weeks to keep your child alive.” Can any of us that are not in Peter and Michelle’s situation fathom such a thing? How life would change for this family. Both Michelle and Peter were working successfully in good careers. They had a good home and a good family life. Their hard work had brought this family of four the things that people would expect to come their way. All of a sudden, that was interrupted with the news that their daughter had CLN2. Now, Violet would have to have surgery to have the shunt implanted and there would be the infusions every two weeks. These would be done at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and that would require a 5 hour trip one way. Challenges Unseen  Now a warrior and a princess. There is also the financial cost of dealing with something like this. Michelle explains, “The biggest challenge to us after her diagnosis was cost. Not only were we going through hell after Violet's diagnosis, but as we both worked, we were not entitled to claim our travel expenses. We were paying ridiculous amounts of money to travel across the UK and stay in hotels every two weeks.” To make matters worse, Covid-19 had hit the UK a few weeks into Violet’s diagnosis and as a result, overnight stays had to be self- funded as resources became stretched. Michelle added, “It's something I look back on now and wonder how we did it. We would never of been able to afford it without the support from family and friends.” If you know anything about the staff at the hospital affectionately known as GOSH, you know that they are a great source of help and encouragement. However, the trip to and from had to have been grueling and difficult for a working family. As it is with many families that rely on Brineura treatments for their little warriors, it takes a while for a more local hospital to come on line with the treatment. That would eventually happen for the Joneses as the treatments became available at Manchester Children’s Hospital. After two and a half years of traveling back and forth to London they would then be able to have the treatments done just 45 minutes away. Michelle refers to this as being “life changing”. It is easy to imagine how that would be the case. Michelle finds the staff at Manchester to be amazing stating that “nothing is too much trouble for them”. Like all families that have a son or daughter with CLN2 Batten, the Jones family has settled into a new normal. Certainly, there are good times together and sweet memories are being made but life is still difficult. There is much involved in caring for a child that has CLN2, or any variant of Batten disease for that matter. All of a sudden, without notice, you become a family with a child that has special needs and those needs are constantly changing. There are infusions every two weeks and a host of other appointments. Medications for the Batten warrior can change constantly in attempts to fend off seizures or to help with a different issue. Changing needs regarding medical equipment are present also. That one person in the family affects all others living in the same home because so much attention is required. That’s what life is like for the family who has a child with special needs. Michelle stated, “Life since diagnosis has been hard. Am I wrong to say I was so bitter?” One needs to try to understand how much the life of a family is interrupted when something like Batten comes along. Michelle shared that it was difficult to be around other families that have normal functioning children. Especially when the children are at play. Michelle shared, “I couldn't stand it. I was so jealous. I probably still am, of people and their seemingly perfect lives.” An event would take place that would help Michelle in this way. That would be the birth of their little boy in May of 2021. He was a darling little man right out of the gate and they would name him Luca.  All 3 are beautiful! Baby Luca has been a ray of sunshine during some very dark days for this family. Michelle struggled with being around family and friends with children of the same age but Luca has helped to ease the hurt that she felt. The hurt will never completely go away but having Luca in their lives has helped. Michelle shared that the only negative may be that as Luca develops new skills, it will serve as a reminder of the things that they had hoped to see in Violet. Michelle says that she does have a group of mums that she speaks to most days. These other Batten mums understand exactly what she is going through. As Michelle shared, it’s nice to know others that get what you’re going through and that can relate perfectly to your struggles. Michelle adds to that, “….to be honest, I wouldn’t of got through the past three years without them.” Michelle and the other mums will even spend time together at a hotel from time to time and those times together are priceless. For Peter’s part, he goes about things differently. He’s more quiet about his struggle over Batten disease but it is a struggle nonetheless. He doesn’t spend a lot of time speaking with the other Batten dads. He just gets on with what life has brought his way while doing his absolute best for his family. His relationship with Violet is a special one and one might say that Violet has him wrapped around her little finger. This writer loves his son with special needs. I had wanted a daughter at the time my wife was expecting our Benjamin and I understand why Peter’s relationship with Violet is special. Peter tries to be the rock of his family and I know that he is that. He shared just a little with me, “Life is hard some days but I keep telling myself if it beats me then it’s won. I stay strong for Violet, Michelle, Millie, and Luca. I will not let it win without a fight and will do everything I can.” Peter had been working successfully in the plumbing profession since leaving school at age 16. He left that job to work as a Taxi driver last year at Christmas time. This was in order to be more flexible for Violet. Peter regularly accompanies Violet during her infusions and that says a lot to me about the kind of dad that he is. The bond that he and Violet share is a special one but this hasn’t been easy for Peter. He had to leave a profession that he loved because of the love that he has for his daughter. This creates more down time for him and that is difficult for a guy who is used to working longer hours. He is a rockstar dad in this writer’s opinion. Peter speaks more about this experience with this, “Me and Violet have a strong bond. She’s always snuggles in with me and we have loads of laughs everyday. The day we got told the news was the worst time of my life so far. Not knowing what would happen. Every time I thought about it I would cry. Thinking, what have we done to deserve this?” And yet, he kept going. You can be sensitive and strong at the same time. Michelle does feel that this experience has drawn them closer together as a family but life is harder for them. It is more difficult to spend time together with the rigorous schedule associated with the infusions and other things related to Violet’s care. The New Normal  Had to share! Things have changed drastically in the last 3 years but Peter has emerged as the stable force in the family. Michelle reiterates some of what has already been stated about Peter with this, “He was sent to me for a reason. I could never ask for a more loving, supportive husband. He's an amazing dad to all three kids, but his bond with Violet is priceless. She will only settle in his arms at night time. She only drinks if he holds her cup and she smiles for him more than anyone in the world. He's the most loving, kindest person I have ever met and everyone who meets him loves him.” Michelle continues while mentioning the other part of her support structure, “I'm lucky we are a strong family. Peter always picks me up when I fall, and we are surrounded by the best people. Family and friends are always there for us.” You know we haven’t talked about big sister Millie yet. I had to ask Michelle about her oldest daughter because I want to know more about her. She stated that Millie is the most caring and beautiful person, inside and out. Millie is the image of her father but Michelle says that she is feisty like her mum is. Being quiet and shy, her confidence is growing as she gets older. Her favorite place is at home with her family but she has plans for her own future. Millie is mature for her age and that is a credit to her parents. She might have reason to misbehave or act out. This, because of the attention paid to Violet or the trauma that her condition causes for others. For Millie, this has never been the case. Instead, She is a help to her mum and dad and to her siblings as well. I bet she realizes that she needs to be that. Michelle shares a little more about Millie with this, “I've never had a call from school with any concerns, and every time I speak to teachers at parents' evening it's always lovely feedback on what a nice, polite girl she is. On days we are out of the house at silly times traveling for treatment, she sets her own alarm and takes herself to school. I never have to remind her to do anything. Perhaps only taking the dog for a walk ha ha. She's an amazing big sister to both her siblings, but she's also an amazing daughter who I'd be lost without. She's my best friend.” Michelle thought back to the time that she lost her mum at age 14 to cancer. The trauma of having something like that happen greatly affected Michelle’s attitude and attendance at school. While understandable for a young girl, Michelle has had no issues at all with Millie in that way. Millie is exceptional and mature beyond her years.  What a special family! Violet is without a doubt, a beautiful little girl and it’s easy to see even from a distance why she is so loved by her family. I have already stated in so many words but I will do it again here. A child's life should be filled with innocent fun and laughter as life's lessons are learned. It breaks our hearts when they are not left to enjoy life in the way that they should. And still, these kids that battle are so resilient. Michelle shared, “Violet Jones is our inspiration. That little girl blows me away with her daily battles, that she faces every single one with a smile.” Those of us who follow these families will notice something. That is the profound type of love that surrounds these children. Love mixed with heartache produces a type of love that is profound and undying. That is what we see in these families when they are on this type of journey with their little warriors. More will be dealt with than could be expected from anyone. Respect, love, and admiration is due to people like the Jones family. Like so many families that battle, they provide their daughter with everything possible in order for her to fight against Batten disease. Michelle again shares, “Violet may have one of the most devastating conditions, but she does have the most loving team/family behind her that will never stop fighting for her. Her fight is our fight.” Several times I’ve received comments from moms or mums saying that they’d do almost anything to help their little warriors. They would go as far as trading places with their child if they could.
In her own words, Michelle would do exactly that if she could, “I'd swap in seconds with Violet. I wouldn't even have second thoughts, if I could take this away, she would be living a normal, happy life right now.” There is always hope when there are people that care. I have seen changes in the search for a cure since the time that I first started to follow kids with Batten disease. What I had seen first was an increase in the rate of speed at which doctors would find a diagnosis. That was so critical. The start of the clinical trial for enzyme replacement therapy was another big milestone. The hope for the longest time has been that gene replacement therapy would be realized soon. That is one of the best avenues for a cure. It’s been promised but has not yet come about. As of late, there have been greater advances in research and that means gene replacement is close at hand. Maybe this is helped by the fact that the pandemic known as Covid-19 is not as big of a threat as it once was. Who knows! There is real hope in the air for children like Violet. Let’s hope and pray for the best. In the meantime, the Jones family will do their absolute best for this darling girl of theirs. Wouldn’t we all do the same? Michelle speaks of what other people see in Violet, “Everyone who meets her falls in love. She makes us both proud every single day. She is the most loving little girl and has her daddy wrapped around her little finger.” To be honest, I’d be wrapped around her little finger as well! When I post on social media or write in this blog, I often repeat myself frequently in order to place emphasis on certain thoughts. The following words may seem like just a catchy little phrase but they really do come from the heart. “These kids, they are the most special and they are the most amazing.” Yes, there are other types of battles that affect children but of this one, I was first made aware. These kids are so worth the time and they need to be honored through every means that is possible. I had originally written so much of what I repeat for the kids that battle Batten. These words however, can be extended to children that battle other rare diseases. I understand that this is not an alpha male activity that I’ve involved myself in and I don’t care. I first gave a piece of my heart to one little girl and that affected my way of thinking and the way that I go about living my life. There truly is something special about a kid that battles. The resilience that is present in a child is brought to the surface in a big way when we see them fight their battle. They are so amazing to me! They do produce feelings in us that would not otherwise be present. Violet is precious and I’d hoped for some time to have her story in this blog one day. I’m so glad to be given this opportunity to tell others about her. This is another special family from the United Kingdom and one that I had hoped to write about. Thanks to Peter and Michelle. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this and for sharing this family’s story with your friends. Very sincerely, Your friend and Benjamin’s daddy, ~Greg Lopez~  Beautiful - Absolutely! “There are not many things in this life that make you want to change everything about yourself to become a better person, but having a child is one of them …. When Evelyn was born I remember looking at her and realizing ‘you are completely dependent on me, I will do everything to keep you safe’. Promising her that I would do everything in my power to protect her. She was perfect and I was so in love with her.” ~Mike Jackson~ Evelyn’s Father and Co-Advocate It’s the same wherever you go. Two people meet and fall in love. Soon, the desire to have a family together will follow. There will most often be different backgrounds and upbringings involved and the circumstances for each person will vary. The differences do not matter though because there is something right about being together with this person that comes into your life. The result is a life spent together and that life will soon include having children. Sometimes, you can call a life together a small town story. Two people from a small town or city meet and they fall in love. Other times, the story of a life together involves two people from two different places a distance apart. Their paths crossed because they were meant to be together. That is through the good times and through those that are difficult. No one knows completely what the future holds as two people enter a union but there are things that are expected. Sometimes, events can take place that are so unexpected that they leave us overwhelmed. It’s these types of events and the circumstance that they create that this writer likes to bring to light. There are people out there passing you by on the street that have circumstances that most of us will never experience. Their stories need to be told. People need to be made aware. The story that I will soon get to involves a couple that met while each of them was serving in the United States Navy. This is of interest to me because this writer served in the same branch of our military. In fact, I also met my wife while I was in the Navy. She was serving on the same navy base that I was at the time we met. I was from the south Bay Area in California and she was from Central Oregon. We first made contact with each other in the lounge area of the enlisted barracks at NAS New Orleans in Louisiana. She walked up to me and said hello. I acknowledged her and said hello back but I had no intention of going any further in getting to know her. Then on a certain day, she walked past me while I was just sitting there minding my own business. This time, she was dressed in such a way that she got my attention. This involved a certain pair of blue jeans that I will never forget. She had dressed that way intentionally, just for me. It worked and all of a sudden I was trapped. There would be no turning back. That was over 40 years ago now but I still remember that time in our lives. We had a blast together back then in those carefree days and thinking about them brings back fond memories. Our marriage would be followed by children, our first of which would be born while my wife Rosemarie was still enlisted. We never took the time to plan out our family. We just knew that we wanted one. Life would change a little with each child that was born. There was first Daniel and then Kenny our middle son but we weren’t quite done yet because we wanted one more. Two children would have been a great number but we were meant to have a son number three. No one can know completely what the future will hold but there are things that can be expected. There are all of the life events that come our way and of course, there are bumps and bruises as we travel down life’s road. Hopefully, the struggles that we experience are ones that can be overcome. Sometimes, there are challenges that no one could see as a possibility. Several people that I have met have a person in their family that has special needs. For us, there was a history of people with special needs that ran in my wife’s side of the family. She had mentioned that it could be possible for us to have a special child, however I never gave it much thought. We had been lulled to sleep somewhat by the fact that our first two children were apparently normal and healthy as we planned to have one more. And then it happened. We were given a very special individual in our son Benjamin. Yes, there have been challenges along the way, both financially and otherwise, but we don’t carry a lot of regret. We knew that our lives had been changed as this person came into our midst almost 32 years ago but we feel that our lives had been made richer by the experience. We can say that we share certain things in common with everyone who has a child with special needs but there are some things in which our experiences cannot compare. Some become the parents of a child with special needs as they are thrust into the unexpected. What I mean is that sometimes, as two people meet, they have no knowledge that having a child with special needs is a possibility.  One nice looking couple! Even further from one’s thinking is the possibility that a child could be born with something like a rare disease that is fatal. These are children with a very rare kind of special needs. Completely unaware of what they will face as a family, the parents welcome into their presence a beautiful baby boy or girl. All of the normal things that are usually experienced come with great joy and expectation. Milestones are met as the cute things that tiny tots do are seen by the parents and those who are friends and extended family. There is nothing but great expectations as this child’s life shows so much promise at the onset. Things then change. This child that brought such joy now brings some special challenges. There are many things involved that are yet to come and still unknown about. At the beginning, there is something a little different that is seen in the child. A developmental issue or something in the child’s behavior is noticed and this brings concern. Soon, the issues are seen to be outside the normal range of things and a search for answers becomes something of the greatest importance. Perhaps the search includes answers as to why this child’s speech is not developing as it should be. What if in the course of the search for an answer, this child has a seizure. You’ve never witnessed one and you may not know what is being seen. It can bring a panic situation that has never been experienced. This is how things often begin for a parent of a child with something like Batten disease. To me, these families and their stories are truly special because of that which is experienced and because of the type of love that is exhibited on a daily basis. It is a sacrificial type of love that reveals itself through emotions felt and through actions that are taken. That type of love is seen in this next story. Let’s not waste anymore time getting started. Like this writer and his wife had, Mike Jackson and Corrin Ricketson would meet while each of them was serving in the navy. The circumstances however, were a little different. Both of them had entered careers in the nuclear navy as Electrician’s Mates. The word mate is usually included in the title for many navy career fields onboard ships. How about some background information. For example, a Boatswain’s Mate would help steer a ship and perform other duties on the deck. A Machinist’s Mate would operate and maintain equipment. An Electrician’s Mate would be responsible for, among other things, electrical power generation systems. The level of knowledge and responsibility increases when we are talking about nuclear power on a naval vessel. The navy finds the best and brightest of individuals to fill these jobs as the training is technical in nature, to say the least. When you reach the level in the ranks that is considered a non-commissioned officer in the navy, you then are known as a Petty Officer. You first become a third class petty officer, then a second class, and then a first class petty officer. Many career minded people strive to become a chief petty officer which is an E-7 in the enlisted ranks. E-9 is at the top. When you’ve made it to Chief, you’ve achieved something but that can be said for every level of petty officer. A first class is held in high regard because that rank is not easy to achieve. So with that in mind, let’s talk about Mike and Corrin and their meeting. Corrin had enlisted in the navy right out of high school but Mike had waited until he was 23 years old. They would meet while serving on the nuclear powered aircraft carrier named the USS Harry S Truman. They would both get to that ship in different parts of 2009. By the time they had met, Corrin had achieved the rank of first class petty officer (E-6). The carrier that they were stationed on had two nuclear reactors. Of the two of them, Corrin would become the Leading Petty Officer of the electrical plant for reactor number one. Mike would also achieve much during his time in the navy but at the time he and Corrin would meet, Mike was junior to Corrin in rank being a third class petty officer. Corrin remembers that she and Mike met while they were sitting at the tables in the galley during lunchtime. Both were with a mutual friend that Corrin had served with on a previous ship. Along with the other newer people on board in the Reactor Electrical Division, Corrin was trying to get to know Mike. She recalls that she thought Mike to be on the shy side but she wanted to get to know him as an LPO. This was for the purpose of deciding which reactor a particular person would serve at and Corrin wanted to speak with each of the new people. Mike, however, was not engaging in conversation and instead was looking down, leaving Corrin to wonder what was up with him. The Crossing of Paths  Although she was a little confused over Mike’s quiet manner, she was certain of one thing. That is that she was attracted to Mike. Corrin recalls, “….he had his sleeves rolled up, and his tattoos were poking out. I remember thinking that he was really cute, and he should probably go to the other plant so I don’t stare at him all day long while we work, because it would be unprofessional.” And so it would be that Mike would wind up serving in the electrical plant for the opposite reactor that Corrin was attached to. Mike and Corrin’s paths would not cross again except during training and one port call. This took place in the country of Dubai while being deployed in 2010. She explained that it was at a local hangout for sailors that she helped Mike escape the “clingy fingers” of another female that had an interest in him. Apparently, Corrin was not the only one that thought Mike was attractive as she had intervened to break things up. Mike was appreciative of Corrin’s help and the seeds for a friendship were being planted. They had no idea at the time, but more than a friendship was in the process of developing. Feeling that she had achieved everything that there was for her to accomplish while serving, Corrin would leave the navy in December of 2010. The next step was to figure out what she wanted in her next career. She didn’t know what that was as 2011 rolled around, so Corrin decided to take a photography class in junior college. This would turn into an associates degree in photography a year and a half later and she would accomplish this using the 9/11 GI Bill. Corrin had stayed in the general area where the Harry S Truman had been home ported and many of her friends were still active duty navy. It was still 2011, in February, when the Harry S Truman was out to sea on training exercises and Mike was still serving on board. Facebook popped up with a notification that she and Mike had friends in common and that she should friend him. Corrin did so and messaged Mike asking how things were going. While doing so, she did notice that his status showed that he was in relationship but she thought nothing of it. They did socialize a few times as the ship returned to port and their relationship would soon take a big step forward. Corrin explains, “One Friday night a bunch of us went to dinner at a restaurant. There were so many of us that the table was extremely long. So long I was texting the girls at the other end instead of shouting. I look over to Mike sitting next to me and he is under the table trying to hide that he is texting someone. I call him out for hiding his text when the rest of us are not being shy about it. So he holds his phone up for me to read and it’s a text to me asking if I wanted to hang out afterwards.” That was the moment that things would take a big step forward and Corrin explained that they were inseparable after that evening. There were many late nights spent together and they texted one another constantly when they were apart. By March, Mike and Corrin had become boyfriend and girlfriend. They would find a house to rent together as they neared the end of 2011 since Corrin was living at Mike’s apartment most of the time anyway. Things were really taking shape but as the case can often be, the needs of the navy would put a demand on their relationship. This would happen during the Spring of 2012 with Mike expecting to come up for orders to a new duty station. He knew he would be going to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, New York where he would serve as an instructor. This would present a dilemma as Corrin had started a new job at the Newport News Shipyard. Understandably, she would be unwilling to leave that position with where their relationship status was currently at. The Harry S Truman was in and out of port getting ready for deployment but would be home for 36 hours around the 4th of July and that would give Mike an opportunity to fix the situation. Mike asked Corrin out on a dinner date and insisted that they dress up for the occasion. Mike did what any sensible guy would do in this situation as Corrin explains, “He proposed that night at dinner. I was looking at something in the distance and turned back to find a ring box being held by Mike. He had a glimmer of a tear in his eyes when he asked me to marry him. I sat there blank for a moment, my brain yelling to close my mouth and tell him yes.” There were things running through Corrin’s mind as Mike had not yet transferred and with the ship getting ready to deploy. One concern was that he would not be able to come home if something happened to Corrin given their relationship status being single.  Wedding Day! The other thought was that she would gain the addition of Mike’s military benefits if their status changed to being married prior to him leaving on deployment. Organizing an actual wedding in such a short period of time was not possible. Mike was from the state of Michigan and Corrin was from California and they were both living in Virginia. This would only complicate further any plans for a full scale wedding. All of these thoughts were running through Corrin’s mind as she posed the idea of elopement. One of the benefits of that would be a money savings that could be applied to an actual wedding at a later date. They didn’t know at the time but that event would never actually become a reality. Mike could only agree as all of this made great sense and of course, Corrin would say yes to Mike’s proposal! Corrin would go on to find a company that did elopements on the beach. The wedding included a photographer and the company allowed two guests as witnesses. The whole thing sounds very romantic. So it was on Tuesday, August the 14th of 2012 that Mike and Corrin would become man and wife. For the most part, the only ones that would know this was the United States Navy and a few close friends. They went out for Mexican food with some of those friends afterwards and it was back to work the next day. Family members would eventually put two and two together as they saw the wedding rings and not everyone would be happy. Sometimes though, you have to do what is necessary at the risk of not pleasing everyone. Events would one day follow that would keep Mike and Corrin from having a larger wedding and honeymoon. Some of those events are yet to be talked about and as it would happen, the deployment for the Harry S Truman would be postponed the night before the ship was scheduled to leave. Mike would transfer to Ballston Spa, New York before the deployment happened and that is where Mike and Corrin’s story would continue. Mike would transfer in May of 2013 but he would go to New York alone at first. This was because Corrin had some work related business to take care of before she herself could transfer. They would start a family almost immediately but not one of the human variety. They first wanted to have some canine type kids. That was Mike’s idea actually. He had always wanted a dog growing up but his dad was allergic to them so Mike had to wait. Now was the time since he had relocated for shore duty and he and Corrin had plans to buy a house together. Mike would drive four hours to Vermont where he would pick up their first Australian Shepherd. Mike and Corrin’s new dog was a male and they would name him Skyler. With Corrin’s absence, the couple would Skype together in the evenings and those meetings would include Skyler. It would be later, in 2014, that Skyler would be joined in the family by a female Aussie Shepherd which they named Raine. The next big event in Mike and Corrin’s story would take place during the months of July and August of 2014. That is when they would travel to Seattle, Washington to attend a wedding for one of Mike’s Buddies from the Navy. It was also at that time that they would go on an Alaskan cruise for their two year later honeymoon. This would give them the chance to preview the Seattle area. The Seattle weather was beautiful when compared to the frigid winter temps and afternoon thunderstorms in Ballston Spa. The area really caught Mike and Corrin’s eyes and it would one day lead to a move west. It would also be close this time that discussions about when to have children together would take place. Mike was ready. He recalled to me an experience that he longed for and it was prompted during an evening out with Corrin. Here is some of what he had to say, “We went out for dinner one night and sitting next to us was a family – a mom, dad and little girl who was maybe 4 years old. I was listening to some of their conversation and she was just adorable. I remember thinking to myself how I can't wait until I have a little kid like that and I can have these conversations with.” Corrin however, would have mixed feelings on the matter. She had been enjoying life as it was. She loved the nights out with her lady friends and her and Mike’s weekend adventures kayaking or riding in hot air balloons. All of this type of thing would come to an end if there was a baby involved. Even so, at some point, Corrin would want to be a mom. It was just a matter of when. A Single Moment  Decisions can be impacted by events that happen within a single moment in our life. That is what had taken place one day as Mike and Corrin were out with the dogs at a park. It was on a day in October of 2014, when a pack of playful dogs ran right by Corrin. All of them missed her except the last one which ran into her right knee. She needed to see a doctor. Skylar and Raine were dropped off at the house as Mike took Corrin to the ER. Once there, they would find that her fibula patella was fractured. An MRI that was done the next day would show that her ACL was only stretched and so surgery would not be required. Corrin was put in a full leg brace and would be warned by the doctor, use caution in regards to gaining weight when pregnant. It was depressing for Corrin to watch the effect that the injury had on her leg with the atrophy of the muscles around the injury. Home on worker’s compensation for two months, Mike would offer to take her for a ride when he got home from work. I am sure that it wasn’t funny at the time but as Corrin put it, “…. like I was a dog, excited to see out the window at the big world.” This would certainly put any plans to start a family on hold until Corrin’s leg could bear the weight. Another factor would be that Corrin was due to make a job change a week after she returned to work. This was because she had accepted another position at the navy site she already worked at before her injury. She needed to work long enough to gain the twelve weeks of paid time off for maternity leave and this meant more waiting time before starting to have children. Mike wasn’t too happy with this as he really wanted to start their family. Regardless of what either of their feelings were about the timing of a pregnancy, Corrin would soon find out that she was pregnant. Perhaps on a hunch, she decided to take a pregnancy test before a barbeque on Memorial Day weekend in 2015. The test result was positive. Corrin was due to have their first child and you just know that Mike was so happy to know this. He had been working rotating shift work at the NPTU (Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit) in Ballston spa and was ready for this next chapter in his and Corrin’s life together. That life would take on new meaning as parents and there was much that was looked forward to. In spite of Corrin’s injury to her knee, she would find that her pregnancy would be uncomplicated. There would be no symptoms of any kind, no morning sickness, and no weird cravings. The months would pass as they lived life with the expectation of welcoming baby number one. This would include the holiday season for 2015 as Corrin’s baby would be carried full term into the new year. So it would be on the 18th of January in 2016 that the big day would arrive. Corrin would go into labor in the early morning hours after her water had broken. Mike became anxious as he was given the news by Corrin, waking for work at around five in the morning. He started to pack frantically for the hospital but was reminded by Corrin that things didn’t work that way. With the lack of complications, they didn’t need to leave for the hospital until her contractions were less than five minutes apart. With that in mind, they would wait what seemed like all day to go to the hospital. Mike said that it felt like the longest wait of his life. Finally, the contractions would become close enough to go to the hospital at around two in the afternoon. In fact, the contractions were so close together that they questioned whether they had waited too long. As Mike and Corrin got to the hospital and were registered, they pushed for her to have an epidural as Corrin was in a lot of pain. She would get that between five and six o’clock in the evening. Unfortunately, as Corrin received the epidural the contractions stopped and the waiting game would start back up. It would be another eight hours or so for Corrin to become dilated enough to start pushing and she would be given the drug named Pitocin in the process. This was in order to help get the contractions to increase because they were staying about five minutes apart. Finally, at about one-thirty in the morning on the 19th of January, Corrin could start pushing again. It would still take a couple hours for their baby to make its appearance but it would be worth the wait in the end. The event is something that most every couple looks forward to experiencing together. Mike and Corrin would get to say hello to their newborn baby girl at about 3:45 a.m. on the 19th of January in 2016. She was so perfect and she was perfectly beautiful. Mike and Corrin named her Evelyn Annalise Jackson. Baby Evelyn had all of her fingers and toes and she also had the most adorable little face.  A stunning pic! The event would be life changing for both Mike and Corrin. They now had this little life that they were responsible for and much of their world would revolve around this child. Mike realized at that point that his daughter would be dependent on him for her protection. He would do anything in his power to provide that. This was his firstborn child and the experience for him and Corrin was like no other. Baby Evelyn was flawless and she was adored instantly by her mom and dad. At this point, Mike and Corrin had no reason to believe anything other than that Evelyn’s life held immeasurable promise. There were all of the normal events that were to be looked forward to as life continued. Mike and Corrin’s responsibilities revolved around helping Evelyn to experience life to the fullest as they guided her along the way. They were now a family. Just as would be the case with any newborn, there was the initial health screening that would take place and Evelyn was found to be healthy and whole. Even with the promise that was felt, Corrin did have some concerns that would stay in the back of her mind. One was that her father had a cousin with Autism and she thought that it might be part of the family genetics. One of the screenings that they had not been able to complete checked for the presence of such a thing. Named the nuchal translucency test, it measures the nuchal fold thickness. This is an area of tissue at the back of an unborn baby's neck. Measuring this thickness helps assess the risk for Down syndrome and other genetic problems in the baby. Mike and Corrin also opted out of having genetic testing done. This would have checked for the presence of the 300 most common diseases in children. Prior to Evelyn’s birth, Corrin had experienced recurring nightmares that her baby was to be severely disabled. Even before the gender reveal party, she knew that the baby was to be a girl because that was always the gender of the baby in her dreams. Was this a sign of something that was to be part of their future? With the presence of such a perfect baby, one could only put these types of thoughts far away from their thinking. Corrin mentioned that this all may have just been the result of the nerves of a first time mom. Evelyn would pass her newborn screening and this led her parents to believe that everything would be okay with her. As a former Lead Petty Officer and an Electrician’s Mate in the nuclear navy, maintaining a nuclear reactor on an aircraft carrier was not a major challenge for Corrin. Neither were the positions that she held after leaving the service. However, in the hospital that first night and in the first few days at home, things were different. This brand new little baby girl was dependent on Corrin now and the experience was a little terrifying at first for her. Corrin explains, “I was excited to hold Evelyn, terrified to figure out nursing, and losing my mind trying to figure out how to get her to stay asleep .… I was so lost the first night in the hospital. She would not stay asleep. Was she afraid of the dark, should I keep the lights on some, does she need changing, because people say a wet diaper will wake a baby?” Corrin continued, “By morning I was in tears, and asked for the nurses to take her so I could get a nap, I was failing as a mom. I walked by the nursery and there she was asleep, like how do they do it?” The challenge of figuring out nursing and being able to do it pain free was a major problem at first. Then there was the challenge of getting little Evelyn to sleep once they arrived home. She wouldn’t be able to sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time. This would be hard on mom as she herself needed to sleep. The struggles over nursing continued and most everyone that Corrin reached out to for help was unable to offer any. She was, however, able to call one friend in Virginia Beach that could offer some insights. It was a major ordeal for this new mom at first but she would figure things out in time. Corrin would have to because she wouldn’t be able to become part of the local mom tribe until her next child was born. Mike would take three weeks off from work when it was time for Corrin to return to her job. This lasted until daycare had a spot open for Evelyn. It was business as usual for Corrin as she returned to work. There weren’t a lot of emotions involved and pumping milk for her baby was not an issue. Life moved along for this family of three, just as it should. Evelyn would meet all of her milestones in the next 10 months. She sat up just like she should and she began to crawl right on schedule. Evelyn was her daddy’s baby girl and the pride of her mom and dad. The Next Stage The next big event for this family of three was Mike’s exit from the navy as his enlistment would end officially in August of 2016. Just as Corrin had during her enlistment, Mike achieved the rank of First Class Petty Officer or EMN1 (SW). In addition to achieving this rank, Mike also finished his bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering technology. The combination of his navy training and experience along with his degree more than prepared him for the job market. It was unintentional that Mike would draw attention to his career skills prior to getting out of the navy but things would just happen that way. This took place as he was viewing positions that were mentioned on a Facebook page named Navy Nuke Job Finder. He responded to someone that had mentioned a position in Data Center Operations. There was interest in Mike for a position in Eastern Washington state, however Mike and Corrin were interested in moving to the Seattle area. After Mike gave a counter offer that included a request for a position in Seattle, he would accept a job at AWS (Amazon Web Services) as a data center infrastructure chief engineer. Their move west was on and moving to the Seattle area would take place in October of 2016. Mike and Corrin would take with them a beautiful little girl that was now ten months old. This family’s life together was now taking shape. The time that each of them had spent in the service had paid off. Mike had a position that provided for the family and they had moved to a place where they really desired to live. There were also no concerns that involved the needs of the navy. They could settle in and enjoy their new surroundings and a life spent together.  Little cutie! The future also looked bright for little miss Evelyn. She would develop normally even up to two years of age, meeting all of her milestones. Evelyn had started to walk at fourteen months and other than being a little small in size compared to other children her age, she was right on track. She said her first words right when she was supposed to and she would try many different kinds of foods. She wasn’t a picky eater. Other moms would remark about how smart Evelyn was while their kids were on playdates with her. They noticed that she loved to use her words. Corrin remembers that one of Evelyn’s favorite first phrases was “Read Please” and that they would do together. In addition, Evelyn and mom would work on puzzles and would do flashcards together. There were, of course, some minor challenges in Evelyn’s early development. Corrin would be reminded by friends and family that these were things that would straighten themselves out in time. Corrin remarked, “It took me forever to get her off the animal sounds when we did flashcards to actually telling me the name of the animal. She would jabber so fast I had no clue what she would say. But everyone kept reminding me it would come with time.” Evelyn was physically active just like her peers. She loved to run and jump, just like all the other little people her age. It would be around two years of age that Mike and Corrin noticed that things seemed to be a little off with Evelyn. Mike said that it was like her development had hit a brick wall. He gave one example that I wanted to share, “She loved vanilla wafer cookies, I would always pull the box out and tell her I will give you as many as you want, you just have to tell me – she would always ask for two. I thought it was cute, but after months of this it was odd to me that her answer was always two.” Corrin gave another example that related to Evelyn’s diet. Whereas there had not been a limit as to the things Evelyn would eat, she started to refuse many foods, settling on just a few items. Corrin stated that Evelyn had developed faster than her peers in things like language skills. However, they would catch up and pass Evelyn in several areas. Whether or not to seek out help was a source of discussion with family members. Was Evelyn just developing at her own pace when it came to her speech or was there something to be concerned about? Corrin would get help from another person within the mom tribe. This mom would share her own experience in this area, even lending Corrin materials to use. It would be July of 2018 that Corrin would take Evelyn to the doctor to have her speech evaluated. She was then almost two and a half years old. The doctor would agree that Evelyn needed some help in this area. The end result would be that she would receive twenty therapy sessions, lasting from September until February of the following year. This would bring about some improvement. Corrin stated that Evelyn’s lack of skills in the area of her speech would also affect her behaviors. Evelyn would sometimes lash out because of the frustration of not being able to communicate effectively.  So unhappy! As the initial speech therapy sessions were completed, Evelyn would become eligible for more services through the school district. It was now March of 2019 and Evelyn would be evaluated using a combination of testing and information provided by Corrin. Much to her dismay, Corrin’s input would be ignored and disregarded leaving the school psychologist and other staff with only partial information. They would come to the conclusion that Evelyn’s behavior was just fine but that couldn’t be further from the truth at that time. Corrin stated that Evelyn had an episode just as she had left the car because she wasn’t allowed to bring a favorite DVD with her into the building. She had been crying, screaming, and thrashing out because of this. The four adults that were giving her all their attention during the evaluation had seen none of this behavior. To her parents, Evelyn’s behaviors and the addition of other delays was startling. For instance, there was potty training. Evelyn would have no problems initially with potty training but would stall in that area as well. She would never get to the point where she could do the entire task without assistance. Also, Evelyn couldn’t stay in regular underwear because of her inability to pull those and her pants up properly. Even so, Evelyn would stay potty trained, having only occasional accidents due to not reaching the toilet in time. She also would not reach the point that she could dress herself completely without assistance. Things like hitting and pushing, throwing things and crying were commonplace. Shocking as it might be, she would even drop her pants when she didn’t want to walk anymore. Her behaviors were really starting to get out of hand and were becoming a major concern. Mike said that Evelyn would begin to develop sensory overload. How taxing would it be on a parent to have to deal with an issue like this? Mike explains, “Anytime we tried to go anywhere or do anything she would immediately begin crying hysterically. Over the course of the next 18 months it was really hard for me to want to go anywhere with her because I knew she was just going to scream and cry the entire time.” Mike would go on to talk about one night out with Evelyn after Corrin set up a father-daughter date (Evelyn was just a couple of months past her second birthday). In Mike’s own words, “…. This was the first real time we were going to go out and do something just daddy and daughter. I thought I would take her to the mall and we would ride some of the small children's rides and play some games, but as soon as we got there she had her usual meltdown. Despite this we tried to go in and I was hoping she would warm up to it, but she couldn’t handle it. She fought me to get on rides and kept asking for the car so we could leave. It made me feel terrible, like I was failing as a father.” How disheartening this type of thing would be for a person who was so fulfilled by being a father. Why was this type of thing occurring? Mike would look at other parents having daddy-daughter dates and he would wonder, why not him and Evelyn? Mike shared that he couldn’t even get his daughter out of the car without her going into full meltdown mode. What a disappointment for a dad that loved his daughter so much. The meltdowns also took place when Evelyn was at the playground. This was a concern for sure because those meltdowns would involve other children. Whereas Evelyn once loved the playground, she would now be overwhelmed as soon as they left the house. She was so frustrated anytime they took her to the park that she would look for a child to hit right away. Disheartening is the word that Mike used to express how he felt as this was taking place. Corrin shared one incident that took place while at the park with Evelyn that still haunts her to this day, “At a playground she pushed a kid near a slide. Well, he fell towards an opening for a ladder, falling a good 10 feet to the ground. I was horrified, and mortified watching this mom examine her poor boy. All the while Evelyn didn’t get it. There was no remorse, no care …. she was just upset she couldn’t go play. I have never been back to that playground since. It terrifies me with PTSD.” As parents, this would leave Mike and Corrin bewildered and they felt as though they couldn’t take Evelyn anywhere. Could we even imagine? At around 3 years of age, Evelyn would begin preschool. In time, Mike would learn that the teachers were making no attempt to include Evelyn in the classroom activities but would instead leave her isolated. They would do things like feed her crackers and give her their phone to play with in order to keep her entertained. Of course this would be upsetting to find out about. The Complete Family  The complete family! The Jacksons had hoped that Evelyn’s issues would be ironed out and they had wanted to enlarge their family by one more. Corrin had been carrying their second child since Evelyn’s was about two and a half years of age and the time would soon arrive. Corrin would give birth to a boy and just as they had been the time before, they were pleased and excited. Welcoming their baby boy into the family, they named him Dominic Everett Jackson. Dad had loved his newborn daughter at first sight and now, he had a son. Corrin felt as though their family was complete and still, they had the challenges with Evelyn. Baby Dominic made his entrance into the family on April the 11th 0f 2019, being born in Renton, Washington. Life would continue and it would involve a mixture of feelings. There would be joy over the birth of their new baby boy but also, concern over the issues surrounding Evelyn. Getting her to eat her normal food was another challenge. Why were things that are so basic in life so difficult with her? Why was this perfectly beautiful little girl so unhappy? She would fuss over her food even to the point of having meltdowns. What was really disturbing is that she would eat dirt and sand anywhere it was available. It is normal for kids to eat a little as they are growing but not in the quantities that Evelyn was. Corrin recalled that it was in July of 2019 that they would take their first overnight trip with kids to a place named Ocean Shores. Evelyn would fuss and scream while they were out for Mexican food because her tablet was no longer connected to the WIFI in their room. She wouldn’t touch her food. Corrin described the scene and to a few it may seem all too familiar, “She screamed at the food. Dominic was a cutie just sitting there at three months old. It was super embarrassing when an older couple came and said over Mike’s shoulder we get it, we’ve all been there. Afterwards we went to the beach to watch the sunset and Evelyn literally tasted every spot of sand. Like it was a freaking buffet.” Corrin went on to say that Evelyn just screamed for her tablet once she was done with the sand. Playing in the water like a normal toddler was of no interest to her. That was it! The entire thing flooded Corrin’s mind with thoughts about what might be taking place. She started to google some of the things that she was seeing in Evelyn on the drive home. Some that she mentioned were, “….delayed speech, repeating words over and over (echolalia), and obsessive interests in objects like the backpack or other stick objects.” Evelyn had started to carry a child’s backpack obsessively after her pacifier had been taken away. She would play with it non-stop, chewing on the straps. She would even get tangled in it as she attempted to carry it up and down stairs at the playground. There was also her short attention span and being disinterested or unaware of people who were around her. In the course of time, Mike and Corrin would have Evelyn tested for a variety of things. In August of 2019, Evelyn would be evaluated for her speech, feeding, and sensory issues. An occupational therapist is not someone that you might normally think to be involved with childhood health issues but their input is valuable. They have the ability to assess developmental skills as well as vision, strength, and neurologic function. Things like fine motor, visual motor, and gross motor skills are looked at when a child is seen by an OT. A standardized assessment might also be completed. Corrin shared what one therapist had said to her, “The therapist said she probably has sensory overloads. Thus her need to scream, howl, and to be loud, to hit things, to jump, swing, and to taste things for sensory input. It made sense. I thought I was getting somewhere and I could help Evelyn.” Sensory processing disorder was something that was treatable and Evelyn certainly fit into this category. Evelyn would also be tested for a disorder called Pica. This is a disorder in which people compulsively eat things that have no nutritional value. Evelyn’s desire to eat large amounts of sand and dirt would lead people to think this to be a possibility. Pica can occur in children with intellectual disabilities. It seemed like almost everything that Evelyn was evaluated for resulted in a positive diagnosis. Her results for Pica though, had come back normal. Another possibility was the presence of ADHD. Corrin had mentioned to Mike that she felt that autism could be a possibility. This as Evelyn had been showing some of the symptoms of that disorder. It was a confusing time though as friends would share the experiences they had with their own children.  Why so troubled? Their friends felt that they themselves had gone through similar things with their kids and that children just develop at their own pace. Mike said that he had been reinforcing to himself the feeling that everything would work itself out with Evelyn. Things were going to “click”. As time went on though, he began to concur that autism was a strong possibility. Evelyn would get put on a waiting list to be tested for autism. The wait however, was a year long. Could they wait an entire year? The presence of Evelyn’s little brother Dominic had created other issues that were difficult to deal with. Dominic had just been busy being the baby of the family but Evelyn was not happy about the shared attention that was now required. She had been okay with things when Mike had been at home but not after he had returned to work. Corrin explained some of what was experienced, “….when it was just the three of us, and I was trying to nurse Dominic on the couch and had cartoons on for Evie, it wasn’t enough. She would pick on the dogs, throw things around, knowing I was stuck with a newborn on me. People would tell me to put the dogs in another room, but Evelyn would howl until our male dog would chime in at his high pitched tone.” Two children would be twice the work for sure but Evelyn’s behavior was making things much more challenging than that. Corrin stated that she would be in tears most days, not always knowing what to do. She could only believe that this wouldn’t last forever and that she must endure no matter how difficult. Even so, Corrin must have been conflicted in her feelings for her daughter. There was no manual that came with Evelyn that gave instructions for dealing with such extreme behaviors. There would be days when she was difficult to love because of the way that she acted out for no apparent reason. Why was she so troubled at such a young age? Another difficult challenge had to do with how Evelyn’s behaviors were affecting friendships with other families. It was also difficult any time she was out in public settings. Corrin gave some examples, “Friends stopped inviting us over because Evelyn would destroy their house, taking all toys and books off shelves, throwing legos everywhere. Just no impulse control. I was grocery shopping once when Evelyn saw a bag of goldfish on a shelf and I told her no. So the tantrum and the screaming started. I had employees asking if we were okay, checking on us as I went to a different aisle.” Corrin must have felt like she was under the microscope because Evelyn would act out while on public outings. She would draw unwanted attention to herself and those that were with her. Corrin continued with these words, “I hated shopping with her, always screaming. I’d bring toys and food to keep her occupied until those became a throwing object. I took Evelyn to a harvest festival. It was the second year that she and I went to it, this time with Dominic in tow. She freaked out. The noise of the motorcycle stunt show, the crowds, she couldn’t take it.” Corrin added, “She was like a ticking time bomb. Some days were good and others were meltdown city.” Children are generally happy campers. Certainly, there are times when there is a bit of naughty behavior but there is usually a general innocence that is present in kids. Why was Evelyn having such a hard time at a time when life should be so simple and fun? Evelyn was a complicated child for sure. Autism could very well be her diagnosis but placing her in that category would be a long process. One thing was for certain. That was that this little person was making life difficult. She was definitely worth going through the challenges but the way that she complicated everything was taxing on the emotions. Her issues not only affected her parents but they also extended to family friendships and relationships with other family members. Things would get worse. An event would take place on August the 30th of 2019 that would shake both Mike and Corrin. It would raise the level of difficulty to an even higher level. I thought that I would let Mike explain in his words as we continue with the story, “It was a Friday afternoon sometime around lunchtime. I was not very busy that day and was sitting around with some of the guys talking. Corrin called my phone, which seemed weird to me, because we always just texted each other throughout the day. Before I answered it, I half-jokingly thought to myself ‘great, something must be wrong’. Corrin was taking Evelyn to the fair to meet up with some of their friends. When I answered the phone Corrin was hysterical, and she told me Evelyn was having a seizure. They were on their way to the fair when Corrin saw Evelyn in the rear view mirror with her eyes rolled back convulsing. Neither one of us had ever dealt with anything like this before, and I didn’t know what to say, I felt helpless and so far from anywhere I could help.” How Things Can Change  Daddy - Daughter! Corrin had made her way to an open parking spot in an overflow parking lot where she had proceeded to call 911. This happened as Mike stayed with her on speaker phone. She had actually not known at that point what was taking place with her daughter as Corrin had never witnessed a seizure before. Evelyn had returned to normal and had fallen back to sleep after the seizure. How frightening this had to have been. It had resulted in a state of panic on Corrin’s part, even as she did her best to deal with the situation. An ambulance would arrive and would put little Evelyn on their bed so that she could be transported. Evelyn had been slightly awake with her face drooping and her speech slurred more than normal. One could only imagine the level of concern over this little princess of a girl. So much had happened prior to this date and now this! Mike had gotten in his car and headed south as he worked in the Seattle area. He had been on the road for about twenty minutes when he learned that Evelyn would be taken to Mary Bridge Children’s hospital. Finding out where they had taken Evelyn to at the hospital was another panic situation. This was as Corrin had followed the ambulance and arrived, placing Dominic in his stroller. Evelyn seemed to be okay as Corrin had made it to her room, she just wanted to be held. Evelyn had experienced a grand mal seizure and this is how Mike and Corrin would be introduced into the next step in their search for answers. Evelyn’s situation would stabilize and they would be discharged with no updates and no answers as to what had caused the seizure. Her discharge papers did say that a follow-up appointment with a neurologist would need to take place. Corrin stated that they would spend the next four days on edge, watching Evelyn, sleeping with her, and listening to her breathing. So much had taken place with Evelyn as her parents had tried to piece together the puzzle that surrounded their daughter’s health. It wouldn’t take an extremely long time for them to get some answers and the process would begin with a meet and greet between Evelyn and the neurologist. Mike stated that they had brought all of Evelyn’s developmental issues to the neurologist's attention at the initial meeting. He would take notice of what was shared. Perhaps he suspected that more was taking place than just a seizure disorder. Corrin gave some additional details about what was shared with the doctor, “I remember trying to describe the grand mal, trying to remember details I couldn’t, like what were her legs doing. They were crossed. I remember not being able to move them to unbuckle her. I told him about our recent therapy evaluation with their diagnosis of sensory processing disorder, and speech delays. His eyes widened with those details and her eyes moving to the right of her head.” As is usually the case, Evelyn would be started on the medication known as Keppra for controlling future seizures. Both Corrin and the neurologist felt that there was a connection between the seizure and Evelyn’s developmental issues. Mike said that he had yet to consider a worst case scenario and he just kept reassuring himself that they would get things figured out. Initially, the doctor wanted an EEG scheduled by Mike and Corrin and he asked them to contact the scheduling department. Much to their dissatisfaction, Evelyn was given an appointment for three weeks later. Once contacted, the neurologist would find this to be completely unsatisfactory and he would step in. The result would be that Evelyn was scheduled for her EEG a couple of days later on Friday. That day was September the 6th of 2019. Corrin had tried to arrange for a friend to watch Dominic but the appointment would come too quickly for that to happen. Mike would instead accompany Evelyn while Corrin remained with Dominic in his stroller outside of the room. The day would turn out to be one filled with trauma. Evelyn would need to be sleep deprived in order to undergo the EEG, so she would be kept up late and woken early. You can only imagine that a sleep deprived child would struggle during this type of a test. Many would struggle with an ample amount of sleep but even more so while being tired. As Evelyn’s father, Mike would have to do what was needed to make sure that the test could be performed. This would be under very trying circumstances. He explained, “Evelyn was tired, scared, and hysterical. She was thrashing around to get away while they tried to install the leads on her head so I had to restrain her. I pinned her down and put my forearm against her head to keep her still and she fought me with the entirety of her being. For the next thirty minutes or so we had to do this, and I will never forget the way she was looking at me. It was as if to say ‘why are you doing this to me.’”  Evelyn's eye exam. Corrin had been left outside the room with Dominic because of the requirements at the facility. She was left outside, listening to all the noise of the disturbance taking place within. Which situation was more difficult to bear? Standing firm because he had to, Mike may have felt as though he was betraying Evelyn’s trust in him. This however, was something that he had to do. The test needed to be performed and he had to focus on the “task at hand”. Evelyn would fall fast asleep almost immediately after being hooked up to the test equipment and Mike would lay next to her on the bed. A traumatic chain of events had taken place and they had brought this father and his daughter to this point. Mike explained what he was feeling, “Now that things had finally calmed down for a moment I finally had a chance to process what just happened and I immediately broke down crying. That was, and to this day still is, maybe the most traumatic moment of my life. I looked at Evelyn with all these wires hooked up to her, I was thinking about her seizure and all of her developmental issues and was hit by a ton of bricks”. Mike was left to wonder what it was that was taking place with his baby girl. He added, “I was literally living out the worst moment of my life.” To those that have read other accounts like this one, the things that had taken place may all seem just like a matter of fact. It was different for Mike and Corrin as they went through it. They had both been involved in a line of work that required calm under pressure but this was an entirely different type of a situation. This was their first born child. A most beautiful little girl that was much loved. This was even with all the issues that had occurred with her development problems. There was something terribly wrong going on. The test ended and the technician wanted to make certain that a follow-up appointment with the neurologist would get scheduled. She had seen a lot of very abnormal activity during Evelyn’s EEG and her concern was noticeable. Mike asked about the possibility of epilepsy to which the technician’s reply was yes. Her response however was such that it would lead Mike to think that something much more serious was taking place with Evelyn. He was still filled with emotion as the technician went back over everything with Corrin present. It was impossible for Mike to keep himself composed. Being a sensitive dad, the events of the day were just overwhelming for him. The follow-up appointment with the neurologist would take place on the 9th of September in 2019. The diagnosis for Evelyn at this point was simple epilepsy and this would be a treatable condition. Corrin had been thinking about how their lives would change and their activities as a family would have to be altered. No more long day drives, no amusement park rides, and no swimming. Those were some of the things that Evelyn enjoyed and Corrin feared that those kinds of things were no longer possible with a diagnosis of epilepsy. She had no idea that something much more involved was about to be revealed. Once at the appointment, the neurologist would share that Evelyn would qualify for a type of testing called Behind the Seizure. It was made available by a well known company named Invitae. This was, no doubt, made available for Evelyn because of what was seen during the EEG. It was very possible that there was more than simple epilepsy at play given the “abnormal results” of the test and Evelyn’s history during her development. Mike and Corrin would agree to the genetic testing even though this would mean that Evelyn would be subject to more discomfort. Her blood would have to be drawn after she had already been put through so much with the EEG. Mike said that they made sure to shower her with love and attention plus she received things like candy treats and time on her tablet. It would take several weeks for Mike and Corrin to receive the results of the genetic testing and in the meantime, Evelyn would undergo an MRI. This would take place on the 15th of October with a follow-up appointment happening a couple of days later. The results of that testing came back with no additional issues being revealed. Evelyn had been prescribed Keppra for control of seizures and the drug was working well enough. For Mike at least, it was life as usual with the long wait for the results of the genetic testing. He had gotten used to the belief that Evelyn was an epileptic with sensory issues and potentially, had autism. He was not prepared for what would be found out through further testing. News Not Welcomed  It would be almost two months later that Mike and Corrin would hear back from the genetics team. The results of the genetic testing were in and they would meet with the team on October the 30th of 2019. Nobody could be fully prepared for what would take place. The Jacksons were brought into a private room that had just a few chairs and a mat on the ground for kids. Mike stated that the team introduced themselves and then proceeded to ask questions about each of their family bloodlines. Some of the questions were ones that Mike found to be slightly offensive but both him and Corrin answered them nonetheless. They actually wanted to know if Mike and Corrin were related in any way. Mike said that they began mapping out a family tree and this left him confused as to what this was all about. Mike did an excellent job of explaining what the doctors suspected while stating what the testing revealed. Here is what he said to me, “… the doctor got very stern and said the results of the genetic test showed that Evelyn had mutations on her CLN2 gene. This gene is responsible for producing an enzyme that breaks down cellular waste called lipofuscin. The name of the enzyme is TPP1 (Tripeptidyl Peptidase 1). This is a lysosomal storage disorder known as Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, more specifically CLN2 Batten disease.” The doctor also shared that there was a treatment available for CLN2, however, it was not available in the state of Washington. It was hoped that Evelyn had something like epilepsy along with sensory processing disorder prior to the meeting. These were things that the Jackson family could live with. The doctor made it very clear that what they were actually facing was something much more serious. The next step would be to do another blood test. This time, they would measure Evelyn’s TPP1 levels to make absolutely certain that she had CLN2 Batten disease. It was difficult for Mike and Corrin to fully grasp what it was that they were facing at this point. The genetics team would furnish them with a phone number for if they had any more questions, however, it wouldn’t take long for them to learn more. There in the lobby at Mary Bridge hospital Mike would Google CLN2 and he would learn things that would bring great dismay and disbelief to any parent. His search revealed that CLN2 is fatal and any child having it generally dies between the ages of six and eight. Mike looked at the symptoms of the disease. He could put a check mark in an imaginary box that was next to each one of them. All of a sudden, and sadly so, they now had what would be a root cause for all of Evelyn’s developmental issues. The puzzle that they had tried to piece together during the last twenty months may have now been solved. The thought that his daughter had this disease caused Mike to break down once again. This family of his was his reason for going to work each day. This little girl was his firstborn child and an adorable little person at that. In Mike’s own words, “Every time I left this hospital, it seemed like I was leaving a piece of myself behind.”  Beautiful in bandages! The Jacksons would once again find themselves in the lab prior to leaving the hospital. They had to have the blood draw done to determine what Evelyn’s TPP1 level was. Lost in the thought of what they may be facing, each handled the stress in their own way. Corrin explained, “…. Mike was withdrawn into himself, so as we waited what felt like years in the blood draw lab, I just read the stupid kid joke posters on the walls, chuckling to myself and trying to show Evelyn the animals. I couldn’t stop myself. I now realize that in stressful situations I start to joke and create humor in order to lighten the mood.” It would be back to the waiting game and again, Mike and Corrin tried to go about their business. They would attend a Halloween dinner on the 31st and would keep everything to themselves. Corrin shared what had taken place so far with a friend that was a nurse and she looked up Batten disease. Her nurse friend would assure her, there was no way that Evelyn could have this disease. If only that was found to be the truth. On November the 1st of 2019, on a Friday, the genetics department called to inform Corrin that Evelyn’s TPP1 level was zero. Her body was not producing the enzyme that it needed to break down the wastes in its cells. That was the culprit that had been causing the issues with this little beauty of a girl. Evelyn had CLN2 Batten disease. The only positive in the situation was perhaps the fact that she was diagnosed fairly quickly. She was diagnosed just two months after her first seizure. In the course of time, little brother Dominic would need to be tested. This was because the chances that he also could have Batten were one in four. Again there would be more waiting. The thought that Dominic had these same challenges ahead of him were too difficult to consider. Mercifully, Dominic’s results would come back showing that his TPP1 levels were normal. Many times, families will be given the news that more than one of their children has Batten disease. Mike and Corrin would be spared from that as they received good news. It had already been shared with Mike and Corrin that there was a treatment available for CLN2 Batten disease. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the better. That is because there is less damage that takes place before treatment is started. Getting Evelyn started on the treatment as quickly as possible was essential. The treatment involved a child receiving something called Enzyme Replacement Therapy. A solution named Brineura takes the place of the missing enzyme and it is received into the brain through a port that is surgically implanted in the child’s head. Evelyn would need to have this surgery done right away. As was stated however, the treatment was not yet available in Washington state. The Jacksons had to take things one step at a time though and there was a neurosurgeon available at Mary Bridge hospital that could implant the port. They would meet with the surgeon on the 4th of November and he would find that everything looked good to proceed with the procedure. The thought of their little preschool daughter having brain surgery was not something that Mike and Corrin could wrap their heads around. They just knew that the surgery was something that had to be done. It would only be a matter of a couple of days that Evelyn would be scheduled to have the procedure performed. It would have been impossible for either of Evelyn’s parents to handle things on their own and Mike would be quick to let his boss know what was taking place. In response, Mike was graciously allowed to work virtually from home as he and Corrin worked through the details of what they were facing. This all had to seem like a whirlwind of events that was taking place and the thought of having to travel for the treatments had to be mind numbing. Mike and Corrin had been told that Children’s Hospital of Orange County in California was an outstanding place for treatment. They were also told that Evelyn had been accepted there. Later in the day however, they received a call stating that CHOC had declined to accept Evelyn in as a patient. There were other places in the western United States that she could go for treatment and the genetics team was looking into other possibilities. As would be the case though, the genetics team would contact the Jacksons the next day. Evelyn would be accepted at CHOC after all, however a surgeon there would need to do the port placement surgery. Mike stated that this was disheartening because he knew there was a two week recovery time after the surgery. This would all have to happen in Southern California. The actions of parents after their child is diagnosed with CLN2 Batten can often be seen as sacrificial. They will travel any distance, move to a different state, and even change countries in order for their child to receive enzyme replacement therapy. The welfare of their child is placed above all else as a matter of importance. Mike and Corrin would also do what was necessary and that would mean traveling down to Orange County California as a family by plane. A doctor from the genetics team at CHOC would contact Corrin to go over the details of the process and answer any questions that she might have. Aside from all of the questions surrounding Evelyn’s surgery and treatment were the concerns about leaving home for three weeks. It’s not easy to just pick up and leave your home for that length of time, especially with two dogs in the house. Someone would have to care for the canine members of the family while they were gone and Evelyn’s school and therapies would have to be notified. Corrin was dreading all of this and rightfully so but they would work things out because Evelyn needed them to. It would be a big push to tie up all the loose ends before they left and it would have to happen in a hurry. It would be November the 13th of 2019 that the Jackson family would all fly down to California and arrangements had been made for all of them to stay at the Ronald McDonald house. Mike and Corrin would meet with the genetics team and the neurosurgeon as soon as possible to discuss what was about to take place. A Life Not Expected  What angels must look like! This was one of the leading teams in the nation for treating CLN2 Batten and the Jacksons would become comfortable with them immediately. The surgery to have Evelyn’s port implanted would take place a couple of days later on November the 15th. The procedure would be performed early, at five in the morning. Mike was allowed to be by Evelyn’s side as soon as she got out of surgery. He shared that she was only semi-conscious at that time but visibly in pain and not completely comfortable. Evelyn was calmed as Mike climbed into her bed and held her securely. This would help her to fall asleep and rest as she was transported to her room. Mike was a capable and athletic individual being an Ironman Triathlon competitor in his spare time. Even so, he was a sensitive guy when it came to his family. He had been shaken as Evelyn had undergone her EEG and all the subsequent testing but he had adjusted his emotions over time. Mike explains, “Seeing my baby girl like this was hard, but I was much more prepared for what was happening this time (vice the EEG). I was more accepting of the fact that at this point we do what has to be done, and I need to emotionally disconnect myself from the situation.” Evelyn would wake a couple of hours after the procedure was completed asking for her tablet. She was content, playing with it as she drifted in and out of sleep during her recovery that day. Evelyn showed that she was a resilient child. She was amazing to watch as she bounced back almost completely to normal the following day. There would now be a two week recovery period and that would be a trying time for Mike and Corrin. This was because they would have to sit and wait for Evelyn’s recovery to be completed. There were a few follow-up appointments to attend but not a lot more than that. The Jacksons were stuck at the Ronald McDonald House with two small children and the place was not exactly kid proof. This would not be a relaxing time but rather a stressful one as Evelyn and Dominic had to be watched constantly. Mike referred to the time leading up to Evelyn’s first infusion as “nerve wrecking”. There would however, be a feeling of relief for mom and dad once Evelyn’s port was accessed for the first time. Her first infusion would take place on the 1st of December in 2019. This was exactly one month following her diagnosis and three months after her first seizure. That is amazing! It was required that Evelyn stay at CHOC for observation following the first four infusions for a 24 hour period. That meant that they would have to stay an additional day after the first infusion. You can only imagine how relieved Mike and Corrin were to get on the airplane that would take them home to Washington. This was even though they knew that the trips to CHOC would have to continue. There was no way that they could continue to go as a family so Mike would accompany Evelyn for the next two months. In the meantime, the company that produces Brineura, Biomarin, would be working with Mary Bridge hospital in Washington. The program for the infusions would need to be set up so that Evelyn could be taken there instead. This meant another flight to and from Southern California for Mike and Evelyn every two weeks. This was difficult to say the least. Mike explains, “I was balancing work with getting Evelyn down to her infusions and it was soul draining. Every time we had an infusion I came back a little more dead inside. You can see pictures of me through this process as I’m smiling at first to just an exhausted mess by the end.” Not only was this wearing Mike down but the cost was draining on their finances. There had been a gofundme account that had been set up for the Jacksons at one point. They had originally been hesitant to accept this kind of help but it would turn out to be a life saver in terms of affordability. Mike and Corrin would be understandably happy and relieved once the program was set up at Mary Bridge. It would only be a thirty minute drive after that to get Evelyn to her infusions. The Jackson family would now be able to settle into the new normal that would become their life. Noticeable to the two of them was the shift of people that would be a part of their life. Friends and extended family who they thought they were close with would either disappear or communicate with them only on occasion. Eye opening to Mike and Corrin were the people who were instead willing to do anything that they could. Mike added this, “On the other end of that spectrum there are people we weren’t close to at all or hadn’t spoken to in several years who were willing to do anything they could to help.” Life would become a whirlwind of commitments once they returned from CHOC in Southern California.  A special bond! There were doctor appointments and therapy sessions plus drop-offs and pick-ups to and from schools. This is not to mention caring for a house and two pets. There was also Mike’s continuing work schedule. It was at this time that so many people would shine as they provided help to the Jackson family. Whether it was gift cards for groceries or cooked meals, the help was so appreciated. It might come from members of a mom’s group, family friends, or old Navy buddies. Everyone who cared to help stepped up and did so in a big way. The Jacksons would also discover a great source of help through social media. Mike would search for groups and individuals on Facebook within the Batten community and he would share these contacts with Corrin. Kayla Neveri, as an example, is a Batten mom with a special CLN2 princess named Breanna. She shared some difficult but necessary truths about Batten disease with Corrin while they chatted on-line. There were so many that responded in the private Batten Family group when Corrin shared her initial frustrations after Evelyn’s diagnosis. Knowing that you are not alone as a family begins this journey …. it is invaluable to surviving the initial shock that comes with finding out the truth. Suzette James is a mom whose beautiful daughter Maya battles atypical CLN2 Batten. They are a southern California family who was able to take the Jacksons under their wings while they were at CHOC. That help was greatly appreciated. Mike would also create a FB page called Evelyn’s Battle with Batten. This, in order to keep friends and family informed about everything. Evelyn would receive a new neurologist right after her diagnosis of Batten disease. This doctor was to oversee Evelyn’s Batten case and she would be the lead in overseeing Evelyn’s infusions. Mike and Corrin would be a little apprehensive over this at first. That is because she had graduated from medical school not that long before taking over Evelyn’s case. What the Jacksons would soon find out though is that Evelyn’s new neurologist was, in Mike’s own words, very responsive and open to integrating new ideas into Evelyn’s care plan. Along the same lines, she listens to the Jacksons' concerns and she works well with the other members of Evelyn’s care team. I am certain that Mike and Corrin’s love for Evelyn was clearly seen by all of the medical staff at Mary Bridge. Corrin’s love for her daughter would also be demonstrated through her actions. This, as she wanted to do her very best at getting her daughter what she needed in the way of help. Treating Evelyn’s Batten disease symptoms was of the highest priority but she also needed help with her behavioral issues. Corrin was completely in when it came to researching and finding therapies that would help Evelyn to improve in this area. In addition to Batten disease, the neurologist would be able to diagnose Evelyn with autism and also ADHD. This would lead to the opportunity to have Evelyn involved in something called Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy. There was much that would need to take place for Evelyn to qualify. That would include an in-home meeting with the ABA lead and her assistant. Help for Evelyn  Living life together! They wanted to talk in person with Corrin and meet Evelyn at the same time. This was to help evaluate Evelyn’s need for the program. Were her behaviors serious enough to warrant involvement in ABA? Both ABA staffers would find out quickly enough that they in fact were. Corrin described the scene during the meeting, “Oh man, did Evelyn let the true Evelyn out. Throwing, screaming, and hitting Dominic and the dogs. She was climbing on chairs, doing things I’ve never seen her do to get my attention away from these ladies. The lead could see the look of defeat on my face. The tired, given up, no life left in my face look.” Evelyn would be accepted into the program and would start attending it full-time in February of 2020. As would be expected, Evelyn would get off to a rough start but they would see some gains in the near future. She would stay involved with ABA for 18 months and many of her issues would be stopped or minimized. In addition, Evelyn would continue to go to school on-line during Covid and began to go to school in person in September of 2021. Corrin would also seek to have Evelyn involved in what is called hippotherapy. This involves the use of horses as a form of therapy. In this the horses movements are purposely manipulated in order to engage the child’s sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems. You can only imagine that this would be a very useful form of therapy for a child battling Batten disease. Not only is this a great thing for Evelyn to be involved in but it also feels like a normal type of activity to Corrin as she grew up riding horses herself. It’s important to keep a Batten child’s life as normal as one can. There is a normal type of an experience that a young couple would expect when they set out to have a family together. Certainly, there will always be challenges and occasional hardships that has to be dealt with. We always take difficult circumstances one event at a time. We deal with each struggle and then we move on. For the most part as parents, we focus on the things that are expected. There are life events and milestones in each of our children’s lives that we look forward to. Seeing our kids reaching goals and finding success in life are what we look forward to. We normally experience all of this while finding satisfaction in our work and in the pursuit of other interests. Together as a family, we experience life events such as graduations at the different levels, weddings, and other family gatherings. Those are the experiences that we think about when we first start out. Life is different when it involves caring for someone with special needs. The demands are different and they seem never ending. Oftentimes in regards to children with special needs, parents are thrust into a care-giving role that they did not expect. They had expected to go through a normal cycle of life as a parent but things soon change with a diagnosis that brings demands not seen. It is normal these days for a mom to carry on with a career once her children reach the age for that to be possible. Being placed into a caregiver role without a choice is something that Corrin often struggles with. Her adult life had begun in a career that carried with it a lot of responsibility. She had the intellect and the desire to continue with a career of her own once the kids were of age for that to happen. Life is different for her now. Corrin speaks to this, “I wanted to go back to college once the kids were both in school but what’s the point now if I can never apply the degree to something. Like all Batten moms, my role revolves around Evelyn. Medicine required in the morning, never can I sleep in unless it’s a weekend and Mike is up early giving it.” The regiment for giving medications to a Batten child would be mind blowing to most and that need is always changing. There are also all of the other demands. Getting Evelyn to therapies and doctors appointments plus making constant phone calls related to her ever expanding needs. There are stresses related to her food intake and physical activities that she needs to be involved in for flexibility and muscle health. There are IEP meetings and staying on top of the goals that are set. The supplies that need to be carried at Corrin’s side or in her vehicle are also changing and expanding. Things like rescue meds for seizures and gtube supplies. Corrin always has to stay within a short distance of Evelyn’s school in case something goes wrong. This is just a partial list of what is required but I think you have the idea. Add to this all of the normal responsibilities of a mom caring for two small children. Think about all of this for a moment. There is also the responsibility of keeping on top of new research that is taking place and helping to make sure that memories are captured for a lifetime.  Something special! Corrin adds to what has already been stated, “As a mom you know that all of the baby toddler things you have to help your child with they will start to do on their own, but not a Batten kid. They are basically stuck in toddler-hood forever, always needing you. Somedays I hate it, hate this life, then the guilt sets in because she didn’t choose to have mutated genes from her parents to make her life this helpless. I’m in a constant roller coaster of hating our lives, hating Batten disease and what’s to come.” Corrin does a great job of keeping things real when sharing what her feelings are. Make no mistake concerning Corrin’s love for her daughter though. She would give up her own life for Evelyn’s if required but it hasn’t been easy. There were times that she hated Evelyn’s behaviors and the way that they as a family were perceived by other people. This is because of what had occurred at places like the playground and grocery store. Brother Dominic is now of the age that the normal sibling rivalry between him and Evelyn is occurring. Mix into that squealing kids and howling dogs. Sensory overload can be a factor in Corrin’s day and life can be overwhelming at times. She always has to be on the watch for seizures with Evelyn. Driving in the car with Evelyn seated in the back and in her rear view mirror brings flashbacks of the day that she experienced her first grand mal seizure. There are other times that she sees the real thing taking place, only this time she is witnessing a focal or absence seizure. This would leave any mom feeling on edge. To Mike, Evelyn’s disease is not a small deal. Rather, it is something that consumes his thinking. He says as much with this, “The knowledge of Evelyn’s disease is always weighing on me …. ALWAYS. I think about it every minute of every day. I have learned to live with it, but it’s like a weight, a sadness that sits heavy on my chest. It’s always there.” There are certain difficulties that come as a result of having a child with special needs. One of the challenges that comes with Evelyn is that she can never be left alone but rather, she needs constant supervision. Either Mike or Corrin have to keep an eye on her at all times. Mike added, “She’s like Mr. Magoo, constantly wandering around with no concept of things around her that could hurt her. Things like stairs for example. We very rarely have the ability to go out just me and Corrin because people don’t want to babysit Evelyn.” Mike understands other people’s feelings concerning things like handling Evelyn’s seizures but it’s still challenging mentally. It is rare that Mike and Corrin are able to go out together on their own. Just like Corrin, and as people would expect, Mike had never heard of Batten disease before Evelyn’s diagnosis. Mike uses the term “soul-crushing” to describe his response as he read about Batten disease for the first time. It still is that to this day. Look at Evelyn and you will see a most beautiful little girl. She is the object of her father’s love and adoration. I’ve said it so often in the past but it’s worth repeating. This kind of thing should not happen to children. They should be left to experience joy and innocent fun as life’s lessons are learned. The New Normal  A mother's love! Extraordinary. Mike thinks back to the time before Evelyn was born. He and Corrin had been out to dinner one night after they had moved to upstate New York. He had observed a little girl that was having a conversion with her mom and dad while at their table. Mike listened in and found the little girl to be just adorable. He had to have felt fortunate to have a baby girl when Evelyn was born. Now he and Corrin would have similar opportunities with their daughter. Their situation however, would turn out to be very different. They would find themselves in a rare set of circumstances that are not experienced by many. There have been a lot of difficulties as they have raised Evelyn, who is now six. Heartache is felt over what they face as a family but there is a love for Evelyn that is undying. There is nothing that they wouldn’t do to help their daughter experience life to the fullest. Mike feels that his experience with Evelyn has battle hardened him. He is better now at putting his feelings to the side while doing what is necessary for his children. He is also more empathetic towards other people. Mike knows that there could be other people with a similar weight on their shoulders as he comes in contact with others. You never know what another person may be experiencing. There are so many questions that Mike has concerning Evelyn’s situation. She is receiving an artificial enzyme that is replacing the one that is missing. Mike wonders, could Evelyn not develop normally around the damage that has already taken place? Mike wants to be optimistic and there are reasons to remain that way. He knows that they have something as a CLN2 family that families of kids with other NCLs do not have. That is a form of treatment. Evelyn is thriving in many respects but there are questions regarding her future and overall health that still linger. Evelyn did start treatment with Brineura very early compared to other children and gene replacement therapy has shown promise for arriving soon. If successful, this could be a real game changer and Evelyn would seem to be a prime candidate for gene replacement. Corrin struggles as she spends each of her days by Evelyn’s side. She sees her daughter’s struggles and the regression of skills, even if it is taking place slowly. She knows what she is feeling about what the eventual outcome might be if gene therapy, or a cure in a different form, were not to become a reality. Both Mike and Corrin put one foot in front of the other, making sure that Evelyn is given every opportunity to enjoy her life. Together, they are living life to the fullest as a family. They go on as many adventures as they can while doing things that Evelyn enjoys. Mike and Corrin also try to make life as normal as they can for their kids, especially in the case of Dominic. They try to keep him in the spotlight as much as possible. It’s not hard to see that he is a special little man. Having a family is what our hopes and dreams for the future revolve around and it is so painful when all of that is disrupted by something like Batten disease. Families do adjust to a different type of normal because they have no other choice. Hope in the form of gene replacement was given to Mike and Corrin as soon as Evelyn was diagnosed. A company named Regenxbio had made tremendous progress in this area and gene replacement was seen to be on the horizon. This is pending approval by the FDA. That was supposed to be in 2019 and then a letter came out extending things another year. It is now 2022 and gene therapy for CLN2 Batten has yet to begin. My heart breaks for these families because the promise gave them a lot of hope. Whatever the reason, Covid-19 or otherwise, greater emphasis needs to be placed on getting this therapy approved. CLN2 Batten is one of the more common variants of Batten disease. Although it is rare in terms of the number of cases, it still affects a lot of children in total. For Mike, this is his beloved little girl that we are talking about. The situation with this form of therapy is urgent for Mike and Corrin. If only everyone felt that way. Mike shares his feelings, “The FDA says ‘its not like the sky is falling’ in response to us wanting a gene therapy but having Brineura available. And yet, no one can tell me what to expect for our daughter's future. It's unsettling. I picture our best case scenario that Evelyn can one day function like any normal child with autism…” The best case scenario that Mike mentioned could become reality. What if gene replacement became available tomorrow? Evelyn is at this point healthy overall because she was diagnosed so early. There are other children that would also meet the requirements of the program.  Certainly, a little beauty and a warrior. Mike refuses to give in to any negative thinking concerning the outcome of Evelyn’s life. They are in the fight and good things can happen. He instead tries to remain positive while helping his daughter to fight each day. Corrin as well, will not give up. She doesn’t sit around waiting for Regenxbio to gain approval from the FDA so that the trial can begin. Rather, she researches and finds groups and companies that she can reach out to, emailing those who she feels will respond. Staying active and involved helps Corrin to better deal with the stress of life as a Batten mom. It’s a life that not many can understand because things are experienced that most will never see in a lifetime. I think back to the time that I first started to do these stories. I would think about these kids and their families at the most random times. While at places like gas stations and while sitting at traffic lights. I would have to catch myself as my emotions would start to get the best of me. Other times, it would happen as I would write. Just like I am now. It would be because I structured a sentence a certain way or expressed a thought in a certain manner. This would often bring me to tears and it still does at times. The plight of kids that battle rare diseases like Batten often stirs the emotions. This is because seeing children fight a battle like Batten can be heartbreaking to those who pay attention.
I use words like special and amazing to describe these kids who are so strong and resilient. They go through so much and always bounce back from the adversity that they face. That is for as long as they are able to. I often ask the question, is it us or is it them? Is it the feelings that they produce in us or is it that there is something truly special about the kids that battle? I think that both answers have to be true. This is Mike and Corrin’s first born child. A love that is profound and undying has been revealed and the bond being created will only grow with time. It’s one that can never be broken. Life is different than what was expected but there are many days that sweet memories are being made in the midst of the difficulty. For those that advocate for these children and those involved in research for a cure …. Please don’t get distracted. There is so much that is taking place in the world but these children still deserve our greatest attention. They are so deserving of the help that we can give them and every bit of effort needs to be given. Don’t give up! I am the father of a most wonderful son with special needs and the love that I have for him has lent itself to those who battle. I have always had the greatest admiration and respect for the the families of kids who are warriors unaware. Working with the parents in writing these stories is something that I will always consider to be an honor and a privilege. Thank you Mike and Corrin, and by the way, thank you both for your service. Each of you are exceptional and Evelyn is a little jewel. I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this family’s story. ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  My favorite! “When that geneticist came into the room, she grabbed her stool, sat down and rolled right up to me as she placed her hands on my knees, all while maintaining eye contact. Bailey had Batten disease and she was so sorry to have to deliver this news.” ~Alicia Morse~ Bailey’s Mom and Advocate Two people meet and fall in love. It's a theme that runs through most all of the stories that I have written. Isn’t it true … this is much of what life is all about? Two people falling in love and having a family together. Having children is the natural thing to do and so many of us look forward to all of the events that come with this. There are not many of us that would focus on the possible struggles that may occur. We just want to experience the joy of being part of a family and we accept that struggles are part of the process. Every family will have a bit of trouble along the way. Cuts and scrapes, broken bones, these are some of the things that one would expect. How about a little rebellious behavior during adolescence? Sometimes, more will come along than would be expected but hopefully, the things that are faced together can be overcome. The focus is, or at least it should be, raising children that you can take pride in and making memories together as the bond developed grows over time. All of the events that are looked forward to are experienced as our plans come to fruition. The things that we strive to teach our kids end up serving them well in life. When that happens, a person feels a sense of accomplishment and pride as a parent. A lot of people will have a number in mind when thinking about the size of family they desire. For some, an only child sounds good. For others two or three is a good number. Some have no number in mind. They just want as large of a family as they can handle. I’ve long since thought that two children is a good number to have but that opinion was developed after we had three boys of our own (My parents also had three boys of which I am the middle son). We were challenged by having our attention divided three separate ways and that was especially true because our third son was born with special needs. I have some observations concerning the pecking order that exists within the family hierarchy. Actually, more so with the status that a sibling has with his or her given position within the family. The oldest sibling almost always has a position of honor and is often looked up to by the others. They are always the first to get privileges that the others are too young for and major achievements come to them before they do with their younger brothers and sisters. Everyone has their place in the home but if you will allow me, I would like to move ahead to the baby of the family. This position in the family home is also a special one. The baby usually has the protection of the older siblings and can often be much loved by his or her brothers or sisters. Sometimes though, a favored status with the baby of the family can bring a bit of jealousy. Often, the baby sibling is with mom and dad for longer and a deeper bond may develop. There is more that can be said but I think that you have the idea. What if, like in our case, the baby of the family is born with special needs?  There will already be a type of status placed with that child because of the position he or she was born into. But in addition, there will be added emphasis placed on the attention they receive because of the special needs. This may take attention away from the others and challenges could arise out of that situation. What about mom and dad and the way that their lives are changed by all of this? Being a parent of someone with special needs brings with it special challenges. A life that you once expected will be disrupted. Plans that you once had are now mixed with added responsibilities. An increased amount of care is needed and the number of doctors appointments required has grown. I can speak from experience and know from having our son Benjamin. Being the parent of someone with special needs disrupts what your expectations were and a parent has to adjust to lifestyle changes that were not expected. So often though, that person with special needs becomes the object of adoration for those who are in the child's life. Any person born with special needs requires help beyond the norm. This is because of a varying inability to grow into self-sufficiency but there is a situation that is even more difficult. It is one that normally would be completely unexpected. That is when a child is born with a disease that is rare and fatal. Whereas everything begins normally for a family in this situation, things begin to change. Symptoms that were previously unknown and which were not thought about begin to appear. All of a sudden, a puzzle that needs to be solved is placed before the other members of the family, primarily, mom and dad. You have a child with special circumstances but you have no idea what it is that is taking place. What is it that is causing the issues that are occurring? Vision problems or maybe behavioral issues are taking place. In some cases, something more startling, like seizures. For some, solving the puzzle may take a lot of time and for others, the missing pieces may fall into place more quickly. False diagnoses may come in the process and frustration with medical professionals may occur. Eventually, the pieces fall into place and the answer is found. The news brings with it shock and great dismay. Your child has a disease that you previously knew nothing about and your world is turned completely upside down. This condition is fatal and it has no cure. The process of coming to terms with what you are dealing with as a parent, and as a family, is a long ordeal. Things will change. A person will go from complete despondency to discovering the will to help their child battle, all while the heartache continues. A determined type of love will build and a bond will grow that is stronger than any other. There is no silver lining in a situation such as this but what is seen by those of us that look on from a distance is obvious. The type of love that is shown in a situation such as this is a love that is like none other. A love mixed with heartache produces a love that is profound and undying. These are the details that I try to bring out in each story that I write and I hope to do the same in this next story. Let’s get started. A Life Together  At the beginning. Stories about rare families can take place anywhere, both here in America and in places beyond. This particular one begins in a town in the state of Massachusetts named Middleboro. Middleboro is a small to medium sized city that has roots in early American history. This with it’s presence being in the Northeastern portion of the United States. This particular story would begin to take shape when a teenage girl named Alicia Bullard moved to Middleboro with her family. It wouldn’t be long after moving into her neighborhood in the late 80s that Alicia would meet and make friends with a young man named Chris Morse. The friendship would quickly become much more than friendship as they would soon after begin dating, so to speak. This was when Chris was 16 and Alicia was 14 years of age. They both felt even then that their individual lives would include each other. The young couple became inseparable and when Alicia stepped out on her own, it was with Chris by her side. One might say that Chris and Alicia were meant for each other and indeed they were. The couple would be married in the year 1998 and soon after, they would become parents for the first time. Much to Chris and Alicia’s joy and wonder was the moment that they looked on together at their infant daughter. They would name her Ashleigh Nicole. She was so perfect in every way and this little girl was their very own. Could things have been more perfect than they were at that time? A young couple in love who were both now in love with this little person. They had brought their infant daughter into this world together. What it must have been like at this time. They had their whole lives before them and now, that life included little Ashleigh. There was so much in store for them, both being at work and with time spent at play. Wherever they would wind up as a family, they would be together. Whether it was the sandy coastlines or the promise of better opportunities that drew Chris and Alicia to Florida, they would end up moving there in 2001. There were signs that indicated that Alicia’s long time job in Middleboro was about to end and their dwelling place was about to go through renovations as well. The cost of living and increasing their ability to own a home by moving to Florida was also a draw for them. All of these things considered, this would be a great move for them. Little Ashleigh had not yet begun to go to school and the time was just right. This family of three would settle in and would continue to live life together. Ashleigh would grow and do so well. She was everything that Chris and Alicia would want in a child but there was room for more, kids that is. The couple would want to increase the size of their family and that is what they would do. It had been a while since they experienced the joy of having a newborn in the house and it would be the year of 2007 when they would experience this once again. All would go well as Alicia carried this child and they would welcome him into the family with much joy. That’s right, this child was a baby boy and the Morse family now totaled four people. Mom and dad had a boy and a girl and they were so proud and happy. They would name their newborn son Dylan Richard. Just like his big sister had years previous, Dylan was born with all of his fingers and toes and he was the perfect little man to Chris and Alicia. Things were really taking shape for this family of now, four people and everything was just as it should be. The Morse family would welcome baby Dylan into their home and life would continue on. Ashleigh was well on her way in her growth and development and now she was joined by her baby brother. Chris and Alicia were well established in their work and they were all really enjoying life in Florida. Dylan would continue to grow into a charming little man and just as he was beginning to take flight, his mom would be expecting once again. Child number three would soon be on the way and just as had been the case two times before, Alicia’s pregnancy would proceed without major complications. She would carry this child through to the Fall months and into December. Baby number three would be born on December the 4th of 2009 in Longwood, Florida. Alicia stated that she was in labor with this next child for a while. Things were slow to develop and it would involve a lot of walking around to help things along. The time would eventually come that Alicia would deliver her next baby and this one would be a beautiful baby girl. Just like her brother and big sister were at the time they were born, this little bundle was perfect in every way. They would give this baby the most perfect name, that being Bailey Rae. Alicia had experienced the joy of childbirth twice before and the love that she had for her first two children would now be extended to baby number three. The feeling that she had as she held Bailey for the first time was simple. It was that their family was complete and in fact, it was. For the Morse family, three kids was the perfect number. Each one was special and had a special place in this family of five people. First there was Ashleigh and then, Dylan. Now there was Bailey, the baby of the family and that she would always be. Ashleigh had the big sister role to fill of course. No one knew at this time what an important role that would one day be. Dylan was now the middle kid, just like this writer is. So young when his little sister was born, he had all the potential in the world and a lifetime in front of him. Baby Bailey would come home to her family and she would grow and thrive in her beginning months of life. Maybe she was one that would be looked after and protected by the others. Bailey Rae was the baby of the family. Maybe she would be favored a little bit. Perhaps a little spoiled but still adored by everyone, even if it wasn’t always admitted. Whatever the case might be, life as a complete family was just beginning and there was so much to look forward to. There were many life events for all three children ahead and so many would be enjoyed together. It all started with two teenagers from a town named Middleboro. They met and fell in love and their story would now continue as the mom and dad of three. Alicia would relay a fact to me concerning Bailey’s health during her first nine months of life. While there had been some minor health concerns with her older brother and sister during their early months, there would not be with Bailey. There were no concerns with her whatsoever at that time. Bailey would move right along, meeting all of her milestones of development, just as one would expect. Bailey would begin to walk and talk within the range of time that one would expect her to and she was a bright little girl. Life continued on as a family and there were no big concerns with child number three. That though, doesn’t mean that there weren’t some challenges along the way. As Bailey grew, there would be much involved when it came to this little person. I think that this writer was on to something when he placed emphasis on the fact that Bailey was the youngest of the three children in the house. Alicia would seem to agree with me, doing so as she said the following, “Bailey truly was her own person. The baby of the family, she definitely played the part!” It seems that there is often a special attachment between the baby of the family and his or her mother. That is even if it is not intended to favor one child over the another. Alicia said that Bailey was “very attached” to her. The attachment was so strong that Bailey was bothered when Alicia showed affection to others. Mom belonged to Bailey and that’s all there was to it! Alicia would go on to say that Bailey had two very different sides to her. The Complicated Kiddo  All three together. There was the first side and that was Bailey the loving child, showering people with love and compliments. This in itself would be a wonderful trait to see in any child but the problem was Bailey’s lack of discretion. Alicia said that Bailey’s show of affection would include strangers. That would turn out to be a cause for concern as Bailey got older. This can be a dangerous world that we live in these days and you have to be careful who you reach out to. Bailey, being an outgoing child, did not understand this. Alicia stated that Bailey was too willing to talk to strangers. She explains further, “No matter how we tried to ‘scare’ her of the risks, it wouldn’t stop her from going up to someone and giving them a hug.” That was the first side of Bailey as a small person. Alicia would go on to explain the other side of her daughter. Knowing Bailey’s plight at the present time, Alicia feels a bit of guilt over sharing the negative characteristics of Bailey’s other side. It wasn’t so pleasant as she was growing up. Even with this, Alicia feels that it is necessary to share everything in order to tell the entire story. We have already mentioned the fact that Bailey was jealous of mom showing affection to others but there were other things. Alicia stated that Bailey was easily “set off” if she didn’t like something. Chris and Alicia’s other two children were mild mannered and more under control of their emotions than Bailey. Was this just a difference in personality or was there more going on with her? Alicia said that she had always chalked it up to Bailey being the baby of the family. Bailey was one of a kind in this household. She didn’t bond well with her brother and sister and was easily offended. On top of this, she had a bit of a mean streak to her. Alicia would go on to say that Bailey was defiant and sneaky at times. Was this all normal behavior for the baby of the family or was there something more to it? What was responsible? Were these just behavioral issues only? Whatever the case may have been, the Morse family home was not always a happy one because of the drama that Bailey would bring to them. Bailey would not grow out of this and her parents would decide to dig a little deeper into the cause of what was taking place. Chris and Alicia would one day find out that this was all symptomatic of something beyond just poor behavior. The search for an answer was just beginning. All that was being seen in Bailey was taking place as she was growing up. Bailey would do fine with her peers in school and she was even on point academically. The problems with her behavior were really taking place at home. Life continued this way and Bailey would progress in her early education. What would take place a little later was concern over issues with her eyesight. This would eventually lead the Morse family down a path that was life changing for everyone as this was just the beginning of things.  Family fun! It would all begin in the summer of 2018 as Bailey was seen for a routine yearly physical. She had never mentioned anything about problems with her eyesight but would be referred to an eye doctor during the physical. Bailey would end up seeing three different eye doctors during the summer and none of them would see a lot wrong with her eyesight. One of them did say that Bailey may be slightly nearsighted and one of the doctors would give Bailey a low level prescription for glasses. The glasses would do little in the way of help. It was impossible to get a straight answer from Bailey as far as her eyesight was concerned. This according to her mom because at this point, dishonesty was one of Bailey’s character traits. Even though Bailey would not talk about her vision, her behaviors were very telling. Alicia stated that Bailey was walking and running into things and tripping easily. There were other signs as well that her vision was not the best. The issue with her eyesight would begin to take place over that summer, between the 2nd and 3rd grade, and the whole thing seemed to occur all of a sudden. The only thing mentioned previous to summer break by Bailey’s teacher was that she had been helping her with math in the mornings. There was nothing said that would indicate that Bailey was struggling to see things at school. At the same time, Bailey’s attitude at home and her ability to get along with her family continued to be a challenge. One might wonder why something like this was taking place at such an early age, pre-adolescent. There would be more going on with Bailey’s medical issues as time continued and a battle would soon begin with doctors and the insurance company. The fight to get answers for what was taking place with Bailey would eventually wear on Alicia to the point that it affected her health. You see, Alicia was involved in her own battle with Crohn’s disease. As the issues with Bailey began to grow in severity, so would the issues with Alicia’s own health. Sometimes when it rains, it pours. There was much more to Bailey’s situation than what has already been stated. You would think that getting your child in to see a specialist such as an ophthalmologist would be no problem but Alicia was having problems getting this approved. This was because regular eye doctors were saying that there was nothing all that wrong with Bailey’s vision. Alicia would be persistent because she knew that there was more to Bailey’s situation than what was noted by the other doctors. She would eventually get the referral that she sought however, more would take place before that happened. It was during the time that Alicia was dealing with the various eye doctors that she had begun to consider other possibilities. That is concerning Bailey’s health issues. Perhaps what was taking place had something to do with a problem in Bailey’s brain. One incident had taken place in June of 2018 happened as Bailey ran into a metal pole while at daycare. Alicia was concerned at the time that a concussion may have been sustained. She had wanted imaging of Bailey’s brain done at the time she was being treated for the injury but this would not happen. Instead, the staff treating Bailey would simply glue her wound shut and send Bailey on her way. With everything that Alicia was seeing she would seek to get Bailey in to see a neurologist. This would soon lead to more frustration and still, there would be difficulty in getting Bailey in to see an ophthalmologist. Chris and Alicia were becoming more desperate in their search for answers and something had to be done. Finally, and after other extra appointments with the pediatrician, Alicia would be given the referral that she sought for a neurologist. The referral to the ophthalmologist would soon be granted also but they would not schedule Bailey for an appointment. This was because the people at the ophthalmology office first wanted to see the results of any tests run by the neurologist. Is there any way in which we can understand what it is like to deal with a situation such as this? A lot of parents that have a child with rare circumstances will go through something Alicia had experienced. There will be many doctor appointments and phone calls. So much time and energy will be expended in the pursuit of getting answers. A Daughter's Struggle  Bailey is beautiful. Then and now! It will leave a person exasperated and confused. Well meaning people in the medical profession can become sources of frustration without meaning to be. Dealing with a bedside manner that is less than comforting can leave a person feeling hopeless. To some, a patient could just be another appointment on the schedule. There would soon be another development in Bailey’s situation that would be alarming and a great source of concern. That would have to do with an apparent decline in her cognitive abilities. Bailey had started the 3rd grade in the fall of 2018. Just a couple of weeks into the new yew school year, people started to notice that Bailey was struggling. Much to Alicia’s irritation, the school nurse suggested that Bailey be seen by an eye doctor. At this point, Alicia was keenly aware that more was going on with her daughter than just problems with her eyesight. This, knowing that Bailey’s eyesight problems were part of a larger issue. What would become very alarming to Alicia came as a result of academic testing that Bailey would undergo at school. The testing was initiated because Bailey was starting to slip in her grades and she was having trouble with homework. Bailey’s parents would receive the results of the testing six weeks later and the results were cause for serious concern. Six months prior to this time, Bailey had been testing at the 2nd grade level and she was on track academically. Now, she was testing at the level that you would expect for a child in Kindergarten. Bailey had regressed significantly. What was it that was taking place with the baby of this family? The neurology appointment would take place and testing would soon be performed. The neurologist would have an EEG and an MRI done but the results would not lead to any answers. Both test results revealed no negative findings. In other words, everything appeared to be just fine with Bailey’s brain. This led the staff at the neurologist office to believe that Bailey’s issues could be purely behavioral or related only to the issues with her vision. The answer was not as simple as this and Alicia knew it. This assumption would leave her only further frustrated. This was all taking place in October and November as the year 2018 was nearing the end. Alicia recalled telling the neurologist about an incident in which Bailey was bringing her empty popcorn bowl to the kitchen counter. Her mom had been busy loading the dishwasher and failing to see what was in front of her, Bailey fell across the bottom rack of dishes. It was really fortunate that Alicia had turned all of the knives with the blade end down into the rack. Had she not, Bailey could have been seriously hurt. The doctor's response was only that Alicia should be sure to keep the dishwasher door closed. Perhaps the doctor was missing the entire point. Alicia would end up grabbing Bailey and storming out of the office. She didn’t know who else to turn to for answers.  Nice looking family for sure! With the results of the neurological testing in place, Bailey could now be seen by the ophthalmologist and this is where the search for answers would begin to turn in a more positive direction. It would be Christmas eve of 2018 that Bailey would finally have her eyes examined by an ophthalmologist. The holiday had to have been one that was filled with concern and distraction but this is oftentimes the case. This type of an eye doctor would be able to do a more thorough examination and he thought that he was seeing something on at least one of Bailey’s retinas. For this reason, the ophthalmologist wanted to refer Bailey to a retina specialist. This meant that Alicia would have to go through another approval process and this would lead to further difficulty. One situation would arise in which a local retina specialist would want to refer Bailey to a well known facility in Miami. This was because he suspected that Bailey had a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. The doctor wasn’t 100% sure and that was the reason for the referral. The insurance company would again, decide to deny this and would fail to inform the family of the denial. This happened even as Alicia was spending a lot of time on her breaks and lunches trying to set up the appointment. While doing so, she was sitting on hold while being unaware of the decision to decline. Ultimately, and after more frustration, the approval would come from the insurance company and Bailey would be seen by a specialist in Jacksonville. Over the course of time as the family was searching for an answer, there would be other troubles with doctors and the insurance company. Oftentimes, doctors wouldn’t be able to fit Bailey into their schedule for several months and Alicia would have to restart her search for a specialist. Such is often the life of a parent seeking this kind of help for their child. The rest of a person’s life does not stand still either while all of this takes place. The specialist in Jacksonville would confirm the diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa. What does RP involve? This is a rare, inherited degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and the symptoms often begin in childhood. They include decreased vision at night or in low light and loss of side vision (tunnel vision). It was understandable that Bailey would be given this diagnosis given the symptoms that everyone had seen. Neither Chris nor Alicia knew of this being in their family history but that didn’t mean that it hadn’t existed. There is no cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa but medications could help treat the complications of this disease. This would be Bailey’s initial diagnosis and it was something that the Morse family could live with. Chris and Alicia were assured that Bailey’s life could go on for up to decades before vision loss was severe. She could adapt and learn to live with this disability. Having what the couple thought to be the answer must have given them hope for Bailey and their future together. Everybody could adapt to this situation and could be at Bailey’s side as she learned to adapt herself to the challenges associated with having RP. Life would go on as the next six months passed by. Bailey would have more appointments and a significant change to the family’s outlook would occur as she was seen again by the retina specialist. This would take place seven months after her diagnosis. The doctor found that Bailey was now legally blind and he was concerned with how fast she was losing her vision. This would normally not be happening with RP. The doctor thought that there might be something else taking place with Bailey. This was the first time that anyone in the Morse family had heard of something named Batten disease. Was this the actual source of the decline in Bailey’s eyesight? The retina specialist wanted genetic testing performed right away in order to rule out Batten disease as the cause. Of course, Bailey’s family would be worried over something like this, the doctor however would reassure them. He felt that the chances of Batten being the cause of her visual decline were slim. After all, she wasn’t showing any other symptoms like seizures or random falling. This was just a precaution but one that was necessary for making sure. Just like was the case with the retina specialist, the geneticist was also located two hours away in Jacksonville. They would be there to submit bloodwork from Bailey but also from Chris and Alicia. So it was on December the 23rd of 2019 that the family would make the trip for the bloodwork to be done. The hope was of course that the results would come back negative. Very concerning was the fact that they may have to wait 4-6 months to get the results back. This would leave a lot of time to wonder and learn more about the horrific details of Batten disease. An Answer Not Wanted  very special family! It wouldn’t take as long as they had been told it might to receive the results. While Chris and Alicia were waiting, and one month previous to gaining the results, Bailey’s teachers reported the fact that they thought she was experiencing seizures. They were silent, or absence seizures as they are often called. One might say that receiving a call in February of the next year was merciful in a sense but maybe that fact could be argued. The results of the testing had come back just a couple of months after the lab work was done and the way that the news was presented left Bailey’s parents lacking confidence for a good result. First of all, they were advised that they didn’t need to bring Bailey with them. The genetics office also wanted to make sure that Chris would be present as well and they got the couple into see the doctor the very next day. The trip to Jacksonville must have left the two of them feeling anxious. Again, the doctor's office was two hours away. What would this couple face together with Bailey in the future? There was so much yet to come and everything hinged on the news that they would soon receive. There have been times that parents have shared the fact that they had received a diagnosis through an impersonal phone call or worse, an email. That would not be the case for the Morses as the doctor entered the room. This doctor was full of compassion and concern over the news that she would deliver. The geneticist sat and got down to Alicia’s level. Making eye contact, she expressed the fact that she was so sorry to have to deliver the news. Bailey did in fact have Batten disease. She would be diagnosed as having the CLN1 variant of Batten. The day that she was diagnosed was February the 4th of 2020. Alicia said that this date was exactly one year after Bailey had been said to have Retinitis Pigmentosa. All of a sudden everything had changed. Bailey no longer had a disease affecting only her vision but was now diagnosed as having a disease that is fatal. She was now a rare disease warrior and she and her family were on a journey together. So many things were explained with the diagnosis. People had been pointing to Bailey’s vision or thought that perhaps there were behavioral issues at play. Finally, there was understanding. Not only did Bailey’s mom and dad now know the reason but so did the people in the medical community that were associated with Bailey’s care. Many had never heard of Batten but now, their eyes were open and they were able to see how this rare disease had affected Bailey. There had been CT Scans, MRI’s, and EEGs performed but none of those tests could bring the truth to light. Bailey’s complete diagnosis would come through the actions of an alert doctor who knew genetic testing was necessary. It was needed in order to gain the answer that the family sought. Even if the outcome was not what was desired. The truth had to be known. Shock and utter dismay would follow. Alicia’s emotions were at an extreme high and the tears just flowed at times. Who could not understand how this would be so? Regardless of the challenges that had come with Bailey, she was still her mama's baby and she was so loved. How was it possible that something like this was taking place? How could her baby girl have a fatal disease for which there was no cure? There were so many questions regarding why this was happening to them as a family. They finally had the answer as to why things were different with Bailey but the answer was not one that they had wanted to receive. Bailey had been different from her older siblings while she was growing up and she hadn’t bonded well with them. There were apparent behavior differences and she was difficult to deal with at home. I am sure that at times, frustrations would boil over and it was difficult to remain patient. Emotions would run high. This brought with it some guilty feelings at times and now, there would be more feelings of guilt as the diagnosis came. Alicia explains, “In the early years there was a lot of guilt because she wasn’t easy. Once we got the diagnosis, more guilt. How could we be so frustrated with her, she couldn’t control her behaviors!” Once it was known what it was that was taking place with Bailey, there would be an increase in understanding and an effort towards showing greater patience. Alicia stated that they remain devastated but they are no longer in denial over what they have learned. They now understand that this is part of their life. A big and very involved part. Daily, they experience a type of love that is mixed with heartache. The heartache brings other complications with it. As was mentioned earlier, Alicia suffers from Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. This can cause inflammation of the digestive tract and that brings other complications. Pain, fatigue, and digestion issues of course. This can lead to weight loss and malnutrition. It is often painful and debilitating, and it can lead to life threatening complications.  Times not forgotten! Alicia has seen the worst flare up of her life in recent times and it has come as a result of the stresses related to Bailey’s Batten diagnosis. This has resulted in the need for surgeries and medications. Sometimes, when it rains, it pours folks. Alicia has been on disability since October of 2020 because of this. What about the other members of this family? Bailey’s dad, Chris, deals with things by staying busy around the house. Much of that time is spent adapting the house to Bailey’s changing needs. Alicia shared that Chris had back surgery back in the Fall of 2019. This along with his age concerns her but Chris won’t quit doing what’s needed for Bailey. There is no quit in him, he is the dad. What about young Dylan, who is 14 years of age? Alicia says that most of the time, Dylan locks himself away from things in his room. She stated that he is typical for a kid his age, spending way too much time on his gaming system. You know what happens to kids like that? They turn into computer programmers or other types of IT professionals (that’s what happened with our son Daniel). Alicia says that Dylan can be a really funny guy with a great sense of humor. That is when he “graces the rest of the family with his presence”. Dylan and his big sister Ashleigh have always had a great relationship with each other and a strong bond exists there. Ashleigh is a great source of pride for both Chris and Alicia. She has grown into a wonderful young adult and her presence in the family is so appreciated. Her parents not only appreciate the person that Ashleigh is but they also appreciate the level of help that she offers them with her sister. Ashleigh, who is 23, has grown to be an amazing big sister to Bailey. She is very understanding of her and the bond between her and Bailey has now grown to be stronger as well. In Alicia’s own words, “Ashleigh is so amazing and a HUGE help to us.” Together, the Morse family lives with a tragic set of circumstances as life relates to Bailey. They do have to watch and see her regress. They know full well what this means as they see what is taking place as she declines. They also see Bailey’s resilience. They know that Bailey is not able to understand what is happening to her but they do know that she is happy. The disease does not allow her to know what is taking place with her health. Obviously, she is aware of the fact that she is blind and she calls the absence seizures that she experiences “shadows”. Her behavior has changed as the disease has progressed a bit. Alicia stated that the tension that once existed with her is now gone. Bailey now has “a happy-go-lucky attitude in life. She loves to color, even if as her mom tells us, she just scribbles. She loves music and her favorite television shows. Bailey loves playing with blocks and her Shopkins toys. Alicia explains what she sees as Bailey plays, “Her playing is not like a typical child and it’s heartbreaking to see her limitations but we’re thankful she can still do what she can.” Just like the other Batten families that we have read about, the Morse family is doing their best to create happy times for Bailey and precious memories that will last a lifetime for all of them. Bailey remains part of the family experience as they live life together. A Love Complicated  So very special is she! There is laughter, yes, but there are also challenges that are not faced by many. When it comes to some of the minor problems faced by others and the drama that is self-inflicted, Alicia has little patience. If only people could walk a mile in the shoes she has to wear most days. Perhaps they would see things differently. This, I firmly believe is true! Alicia shared with me some additional details concerning the challenges that they face as a family, “I know we both have a hard time seeing other children living their best life, knowing Bailey will never graduate, marry, or have children … It’s also tough accepting that none of her little friends play or talk to her anymore ….” The attitudes that they see in the adult population around them varies as well of course. This all would be heartbreaking for sure but there are also opportunities for the family to see the good in people as others seek to help. The level of support from friends and family varies but there are some people who really stand out in the crowd. Alicia explains further, “It has also opened our eyes to the generosity of people. We’ve received so many words of encouragement and genuine concern for Bailey’s well-being. We’ve received surprise packages in the mail for Bailey, as well as multiple donations so that we can take her on memorable excursions. The donations also allow us to continue to make adjustments to our home to accommodate Bailey’s needs, as well as give Chris freedom to be involved by taking time from work as needed.” It is true that having a person with special needs in your house requires a lot of additional work. This is simply because special individuals cannot do everything for themselves. A young girl who is blind and suffers from dementia would certainly fall into this group. Bailey requires a lot of assistance and needs to be guided around the house, bringing her to the bathroom and any place that she needs to go. A big concern is just keeping her safe and out of harm's way. Even with the additional help, there is no guarantee that Bailey would remain injury free. Alicia shared that poor Bailey recently fell face first, chipping her front teeth and biting her lip pretty severely. How do you prevent something like that from happening? It would both be heartbreaking and of great concern and I know that this family is doing their very best. Batten disease is a monster! Bailey’s family is always on watch for seizures and random falls. In addition to the extra attention that needs to be paid to Bailey are all of the doctors appointments that have to be attended. These are a constant in this household. All of this together is tiring for those that help with Bailey’s care, none more so than with her mom Alicia. Added to this is the anxiety over what is to come as well as some issues related to Bailey’s mental health. Alicia explains, “The anxiety of what’s next and the constant care, the relentless repetitive questions, always the same questions, multiple times an hour (we’re told that’s the dementia) .… Her speech has been severely affected and it’s tough to understand her at times.” There are always guilty feelings over the mix of emotions. This isn’t easy. It’s nowhere near being easy. Bailey can be very frustrating and the attention needed is really demanding and yet, the love that they have for her as a family is immense. There is a mixture of being heartbroken over the effects of the disease and the love that they all have for Bailey. Alicia started with two individual words when I asked her what her love for Bailey is like. She simply used the words “special” and “complicated”. Those who know what it is like to care for a child like Bailey know exactly what Alicia is saying. She adds with the following to what has already been stated, “We love her (Bailey) so much, no matter what. But we’re tired. We have other kids that need our attention but don’t always get it. This is definitely an emotional roller coaster!” Alicia does know that they all need to remain thankful that Bailey can still do the things that she is able to. Much more will follow and she knows that they need to enjoy having Bailey in their midst. I’ve often said that what is seen from a distance can be different than what is experienced by those that are in the middle of the battle. Dealing with the daily grind of caring for someone like Bailey ….. All that may be felt is the anxiety that is created on any given day. What others might see from a distance would be the love that is being poured out on Bailey’s behalf. Does that make sense? Bailey is the baby of the family and that is a special position within the family hierarchy. Chris and Alicia had no idea how baby number three would one day impact this family. Bailey will always be a part of who they are as individuals. This is a certainty.
I generally ask for a parent's help in choosing pictures to include with each of these stories. I’ve written a lot about the challenges that are being faced by this family. The pictures included do add some details that may have been missed by me. There is joy and there is laughter. It’s just that there are also challenges for this family that will not be faced by many. This includes grieving for someone that is still with them. These two teenagers from Middleboro would grow into a life together and find that it would be different than what they had envisioned. I ran across this quote from an unknown source that Alicia had saved in her picture albums. Seeing it sent my closing for this story in a different direction and the quote is so perfect. Here is what it said, “Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you’re living.” The story that the Morse family is living includes the love that they have for Bailey. It’s a type of love that is complicated. There is joy but there is also a variety of other emotions involved. We’ve talked about the challenges and the heartache but there are also those sweet details that exist any time you provide care for someone like sweet Bailey. One other word, or rather, phrase that Alicia used to describe the love that she has for her daughter is the phrase “never ending”. There is an unconditional, profound, and undying type of love that is being given to Bailey. That love will never go away. This family’s story will continue and Bailey will always be a big part of who they are as individuals. Her life will affect the lives of each of her family members like no one else's can. Much about Batten and the type of love that it creates is complicated. Bailey’s impact on her family however, will be without question. Another warrior unaware and another, very special family. I appreciate the opportunity to help tell their story. ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  Mom and Daughter. “I immediately looked up Batten Disease and started crying. The more I read the harder I cried. I still remember seeing the word ‘fatal’ through my tears and stopped reading and started praying. How could this be my daughter’s future?” ~Melissa Becker~ Addy’s Mom and Advocate Most often, having children is just the natural thing to do when you find that person in life. The person, that is, that you want to spend your life with. For most everyone, it’s just the natural thing to do. That is the way that it was for us. Both my wife and I had siblings. In my wife’s case, she came from a large family. As a young married couple, we had friends that were having kids of their own and doing so was a shared experience in the peer group that we were a part of. I have to admit that we hadn’t put a lot of thought into things. As the saying goes, when you aim for nothing, you hit it every time. Thankfully, everything turned out well. Yes, we would one day find ourselves being parents to a child with special needs. Yes, there have been challenges along the way but we wouldn’t change anything at this point. For other people, things are different. They plan their future out as far as career ambitions and having a family. People often think about the size that they want their family to be and they sometimes have a gender in mind. That is hard to control of course but many people will get the desires of their heart, boy or girl. I can tell you that after raising three kids on one income that two children sounds like a good number. In that case, one of each, a boy and a girl sounds good. I want to add that in some cases, children who were unplanned can come into a person’s life. In that case, it is the most wonderful thing when someone discovers that having that little person in their life is an amazing experience. An experience that they were meant to have. I think that for most parents, they just love having a family, no matter what the gender of their children. However, a case can be made …. There is a special bond between a dad and his son. It is also very true that the bond that exists between a mother and her daughter can be especially close. I always like to say that there is no love like a mother’s love. It’s a maternal kind of a bond that takes place before the child is born. Moms love their baby boys of course but the relationship that is formed between a mother and her daughter is often very special. It’s a “no brainer” that people of the same gender would relate well to one another. When it comes to a mom and daughter, this would be real on an exponential level. The shared experience as a daughter grows and the mom's ability to relate her own upbringing to her daughter’s would cause this to be true. There are so many things that a mom might look forward to as she holds her infant daughter for the first time. Think about the shopping trips together and all of the conversations that would be had. Think about time spent at different restaurants and all of those four dollar cups of fancy coffee together. There could one day be trips to the beautician together, the list goes on and on. There are all of those life events that are looked forward to as well. Dance recitals and sporting events. Graduations at all of the different levels of education, all while having the opportunity to provide guidance as the years pass by. The bond grows closer and closer with time. Sure there can be troubles along the way but those are dealt with because of the love that exists. The ultimate experience for a mom is seeing her daughter’s hand being given in marriage. This while knowing that she did her absolute best in helping her daughter to develop into adulthood. The relationship doesn’t end there. It’s one that will last for a lifetime. It’s common to face problems along the way. Some will see more than others but hopefully, the struggles faced are ones that can be overcome. One would expect situations to occur in the course of raising a child and some can be more difficult than others. And still, there are situations that may arise that are rare and that no one could see coming before they happen. That’s what takes place when a child is diagnosed with a rare disease. All of a sudden, the things dreamed of begin to slip away. All of a sudden, life is so different than one could have imagined. Given the word terminal as a part of the diagnosis shatters the reality that was once expected. There is shock and complete dismay over receiving the news that changes a family forever. That is what happens when a parent is told that their child has Batten disease. The milestones of a child’s development will be stopped or erased as digression sets in and abilities are taken away. The complete and utter shock over such a diagnosis will eventually give way. This, even though the heartache continues. There is however, a change that takes place. What is felt initially will eventually give way to a renewed strength and a will to do everything possible. That is to help your child battle like the little warrior that they must become.  Things are now different. Life has changed in a dramatic way. There are challenges that will be faced that are unknown to most any other family. This is because of one person who really needs you and needs your understanding. As a family, challenges will come and all family members will be affected by this one who battles. There is a type of love that occurs when love is mixed with heartache. This is a type of love that is profound and a type of love that is undying. Those who love one who battles have no quit in them. You never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice. It is so discouraging to see the things that were expected slip away. And yet, there will be times of tenderness and memories being made that are oh, so sweet. That is what life is like when someone battles Batten. Heartache not experienced by many will be felt. It will be mixed with love so strong and a bond that cannot be broken. Each one of these families are special because of the special circumstances that surround them. This is not even to mention the one who battles Batten. Each one is a resilient young warrior. There is so much that they teach us along the way. How to find strength when we feel like we can’t go on and what it is that is really important in life. These are just a couple of things, of which there are many more. The way that they bounce back after each setback as they battle. The joy that they continue to show for life even in the face of adversity. All of this and more will be seen in each child that battles Batten. This next story has many of the elements that we have talked about so far. Let’s get started as we begin to tell the story about a young lady named Addy. Addy’s story, of course, begins with her parents' story and we will look at things from her mom’s perspective as we begin. It all began as a young adult named Melissa Munch was out socializing with friends and family. It was on that day that she met the man that would one day be her husband. His name was Kevin. There was an immediate attraction between them and they would soon begin to date. The two of them didn’t want to rush into marriage and instead would date for several years. Kevin and Melissa had met in 2001 and would marry in 2007. More often than not, a life together involves wanting to have children and that was the case for Kevin and Melissa. Once married, the couple would want to start a family. They didn’t want a huge one. In fact, two sounded like a good number. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were to have one of each, both a boy and a girl? Melissa would soon conceive after the couple began to try for their first pregnancy. Much to their delight, all would go well as Melissa found herself carrying their first child. Her pregnancy would also go well and there would be no major complications. This would include the delivery. Their first child would be born in 2008 as Melissa would give birth to a baby boy. Kevin had a son and he and Melissa would name their newborn Matthew. From first sight, he was a perfect little man. He had all his fingers and toes and he was happy and healthy. Looking at baby Matthew for the first time brought great joy to Melissa. This as Matthew’s tiny eyes looked up into hers and also, all around at his new surroundings. You just know that this young couple was so proud and happy at that point in time. This is an event that couples long to experience together. Being a first time mom was everything that Melissa had thought it would be. In fact, it was better than she expected. The entire experience of carrying Matthew and delivering him into this world was amazing and it all seemed effortless. As a matter of fact, it was that very night that Melissa had been saying, “this was so easy, I want like 5 more!” She would hold Matthew non-stop, not wanting to let him go. In her own words she would say that her “heart was so full.” Motherhood for Melissa was everything that she had imagined it would be. Her mom would even tell her to quit holding Matthew so much but it was difficult for her to put him down. Up until that point, she never knew that being a mom could bring such happiness. Kevin and Melissa wouldn’t rush into having another child. They would instead, enjoy some time with their son, and with each other, waiting for a couple of years before trying to have another child. It would be after that period of time that they decided that it was time to try for another child. The experience with Matthew had been wonderful and the couple wanted a playmate for their son, a “buddy” and a “best friend”. The One Hoped for  The one that was hoped for! It would be a different set of circumstances as Kevin and Melissa attempted to have another baby. As things would turn out, Melissa would have a much more difficult time with getting pregnant. In her words, “God had other plans for me I guess.” The first complication was that as Melissa became pregnant, she would miscarry. This happened twice and it must have been heartbreaking with each occurrence. With this, Melissa would seek the help of a doctor specializing in fertility issues. In vitro fertilization or (IVF) would soon be used in the process, however, a couple of other issues with Melissa’s health would arise before that would take place. One problem was that she was having an issue with blood clotting. The other was that she was found to have a condition called MTHFR (short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase). This condition would be difficult to explain as it is new to this writer. One thing that was noticed is that blood clotting can be part of the MTHFR. Let’s just say that among other consequences, having it can be a hindrance to a woman's ability to become pregnant. There are a host of treatment types for the condition. These include the use of hormones, changes in diet, and adding nutritional supplements. Melissa would be treated in this way and would get to the point where it was time to try again. Sadly, Kevin and Melissa’s next attempt at having another child would result in another miscarriage. It was now time to take additional measures and this is when IVF would be used. Melissa had not given up hope for Matthew having a brother or sister to play with. They would just have to go a different route in order to have another baby. She definitely hadn’t lost her sense of humor, even after all that they had been through. When it came to the IVF procedure, Melissa had this to say, “When the doctor did the egg retrieval I told him ‘find all the pink eggs!’ Because I wanted a little girl so badly. To me, one boy and one girl, was the perfect family!” As I said in the opening, two children seems like a good number and it seems that Melissa would agree. Her wish to have that second child be a girl would come true, but this would take place through a set of difficult circumstances. This would include a challenging pregnancy. The IVF procedure would be successful and Melissa would become pregnant. She was unaware at first but the fact was that twins were conceived. Sadly, one of those babies was lost right away but Melissa’s pregnancy with the other child would continue. This would not be easy for her. There would be hormone shots and many trips to the doctor. Among other complications were frequent headaches and this baby would be considered a high risk pregnancy. There would be many ultrasounds done in the weeks that would follow which would leave the couple with a lot of images of their unborn child. It would be at the twenty week mark that Melissa would find out that she was going to have a girl. Not only that but this baby was healthy and all was well. During one ultrasound, Melissa was able to watch and see every detail of her baby’s heart as the doctor and staff looked on. For her, the experience was just amazing. After everything that they had been through, there was a feeling of great relief as Kevin and Melissa felt that they were finally in the clear. That second child that they had wanted was finally on the way. To make things even more exciting to Melissa was the fact that she was going to have a girl. Even with the challenges that had occurred along the way, Melissa’s pregnancy would continue and the anticipation would grow as the days passed. Finally, the time for the big event would arrive as Melissa’s daughter was about to enter into the lives of her family. The date of the big event was August the 20th of 2012 and it would take place at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois. Melissa remembered that it all would take place early in the morning with her baby being born at 7:09 a.m. This proud mamma of two children would deliver her baby normally, although it would take longer than it had with Matthew. She stated that the only issue that would develop in the course of the delivery was that her blood pressure kept dropping. Of course, the medical staff would continue to monitor Melissa during this time. Think about what they had been through with the miscarriages and all of the problems with Melissa’s health. The roller coaster of emotions and the fear that a second child may never come. In her own words, “it was such a fight”, but there she was after the delivery, holding her infant daughter. Melissa’s heart was so full and she was overjoyed as she held her baby girl for the first time.  Absolutely beautiful. Here is how Melissa described the experience, “When I finally got to hold her and look at her sweet face, I was so in love and knew my heart was complete. She was so sweet and beautiful and perfect. She was tough from the very beginning and fought her way to arrive on Earth to be with us. It is amazing how you think that you love so much and could not possibly love more. But, the minute that baby is born your heart grows and fills to make room for her. Then you wonder how you ever lived without her.” The couple would name their daughter Addelyn Kay Boggs with her middle name being that of her great grandmother. Addelyn was a very healthy weight when she was born, being 7 pounds and 7 ounces. Addelyn was flawless and perfect in every way. She had all of her fingers and toes and she was covered in brand new baby skin. Melissa could not wait for Matthew to meet his new little sister and for all of them to go home and be a family together. Far from Melissa’s thinking at that point was the consideration of future difficulties. There was only the expectation that a life together with her daughter would bring an abundance of love and memories. She looked forward to all of the events that one might expect to take place. It’s just a fact that as kids develop, challenges often come as they grow. Health concerns can arise with children and that is often just part of growing up. Some kids will experience more than others but hopefully, the resilient nature of being a child will help carry them through. It seemed that baby Addy would have her challenges right out of the gate so to speak. She would have several issues that would hinder her right away. According to Melissa, Addy had difficulties sleeping as a newborn. In addition, she had a problem with throwing up as she would do it all of the time. Adding to Melissa’s frustration was a lack of cooperation from Addy’s pediatrician. The switch to a new doctor would result in finding that Addy had a milk allergy. On top of that, she also had a very bad case of acid reflux. How uncomfortable this had to have been for baby Addy. The doctor would end up recommending a special formula and would prescribe Prevacid for Addy’s reflux issues. There were other natural remedies used as well. As if that wasn’t enough, Addy also suffered from something called torticollis. This is simply a condition that involves tightness in the muscles of the neck. This will be recognized by the infant tilting his or her neck to one side. It may be caused by the position held by an unborn baby in the womb or the procedure used during delivery. Position changes and stretching exercises can help. In Addy’s case, she would be brought to physical therapy sessions to be treated. Poor Addy, there was more to her situation. At about four months old, she would be diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. This virus causes infections in the lungs and the respiratory tract. This would require another course of treatment for Addy, mainly breathing treatments and the use of steroids. Poor Addy would have to sleep in a swing so that she could breathe better. This would be another issue that would inhibit her sleep. The RSV would also cause Addy to have croup and have it often. The problems for the tiny princess would continue to mount but they were the types of things that could be overcome with time, and in the course of her development. Even so, this had to be a trying time for Melissa and Addy too. Melissa speaks to this in part, “It was hard as her mom because I wanted to hold her and snuggle her all the time, the way I did with Matthew when he was a baby, but she threw up all the time. I still held her as much as I could and usually had both of my babies snuggled up on my lap. I was so happy.” Melissa went on to explain that poor Addy would cry a lot because of the pain that she was in. How heartbreaking would that be for a young mom? The only comfort in the situation came from the belief that they would get Addy’s medical issues figured out in time. Even with everything that Addy was going through, she was a happy baby. As expected, she would continue to grow and meet all of her milestones. Through diet and medications and for the most part, they would soon get Addy’s reflux under control. The Perfect Little Lady  Little Miss Personality. The croup, however, would continue to be a problem and there would also be steady ear infections and bouts with strep throat. Addy would end up having her adenoids removed and she would also get tubes placed in her ears at about ten months. Princess Addy had to be a warrior from a very young age. Such is life at times for children and Addy would show everyone what a resilient little person she can be. In Melissa’s own words, “The ear infections were so bad she ended up with a hole in her eardrum. But, she was the toughest baby and hardly ever complained about her ears. She also had a lot of digestion problems that got better with changing her diet. We used to joke that she was so tough because of all the steroids she was on.” In spite of all that Addy had been through as an infant and toddler, she was the happiest of little girls. Melissa would go on to say that she was funny and very loving towards everyone that she met. No one was a stranger to Addy and everyone that she would meet would fall in love with her. Addy was friendly like her big brother was but she was even more outgoing. She would grow to be a real character and somebody that loved life and those around her. Addy had an ability from early on to make other people laugh. She just had a wonderful sense of humor. Her interests were typical for a high energy little lady. Addy loved to sing and dance and she loved doing crafts. She seemed to be unaffected by her lack of sleep, having all the energy in the world. Other than what she was facing from a medical standpoint, Addy would grow into what most would consider to be a typical little girl. A very charming and adorable one at that! Addy was growing to be a remarkable little lady. Yes, she had more than her share of issues medically but these were the types of things that can be overcome in time. She did have the challenges with her stomach and with her ears but that had been it. The issues for Addy had been difficult for Melissa. They had left Melissa’s life with challenges not experienced by the majority of us. Melissa’s life was full, with teaching full-time and parenting her two children. To make matters even more difficult would be the fact that her marriage had failed. It is just the way things go in life at times. Two people meet and fall in love but then grow apart. This would happen when Addy was about 2 years old and Matthew was about 6 years of age. Although Melissa and Kevin both loved their children, their lives had gone in separate directions. Melissa felt that for the sake of the children, it was best to go it alone for at least a time. Even though it was felt to be the best thing for all concerned, the separation and divorce would be difficult on everyone. Even with this, life would go on. It always does. Addy would continue to grow and reach each milestone as expected. Melissa said that her daughter was, and still is, a very bright girl. She would learn her letter and numbers, and her colors. Addy loved to paint and as a mom who was an art teacher, Melissa loved to see this. As was already stated, Addy loved to dance. At age 3, she started to dance with the dance company in town. Addy loved it so much and she was a beautiful tiny dancer. Melissa said that Addy loved the stage and she was a natural in that environment. She wasn’t one bit nervous as she performed in front of an audience. The interaction between Addy, her friends, and her teacher was something that she treasured. Addy was an artist and a performer in the making. Her babysitter was a good friend of Melissa’s and she and Addy would spend a lot of time crafting together. Addy loved this! This princess was growing and learning by leaps and bounds. Melissa stated that she was thriving and was so happy. Addy was always on the go and she had such a wonderful little sense of humor. She was just so funny. There was so much potential for her future development and so much to look forward to in Addy. One might expect that along with the things looked forward to would come additional challenges in life. Those are normal occurrences as we grow. Hopefully, those things would also be overcome. Another issue would arise. Addy started to complain about headaches at around the age of 4 years. She complained that her eyes were hurting and the family noticed that she was standing close to the television. The natural assumption would be that her eyes hurt because she was watching TV from so close of a distance. Was there something going on with Addy’s eyesight? Was that the actual reason why she was so close to the TV and also experiencing headaches? One thing that was obvious to Melissa was that Addy’s eyesight needed to be checked. She may have needed a prescription for glasses, so Melissa took her daughter to see the doctor at the local Target store.  Two attractive children! After examining Addy, the eye doctor stated that she was color blind and she also had an astigmatism. Addy was prescribed glasses. Melissa said that she was shocked about the color blindness because Addy knew her colors. Being an art teacher and painting together, Melissa and Addy would talk about the various colors that were used. Melissa would test Addy when they got home and she could see all of the colors. However, Addy could not see the numbers within the color blind test. Melissa could tell that something wasn’t right. This was taking place in the Spring of 2017. More questions would arise as Addy began kindergarten in the Fall of that same year. She would turn 5 years old a week after starting with her class. Again, Addy showed herself to be a bright little girl who could already read words and who knew her numbers. She also knew shapes and could do simple math. Melissa said that she was well behaved and worked hard at learning. Addy was a little jewel and she had a lot of friends. Kindergarten was only a half day program so she would also attend preschool where she was loved as well. Addy was still getting close to the TV and she was also moving items closer to her face in order to see them. On top of this, she had a habit of tripping a lot. This was being chalked up to issues related to her ear drum and also being a little clumsy. Visible to her teacher was the fact that Addy was having to lean closer to her school work in order to see it. Her teacher also had to move her closer to the board in class. As time moved forward, Melissa’s concern would continue to increase. One incident in particular was troubling to her and she shares the details here, “What really set up a red flag for me was when Addy’s name was chosen as a winner of a contest. To show the winner, her teacher put her name on the board and Addy did not respond at all. She knew how to spell and write her name. Her teacher was very concerned and said she honestly didn’t think Addy could see it! At this point, I knew I wasn't being an overprotective, worrying mom.” Melissa knew that something was wrong. This all would have been difficult under any set of circumstances but even more so had Melissa been going through this alone. Imagine, with a full-time work schedule and all. I’ll continue with the story shortly but let me stop for a minute to explain. In actuality, Melissa had a friend by her side as Addy’s situation would develop. Really, someone that was, and still is, much more than a friend to her. Matt Becker had been friends with Melissa for years. In fact, they had worked together during that time. Both Matt and Melissa had attended Birthday parties for each other's kids and Melissa had painted murals in each of the rooms of Matt’s boys. Of course, each was committed to their own marriage partner and their interest in each other was only in friendship. That would eventually change. Just as Melissa would go through a divorce, so had Matt. As each one became single, they would increase the time that was spent together and their relationship would change as a result. It was no accident that when Melissa needed someone like Matt in her life that he was there for her. They went from friends to much more at a critical time. Melissa explains, “He was always someone I could count on and he always made me smile. He listens and doesn’t judge and always has a hug. We started hanging out with all our kids together and it was fun and crazy. Matt is an amazing dad and makes everything fun. He is the dad who actually plays with his kids at the park. We started dating and it all just came natural. Our favorite saying was ‘life is good’ because finally, it was. We were happy and healthy and loved life together.” The couple would buy a house in 2015 and would marry the year after that. As things would develop with Addy, Melissa would have her friend and life partner there by her side. Melissa described what life was like at that point, “Life was fun and crazy and loud and busy and we were very much in love. Matt accepted my kids and loved them as his own. He told me he always wanted a girl and now he got to help raise Addy. They had a great bond. He drove her to daycare and home everyday and they had fun singing songs and playing games. They loved fishing together.” This was important to everyone because as time continued, the concerns over Addy’s situation would deepen. Melissa’s search for answers would continue and her next step would be to take Addy to see another eye doctor. Unfortunately, what would happen next is typical when health professionals aren’t compassionate or, at the top of their game so to speak. The Search for an Answer  Love this pic! While at the next doctor, the nurse put the letters up for Addy’s eye exam and she was not able to see them. Even as she would increase the size of the letters. The nurse would ask if Addy even knew her letters to which Melissa would reply, “yes, she can read!” Why would she even ask such a question? The nurse kept trying to get Addy to answer, all the while, Melissa’s heart was breaking because she knew that Addy was trying her best. The nurse went so far as to offer Addy a sticker if she would answer. Both the nurse and the doctor thought that Addy’s not telling them what the letters were was a behavioral issue. The doctor would simply change Addy’s prescription a little and she reminded Addy to not hold her tablet too close to her face. This is what she felt was causing the frequent headaches. Both Addy and Melissa left being fully frustrated with what had occurred. Melissa’s frustration led to resolve as she moved on to the next level. That was to take Addy to a pediatric ophthalmologist. This would be a big step in determining what was taking place with Addy. It seemed to Melissa that Addy’s eyesight was getting progressively worse and that made the need to reach out even more urgent. Poor Addy could not see her own school work. Can we understand how frustrating that would be for a young girl or boy to have that change taking place in their eyesight? It would be frustrating and perhaps, frightening as well. The appointment would be made and both Melissa and Matt would attend with Addy. As they arrived, there would be an instant connection between Addy and the ophthalmologist, Dr. Davis. This doctor would listen as things were explained to her. Dr. Davis believed Addy when she told her that she couldn’t see the letters of the test. This doctor would look into this further. She didn’t push Addy but instead, scanned Addy’s eyes. Her mom and stepdad would be shocked to learn what the cause of Addy’s vision problem was. In Melissa’s own words, “She immediately pulled me aside and said ‘she has no retinas, they are gone, no wonder she can't see!’ She explained that it was like Addy was holding her fists in front of her eyes and trying to see with a big black spot in the middle of everything.” No wonder she had been struggling to see the television and the board in her classroom. Addy had still been able to see out of her peripheral vision and that is why she would turn and tip her head when she was reading or drawing. How completely heartbreaking it must have been to learn what was taking place. The doctor informed Melissa that Addy was legally blind and would never drive a car. Something that was looked forward to was all at once, not to be. What other things would Addy be unable to do in her lifetime? The realization brought Melissa to tears. She felt horrible, now knowing that Addy’s vision was that bad but not having realized it before. Matt was equally upset ... both were in shock. Dr. Davis would consult with a Retina specialist and he would be in agreement. Although he thought that it would be unlikely, that doctor suggested that Addy may have Best disease. Best (Best vitelliform macular dystrophy) is a disease that affects the retinas. The only thing is that the onset for Best would normally be much later in life. It was unlikely that Addy had that going on. Finding out what was taking place with Addy’s vision would not be easy. Melissa said that the next step would be to have Addy evaluated by the ophthalmologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. The staff at Dr. Davis’ office would assist the Beckers in getting an appointment for Addy in Chicago. Understandably, Melissa cried the entire time as they returned home. The thought of how limited Addy’s life would be because of her lack of vision was what brought her to tears. If only that was to be the worst of what would come. Addy would soon meet the ophthalmology team at Lurie in Chicago and with her this time, would be her mom and her dad, Kevin. The staff would perform a lot of testing and would diagnose Addy as having 20/200 eyesight. Just like Dr. Davis had shared, the team at Lurie stated that Addy was legally blind. They suggested that Addy’s family start purchasing equipment to help her and they recommended that Addy connect with a vision itinerant. The itinerant’s job would be to help identify what Addy’s needs were and how to go about addressing her situation.  SO adorable right here. The doctors could see what was happening with Addy’s vision but they had no concrete answers as to why she was losing her eyesight. They didn’t believe that she had Best disease but they didn’t have an alternate answer. They decided to do more testing while Addy was under anesthesia. Soon after conducting the tests, the doctor would draw the preliminary conclusion that Addy had cone/rod dystrophy. The doctor was still not sure and recommended genetic testing to help in the search for an answer. It was also suggested that Addy start learning Braille. She had been using a print enlarger and reading very large print only by then. Addy was in the 1st grade by this time and Melissa would ask for an IEP to be done on her daughter’s behalf. Also, as had been recommended, Melissa would push for time spent with a vision itinerant. As would be expected, both of Addy’s parents, Kevin and Melissa, would meet with a genetic team. They would go over each of their medical histories and both would consent to having blood drawn for testing. It had been explained during their meeting that the answer as to what was taking place with Addy may or may not be found. Even so, they had to proceed. Unfortunately, in what is too often the case, the insurance company would put up a fight when it came to paying for the testing. Kevin and Melissa would eventually succeed and the blood draw would take place. As all of this was happening, Addy’s eyesight was continuing to deteriorate. Both households would have to wait a long time for the results of the test and in the meantime, Addy’s vision had descended to 20/400. Her prescription for corrective lenses had been changed once again. Melissa needed an answer and she needed one soon. The wait had seemed like forever and she decided to give the genetics team a call. What she would find out once she did was that someone had dropped the ball, so to speak. The person that the family had originally met with was no longer there and Melissa was given a new person to talk to. Once she was connected, Melissa was asked whether or not she had decided to go through with the testing. What? Of course she had and she should have had the results back by then. Melissa said that she was furious and who could blame her? This kind of thing should never happen but in fact, it does. Finally, the blood work was sent in for testing. So much time had been wasted as Addy was completing her 1st grade year. It would be the summer of 2019 that Melissa would get a call from the genetics department at Lurie. Up to that point, Addy had been working with her vision itinerant and she was also taking braille classes. The genetic counselor said to Melissa that they had a probable match and she asked Melissa if she had ever heard of Batten disease. Most people will not have heard of Batten unless they know someone who has been diagnosed with it and Melissa had not. She was told that they could not be 100 percent sure of the diagnosis at this point without more testing being done on her and Kevin. Even so, they were confident enough about the results that Melissa was encouraged to look up information on the disease. The counselor stated that she was there to answer any questions that Melissa may have and then the phone call ended. Melissa knew from the tone of her voice that whatever it was, Batten was pretty bad. However, at that time, she just expected that the disease would only cause Addy to go completely blind. In Melissa’s own words, “Honestly, that was the worst thing I could think of.” Complete blindness is something that a person can adapt to as they continue to live their life. Certainly, there would be challenges along the way even if that was the only issue they would face together. There was, however, much more taking place with Addy than Melissa could know about at that point. She did what any other parent would have done upon hanging up. She started to research Batten disease over the internet and what she read brought her to tears. The more she read, the harder she cried. The hardest thing for her to discover was that what Addy was facing was a fatal disease. Melissa quit reading and began to pray. How could this be happening? Other than the issue with Addy’s eyesight, there were no other symptoms that she was displaying. None that would be related to Batten disease. Hoping for Hope  A special bond! Melissa was certain that Addy would be shown to be in the clear once she and Kevin were tested. Melissa shares, “I kept thinking how hard I worked to have Addy and that there is no way anyone was going to take her from me.” Melissa was so sure that the Batten diagnosis was a mistake that she didn’t want to bother her mom with the news. Although she wanted to tell her, her mom had been fighting her own battle with cancer at the time. Her certainty concerning the false diagnosis kept her from adding on an additional burden. The more that she and Matt read about Batten, the more certain they became that this diagnosis was false. Melissa felt that there was still hope as she and Kevin went to get tested. That summer, hope would turn into shock and complete dismay as Melissa received the news, Addylen Kay had CLN3, the Juvenile variant of Batten disease. The problems that were occuring with Addy’s vision were perhaps the most common early symptom of the disorder. Melissa talks about her response with the following, “Rachel (the genetic counselor) called to tell me. I was sobbing and asked her, could there be any chance this was wrong and she told me no. After a few days of shock and disbelief and snuggling Addy every single second I could, I decided it was time to start fighting.” Almost without exception, every story includes a transformation that takes place on behalf of those who receive the news concerning their child. Things such a shock and discouragement give way to renewed strength and a will to help a child battle. All the while the heartache continues. Melissa would find the will to fight for Addy but it would be without any encouragement from the genetics team. Both Kevin and Melissa, and each of their spouses, would meet with the staff at genetics department to discuss their findings concerning Addy and Batten disease. They told Melissa and the others that there wasn’t much that they could do for Addy at Lurie hospital. They recommended that they take Addy home and enjoy every minute that they had left with her. There was no cure and there was not much that could be done. Can you imagine being told something like that? Melissa describes what her reaction was with this, “It was crushing that these world-renown specialists had nothing to offer to save our daughter’s life. They even joked, ‘Don’t worry about little things like making her brush her teeth.’” What? How absolutely out of line was that comment. Melissa continued, “They said we can call when she starts having seizures to get meds to help with that. They also had us meet with palliative care and I had no idea what this was. They handed me a brochure and I scanned it and thought wow, they really don’t want to even try to help Addy.” While Melissa could have given up, right then and there, she didn’t waiver in her resolve. She would not accept this give up and take the time that you have left kind of attitude. Melissa was going to help Addy in finding a cure or at least, a form of treatment. She would help her daughter fight this disease by finding those that can help! To just accept that Addy would succumb to Batten disease was unacceptable. Melissa further explained her feelings, “It was so unfair that this sweet, loving, funny, kind, big hearted, and amazing girl was dealt this awful hand in life. I wanted to squeeze her and hug her and love on her and never let her go. I felt so mad and felt my heart literally breaking for my sweet girl. A parent should be able to protect their kids and I couldn’t do that. But, I wasn’t going to listen to these doctors and I wasn’t giving up on my girl!” Melissa felt in her heart that God wanted Addy here and that he had plans for her. Hope still remained and Melissa would cling to that. She does so to this day and says as much here, “I still hold on to hope that we are going to find a cure and she is going to help lead the way. Addy is the toughest girl I know and she is a fighter.” Addy is a fighter and Melissa would do anything to fight for her. She is not doing so alone but has the support and commitment of a loving husband. This is in Addy’s stepfather Matt. He would be there, right by Melissa’s side as everything was developing, even attending every doctor appointment in which he was able. He cried and hugged Melissa because he truly loved Addy. Matt did his best to be the rock of the family even though the diagnosis had been devastating to him as well. He and Addy had a genuine bond and knowing her plight was very traumatic. This was not something that Matt had in mind as he took on this role of stepfather but he willingly accepted the part he had to play.  A stand out step-dad! Melissa shared an exchange between her and Matt that tells us a lot about his character, “I told him, I understood if he wanted to leave because this was not what he signed up for. He looked at me like I was crazy and said he wasn’t going anywhere ... It takes a special person to help raise someone else’s kids. It takes the biggest and kindest heart in the world to raise someone else's kid with special needs.” With Matt, there was no “your kids” and “my kids”. There were only “our kids” and Addy was, and is, a very special part of that group. There would be some immediate disappointments as Melissa searched for a way to help her daughter battle Batten. There would also be some things that would provide hope for the future. The doctors at Lurie hospital had provided Melissa with a few names of other doctors that could help with Addy. Doctors which had experience with Batten and who could give Melissa more guidance about the disease. In addition, Melissa would begin to tell their story over social media and would reach out to others in the Batten community. This would lead to a nurse from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago reaching out to Melissa. Well-known to many in the Batten community is Dr. Berry-Kravis and this nurse was associated with that doctor. They wanted to know if Melissa was interested in meeting them in Chicago and of course, she would say yes. While they were there, the doctor had some testing done on Addy. Also well-known in the Batten community is a greatly respected physician named Dr. Emily of Nationwide Hospital in Ohio. Dr. Berry-Kravis had been in contact with her and would talk to Dr. Emily about Addy. At that time, Dr. Emily was involved with the only clinical trial available for kids with CLN3 Batten disease. Understandably, Melissa really wanted her to meet Addy. This was great news and they would definitely make the trip! It would be a long day and as one would expect, Dr. Emily and her team would love Addy. Melissa stated that she would be run through an entire gamut of testing for the UBDRS (Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale). This was done, in large part, to determine how well Addy would do in gene replacement therapy. They had finished the 1st round of the trial and would soon be starting the next. The timing of all of this was not the best as this was taking place in January of 2020. The pandemic that would shut down the world would also interfere with Addy’s ability to enter the trial. This is because getting a vaccine for Covid-19 would become the priority for the pharmaceutical industry. The trial was put on hold. Can we imagine the level of disappointment as this took place. Melissa would continue to reach out to the doctors at Rush and Nationwide, as well as, searching on her own for new trials. To this day, she has hope that Addy will enter a clinical trial soon. If there is a trial to be found, Melissa will find it. Thankfully, the bulk of the burden related to the pandemic seems to be behind us now. Family life can be difficult for a variety of reasons as we travel along life’s way. For a family that has a child with something like Batten disease, the challenges are so much greater. Life doesn’t stop for Batten. It just piles more of a burden on those who face the struggle that happens daily. I’ve been repetitive in stating that having a child that has something like Batten disease produces a type of love that is like none other. A bond develops with that child that is so incredibly strong. For Melissa and those that love Addy, her fight is their fight and they willingly do what is necessary. There will be good days, as well as bad days for sure. Everyone has to slow things down a bit because of the loss of Addy’s eyesight and extra equipment has to be brought on family outings. Also, people have to describe to Addy the things that she no longer can see. Think of her frustrations as she can no longer do all the things she once could. Addy is learning to be as self-sufficient as possible but she needs help with many different tasks. Melissa says that there are mood swings that have to be dealt with and they are careful to choose their battles on any given day. More than with any other person, Addy takes her frustrations out on her mom. Melissa explains, “I am her safe place and I get that she needs to vent and get it out but it is so hard to watch my sweet, cuddly, and kind baby turn into a yelling tantrum mess.” The relationship that Melissa had sought with her daughter has been greatly complicated by Batten. She herself has experienced feelings of anger and sadness. A Family Battle  Talk about a special family. There have been times of confusion and the heartbreak is constant. All of this is, no doubt, mingled with the intense kind of love that we have talked about. It was difficult when Melissa had to explain things to Addy’s older brother Matthew. He had always been Addy’s protector as her brother and as an older sibling. Matthew and Addy had been through the divorce of their parents together and they came into a new blended family together as well. They were each other’s constant while many changes had taken place. To know what the future would hold for his sister would also be devastating to Matthew as the details of Addy’s condition were explained to him. Melissa explained that young Matthew is a worrier by nature and she wanted to keep him safe from knowing everything at first. As things would progress and Matthew’s questions became more frequent, it became necessary to give him the complete truth. A question like, “will Addy die someday” had to be answered. Melissa talks about how she felt as she answered Matthew’s question, “My heart literally ripped in pieces when I had to tell him yes. He then asked me when and I said I couldn’t know for sure but most of the time it was in a person’s 20s or 30s. His face said it all and I felt like the worst mom in the world because I could not take this heartbreak away from my kids.” Matthew has days when he is frustrated and angry with Addy and on other days, he tries to be helpful. Melissa explains that Matthew has all of the issues with Addy going on in addition to those associated with being a teenager. Really, he is doing the best that a young fellow his age could be expected to and he does love his little sister to the fullest extent. Addy also has the love of her two step-brothers. They are Jimmy who is 10, and Ladon who is 9. For them, understanding the changes in Addy may be more difficult because their time is split between two households. That being their dad’s and their mom’s. In addition to the concern that they have for their step-sister is the challenge of showing her patience and understanding. All in all, Melissa thinks that the greater challenge lies with Matthew and she explains that here, “I think it must be hardest for Matthew because he is the only person in her life that is always with her. He wants so bad to ‘fix her’ and he can’t. He told me once ‘Mom I just want my sister back”’ It has been very recent that Addy has begun to have issues with seizures. These do not necessarily occur at the onset of Juvenile Batten disease and Addy would experience her first one at age 8. Every parent is alarmed and even terrified by the occurrence of seizures. This is another reminder that they are facing a monster with Batten. Addy’s family now has to make sure that she is never left alone and every person that is with her needs to be educated on her condition. One of the sweetest things to observe is the bond that has taken place between Addy and her new service dog. Addy adores him and he is already having an impact on her life. His name is Brody and he is amazing with Addy! Addy’s demeanor changes instantly when he is around her. Can you imagine what it is like to have the affection of man’s best friend when you are a young girl in Addy’s situation? Melissa says that the interaction between the two of them is something to watch. I have no doubt that Brody is a huge help and comfort to Miss Addy. It is so hard to find a silver lining in a situation like what this young lady is facing. I’m not looking for one. I do know that there are happy times along with the sad. There are sweet things that happen with Addy and there are precious memories being made. The connection between Brody and his girl would provide some of those but there are many sweet interactions that take place between Addy and her family. Matt is a great step-dad for sure. One case in point is when a daughter-daddy dance that Addy was looking forward to got cancelled. Stupid Covid-19 was again to blame. She was so disappointed and what did Matt do? He had both he and Addy dress for the event anyway and … they danced! Matt and Melissa both know the value of time spent together. Recently, the family packed their bags and headed to muggy buggy (and also the great state of) Florida to go to Disney World. Everyone had a great time, albeit while being a little on the sweaty side. More memories for a lifetime spent together. Addy is doing the very best that she can. She is no doubt an amazing young lady. She receives so much encouragement to do her very best from everyone that loves her and she continues to grow as a person. Addy is able to read and type Braille, which she does at lighting speed. Her education continues!  Addy, you are a very special young lady! Just as we have talked about, and as one might guess, there are good days and bad days at the Becker house. Melissa explains, “Somedays I feel like we can conquer the world and we are going to kick Batten’s ass. Other days I feel defeated, sad, and exhausted. I feel mad for what this has taken away from Addy and our whole family but I will do anything for my girl so we keep pushing on everyday.” Melissa’s expectations for the future have changed but she still has hope for a future with Addy. Oh, that success in achieving the advent of a successful trial and treatment would come. There is hope and encouragement by what has already taken place. CLN3, Juvenile Batten disease, is one of the more common variants of Batten. We need a cure for every young warrior that battles Batten but so many that battle have the CLN3 variant. What a difference it will make when researchers find the success that they are working towards. Just as we talked about in general as we began this story, Melissa had things that she looked forward to as she held Addy for the first time, “When I had a baby girl I dreamed of shopping and coffee dates. I dreamed of recitals and dances. I dreamed of getting our nails done and doing her hair. I dreamed of long conversations about friends, boys, and life. We still do some of these things. It has been hard to watch some of these slip away.” For example, Addy had to quit her involvement in dance and that was so heartbreaking for both her and Melissa.
Things as simple as getting a driver’s license or as important as marriage … they are either in question, or not possible. What is certain though is that Addy’s life will affect the members of her family, and many others, like no one else’s can. Life is different for this family but in many ways, the love that is shared is deeper than could be experienced otherwise. The bond developed with someone like Addy could never be broken because it is stronger than most any other. Love mixed with heartache creates the type of love that we have talked about. This creates a will to fight alongside the one that battles. Most parents will tell you that they would trade places with the one their Batten warrior if they could. Most would give anything. Melissa shares more of her feelings, “I will fight with every ounce of my being for a miracle for my baby girl. The challenges of this disease are something I would not wish upon my worst enemy. To know what the future holds and not be able to change it for a child that does not deserve it is the worst kind of torture I can imagine. To watch your own baby slowly slip away and regress and lose things is pain that is indescribable.” Again, I wouldn’t try to place a silver lining in Addy’s story but there are many sweet details to take notice of. I am just an outside observer and not someone who has experienced the Batten journey first hand. Sometimes, I do think that you can see certain things from the outside looking in. Those things that may not be visible while in the middle of the fight. These families and especially these children and young people .... well, there is something special there. The level of sacrifice and commitment needed from the family members. The strain on a person’s schedule, the sleepless nights, and endless appointments. Whatever is needed is given. So sacrificial is the love that is poured out on the ones that battle. Then there are these kids and their resilient nature. They always bounce back from adversity for as long as they are able. In this and in other ways, they teach us how to handle adversity. So often, they just melt us on the inside. They teach us what the things are that are important in life. It’s not the material items that we own! Also, these young warriors help build a type of character in people that is not possessed by everyone. I could go on but I think you know what I am talking about. This is another very special family with a story to tell. It’s always a privilege to be able to take part in doing so. Thanks to Melissa for her patience in working with me and for allowing me the opportunity. Addy, you are another special one and a little beauty as well. I am so glad that we could do your story. Thanks everyone for taking the time! ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  Such an amazing pic! “This year will be another fight for Charlie to live. I will never be able to put into words what transplant is like. Somehow there is still beauty in this journey. We appreciate life more … God has once again paved our way to one of the BEST hospitals for MPS1. He has opened doors and windows that are normally closed to a struggling single Mother. I feel peace and his presence.” ~Amanda Sinard~ Charlie’s Mom and Strong Advocate I’ve been at this for a while now. “At what?”, you may ask. That would be working with families in telling their stories. That is the stories that tell others about their experience of helping their child to battle a rare disease. The stories include the heartache that comes with the realization that they are on a journey as a family. Parents receive the news that their child will battle something that they very likely, had no knowledge of. That is after a search for answers takes place when the symptoms begin to appear. There are those occasions in which a family’s health history can help one to draw a conclusion. Most often though, the diagnosis comes as news that brings shock and complete despair. Life will be very different than what was expected. Challenges will be faced that were yet unseen. Children are by nature, resilient in their ways as life’s lessons are learned. This is clearly seen on a much larger scale when a child battles something like a disease that is rare and fatal. The things that they show us most certainly caught my attention as I began to write. I often use words that are more than just catch phrases to describe what I see. I tell people that I believe that the kids that battle are the most special and the most amazing. They have a way of changing people’s lives and their way of thinking. They often bring people back to thinking about the things that are important in life. They just have a way about them that is not easy to put into words. Our lives were changed drastically when my wife gave birth to our third son who we named Benjamin. Benjamin was born with special needs. So far, I have gotten away with drawing a comparison. That is between being the parent of a child with special needs and those parents who experience the reality of having a child with a disease that is rare and fatal. I always say that while we have experienced our own set of difficulties along the way .... they pale in comparison to what a family with a rare child will go through. My wife had made me aware of her family history at the very beginning of our relationship. That history brought with it the reality that having a child affected genetically was a possibility. As time passed, the possibility of something like that happening slipped from our thinking. After all, my wife had already given birth to two healthy babies. Our boys were growing and our desire was to try for a little girl. I often like to say that we wanted a girl but we got a Benjamin instead. Are we sorry that this happened? I mean has this kid been a burden? Again, there have been challenges along the way but we absolutely love our Benjamin. We feel blessed for having him all these years. You have to know him personally to know what a truly special individual he is. Has having a child with special needs affected us financially and otherwise? Absolutely! When it comes to my wife’s family history ….. do we regret the fact that we didn’t consider the genetic predisposition that existed more fully?  Benjamin’s life was meant to be part of ours. He knows that he is loved and we have never regretted having him. He knows that he is special and having him with us has been a special experience. I am a father to three boys. Rather, three grown men. Being Benjamin’s daddy is part of who I am as a person. He is a big part of my identity. I always like to say that the love that I have for my son with special needs has lent itself to the love that I have for those that battle. This is absolutely true. Following kids that battle rare diseases has changed my life and my way of thinking. The sensitivity that I now have for these very special warriors began once I was made aware of the journey of one little girl. I have always loved kids with special needs because of Benjamin. Falling for the kids that battle rare diseases was just a natural fit for me. They truly do melt a person's heart when we choose to take notice. My life is richer because of the experience of following these children and I can’t help but to share the experience with others. I do that through my writing about them. When the time was right, being Benjamin’s daddy and moving through a trail of events opened up a different kind of world. This experience was meant for me. I have a mom in mind as I write this. She also feels that it was meant for her to experience much of what she is going through as a parent. Her daughter’s life did not come about by accident. Rather, both mom and daughter were meant to experience the kind of love that exists between them. The following is my attempt to tell their story, even if only in part. Searching for a Beginning  Mandy's HS Senior pic. So many girls would have been thinking about being a mom as they considered their plans for the future. At that time in a girls life, Amanda’s plans didn’t include parenting. She had been through more than most girls her age and therefore, she had never given having her own family much thought. Even so, Mandy Sinard had been career minded as she thought about her future. Certainly, somewhere in the recesses of her mind was the knowledge that she may be a mom someday. However, she was just getting started in life as she stepped out on her own at age 18. These days, Mandy is the proud mother of two children and much has taken place between then and now. Even from a distance away and in a short period of time, I have grown in my appreciation for Mandy as a person. She has exhibited the character traits that are possessed by the moms that have been a part of the stories that I have written. She has shown strength and determination, in part because that was the only choice that she had. In everything, she has exhibited a type of love that we have seen in other rare parents. A love that is profound and undying is being revealed through her actions. Mandy’s view of herself may be considered a little more reserved or even self-deprecating. In a chat that we had one day, she referred to herself as kind of ditzy and even a mess. She explained, “I'm that friend who always locks my keys in the car and forgets something at the store. I don’t buy cards or gift bags for gifts. I forget dates and I'm always late .... Everyday that I live is unplanned and late. I'm just a mess lol. Somehow I keep up. I've always been this way. I struggled with it in my early 30s but now I realize it's just who I am.” My opinion concerning Mandy would be a little more charitable. I see her as being a person that is strong in character. Her determination has been forged out of difficult circumstances and a will to survive what life has brought her way. She knows that she is not perfect and that she has made mistakes (we all have), but she doesn’t let that get her down. Mandy reveals through her own words that she has faith in God that is growing. She believes that what she has been through is being used to carry out his plan for her. Mandy is a person who possesses a good measure of humility and proper self-perception. She can laugh at herself a bit while doing what needs to get done in a responsible way. I’ve jumped ahead a little bit in order to set the stage ... so to speak. This story starts with Mandy’s beginning as an adult and it takes us through an experience that she never could have expected. Let’s get started. Just like with most stories about a family, this one begins with two people that meet and fall in love. That’s what would happen with Mandy as she set out in the beginning and met a man named Tony. The two of them would meet in south Georgia. Mandy was working at the time and was waiting to begin college. A person’s plans are often altered when they meet someone unexpectedly and that was what would take place. The two of them would begin what would be an almost ten year relationship. They would never marry but as Mandy would explain, they just “felt married” after being together for so long.  Little Hayden and his mama! They had a good life together but unfortunately, Mandy and Tony’s relationship would break down. They would eventually grow apart and separate. She still refers to her former boyfriend as being a good man and somebody that she will always love. As we have already stated, Mandy’s plans had not included children but at age 20, she had become pregnant unexpectedly. Mandy’s pregnancy would progress normally as the big day would take place. Again, her plans would be altered by the fact that she would soon be a mom. The experience of carrying your first child would change almost any woman and this event would be a life changing event for Mandy. She would give birth to her first child, a baby boy, in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on the 29th of August in 2002. Tony and Mandy would name their newborn son Hayden Paul. He was born a perfect little man, having all of his fingers and toes and being covered in brand new baby skin. Even with not being part of the plan initially, this baby boy would be so loved from the very beginning. The occasion of his birth was one that brought great joy to the entire family. Hayden would be the first grandchild and the only one for 7 years. Mandy shares a little about her newfound joy of parenting with this, “I was so happy to be a mom and I didn't let anyone really hold him, lol. He didn't stay with my mom until he was a year old! I redid his nursery every time his dad got a pay raise. He actually had learning centers in his room. He was doted on and loved so much.” Mandy would refer to Hayden as being rotten at times. I think that means that the little guy was a bit of a strong willed child. She would go on to say, “He was the worst when he was 3 years old. That's why we didn't have more…”. The challenges with Hayden were accepted as necessary. One thing Mandy would discover through the experience of having Hayden in her life was that she LOVED being a mom. Even though the relationship between Tony and Mandy had broken down, something good had come of it. That would be having Hayden in Mandy’s life. The amount of love that she has for her son is great and it is one that will never fail. In the following, Mandy describes what she sees in Hayden, “My son is absolutely dreamy. He's everything you want in a child. He has the smarts and athletic abilities. He is just a dream come true.” There would be a source of heartbreak connected to Hayden as life continued. When two people part company and have children, this presents a problem. Which house does the child go to? At age 13, Hayden chose to go live with his dad and this left Mandy all alone. As she would describe that experience, Mandy would state that she found herself being “completely lost in life”. As she would put things to me, Mandy dealt with her loss by throwing herself into her work and into attending college where she studied for a career in social work. She rarely dated, and instead devoted herself to her career goals. Things would change in 2015 when she met a man named Scott. Again, Mandy found a man that she loved and the two of them would be engaged to be married. However, the relationship would last only three years. People don’t always understand that the number one quality in a long term relationship is more commitment than it is love. Mandy stated her feelings about Scott saying that she felt that Scott loved her as a person but that he wasn’t in love with her. So again, after three years, Mandy found herself being alone. And again, she found solace in her work as she settled into a position as a medical receptionist. In fact, she worked long hours, oftentimes working for others as they went on vacation. Having this kind of schedule helped Mandy to keep her sanity and to find sleep at night. Once again, being broken hearted, the furthest thing from her thinking was getting involved in another relationship. She just wanted to work and sort out her life for a while. However, like having her son Hayden, the events that would follow would have a profound impact on Mandy’s life and the course that it would take. Let me pause to emphasize the fact that things don’t always go according to our plans. Sometimes, circumstances that we could not foresee take place and they have a profound impact on our lives. Let me tell you that this writer will have been married to the same girl for 40 years this December. That kind of thing takes place less and less as time continues. For a lot of people, it takes a while to find that person who will be their life partner and so, things often happen along the way. A Life Changed  Meant to be! Sometimes, the things that happen are those that we would consider to be mistakes. However, even those things can be used to shape our lives and who we are as a person. These are the things that often have a profound effect on us. With this in mind, let me tell you that Mandy would meet a man over social media and she would begin a relationship with him. They both had mutual friends and made the connection because of that. Again, Mandy had no intention of starting another relationship. She was still heartbroken over the fact that her engagement had been broken. On top of this, she had plans to move North in order to be closer to her son Hayden. It just happened that this person was relentless in pursuing her and he wanted to date Mandy. He seemed to be nice and at the time, the situation felt right. Mandy never saw a future with him but also never sized him up for what he was. She blames herself to this day, feeling that she should have known better. They would date for four months and you may be able to guess what would happen next. Mandy would conceive and would be expecting a child. It would soon follow that her baby’s father would choose to be absent from the situation. From the very start to be exact. Mandy would be alone and pregnant. She was embarrassed and would find herself being depressed most of the pregnancy. At the time, she had no idea how the life inside of her would impact her existence. She could not know how this child would help her to grow as a person, nor the type of love that she was about to experience. Mandy did what you would expect from her at this point. She worked extremely hard and for long hours. This while planning for the event that would be the birth of her next child. She was on a mission to provide everything that would be needed for a newborn and beyond. She would do this even though there were complications with her own health during this time. Mandy’s blood pressure would be high during her pregnancy and her blood sugar would increase to levels seen by a true diabetic. Being a single parent was not something that Mandy had ever experienced and the thought terrified her. She explained, “I tried to get excited but all I could think of was how hard it was going to be on me.” This was her thinking without knowing just how big of a challenge it was that she was about to face. Sometimes, all that you can do is to put one foot in front of the other and move forward. That is what Mandy did. Even with the challenges that normal gestation brings, and the health concerns that existed for Mandy, her pregnancy would move along. She was going to be a mom once again and not just any kind of mom. The doctor would decide that it was best to schedule Mandy for C-section. Her baby was expected to be 13 pounds in weight and delivering a baby that size ... well, would be difficult. The day would finally arrive and that day was Sunday, the 13th of January in 2019. While the new bundle was expected to be a really big baby, Mandy’s brand new baby girl would be born at a weight of 9 pounds. She was 21 inches in length. All of that which Mandy had been through with the pregnancy and the fears that she had dealt with. All of that faded as she looked at her beautiful baby girl for the first time. Mandy shares, “When I held her for the first time I fell in love. Of course ... I knew I would”. Mandy said that the beauty that she had seen in her newborn daughter was at that moment taking her breath away. Her baby had all of her fingers and toes and she had hair down to her shoulders. Dark hair! This little girl’s existence in this young mom’s life was meant to be. All at once a bond that had existed before her daughter was born was now as strong as any bond could be. Mandy would name her daughter Charlie Grace. She was beautiful from the very start but there were also some things that were noticed by Mandy. As Mandy stated to me, “...something was wrong with my baby. I knew right away ... I saw Charlie's features but wanted to deny it so badly. Her eyes looked like that of an old soul.” Mandy could see cloudiness in her baby’s eyes. Holding her, she noticed that Charlie Grace had a small bump on her spine and her little hands were different as well. They were curved. In the depth of her heart, Mandy knew something. The doctors would monitor Charlie as they normally would a newborn but there was also a concern over Charlie’s heart. The doctors would term it as being heart failure because her tiny heart was not operating as it should. An echo-cardiogram had been ordered and the findings brought some concern. There was a valve on the left side of Charlie’s heart that was leaking. Call it a mother’s intuition, or whatever you will, but Mandy had been concerned. She believed that there might be a problem with her baby’s heart as she was carrying Charlie in the womb. When being checked out by an ultrasound technician, Mandy had been assured that her baby’s heart looked healthy. Sure enough though, Charlie would be diagnosed with unexplained heart failure right after her birth. The change of emotions that must have occurred in Mandy over such a short period of time. All of the concerns over being a single mother faded as her gaze became fixed upon her newborn daughter. But then, there were things that Mandy had noticed and there was the issue with Charlie’s heart. Although the condition was something that needed to be monitored, it was felt that it was something that shouldn’t keep mother and child at the hospital. They were discharged a couple of days later with instructions for things that Mandy needed to keep an eye on. Things like watching Charlie’s breathing and keeping watch for the presence of blue coloring in her lips. Charlie had looked great upon leaving but her condition had worsened during a two day follow-up. She was prescribed two types of medication for her heart and Mandy was informed that Charlie would need to be hospitalized if the situation worsened. Thankfully, Charlie’s condition did not worsen but rather stayed the same and she was able to avoid being hospitalized. Never once during Mandy’s pregnancy had she considered the fact that this baby could be affected by anything that was related to her family’s medical history. What about the things that Mandy had seen as she had first looked at her newborn daughter? Had the doctors also seen something in Charlie’s physical features? Part of Charlie Grace’s regular newborn screening had been to test her for a condition called MPS. This is the abbreviation for the clinical name of Mucopolysaccharidosis. Why was this testing of significance? Mandy had never considered that MPS could be a factor as she carried her unborn daughter. Most people would not even know what MPS is as it is considered to be a rare disease. Mandy did have some knowledge of it because there had been a person in her family history with the disorder. Not just any person but her Aunt Christine. In fact, Amanda had been named Amanda Chrisitne after her mom’s sister. Unknown, at the time, was that Aunt Christen had MPS1, also known as Hurler Syndrome. Christine died at the age of only 6 years old in 1971 of what was only known as a storage disease. Amanda spoke of her Aunt Christine to her friends when she was young and she will tell you that this now haunts her at times. With Charlie, it is as if Christine “was back and looking at another chance at life”. With this, I may be getting a little ahead of myself as I write the story. Charlie’s newborn screening had come back showing that further testing needed to take place in regards to the presence of MPS. Mandy would obviously be concerned. This as she took Charlie to the hospital in order to have the retest performed. Mandy’s hope was that Charlie Grace would be found to just be a carrier of the defective gene that causes the disease. So Very Rare  SO very special! Hurler Syndrome appears in one of every 100,000 births. Rarely, will it be found in the same family twice. This is because both parents have to be carriers of the same defective gene. Even so, deep down inside, Mandy had the feeling that Charlie would test positive for Hurler Syndrome. She explains, “Once I got the call that Charlie would need to retest, we knew. I saw her physical features and I was in a fog.” Mandy would take Charlie for the retest, all the while doing so with the great concern. Charlie Grace was her newborn baby girl and the bond that existed between the two of them was already like none other. Charlie was an exceptionally beautiful little girl from the start. The physical characteristics of Hurler Syndrome would not be able to hide that fact. For Mandy, the anxiety over being a single parent was about to grow greater with the news that her little girl would battle for her life. The stuff that Mandy was made of would soon be tested but first, the results of the testing would come. Mandy explains her reaction and the resolve that would follow as she received confirmation, “I fell to the floor when the results came. I googled and thought she would be the worst case. I just didn't know what to think. I clinged to hope and focused on saving her.” Remember, Mandy’s Aunt Christine lived to only the age of 6 years. The news that Charlie Grace had Hurler Syndrome came when she was just 3 weeks old. Mandy cried for her newborn daughter but her resolve to help her baby was instantaneous. Charlie Grace was hers and Mandy had to do everything in her power to save her. What was Charlie facing?  A mother's love! As mentioned earlier, Hurler Syndrome is part of a larger group of disorders that fall under the clinical name Mucopolysaccharidoses or MPS. Hurler Syndrome (MPS1) also fits into an even larger category of diseases that are called Lysosomal Storage Disorders (or Storage Disorders). I’ll keep things at my level of understanding for the sake of explanation. Lysosomes are a part of the cells in the human body that contain digestive enzymes. These enzymes are used to break down wastes within the cells of our bodies. If anyone of these essential enzymes is missing, the wastes that the enzyme is responsible for breaking down are instead stored in the cells. The science is fascinating but the results of this deficiency is devastating to the outcome of a person’s life. The end result is that these wastes are built up in the body and that cause severe damage over time. In little Charlie and in the cases of other children, having Hurler can affect the brain, the heart, and other internal organs. Cognitive decline will be something that is very noticeable to the loved ones of these children. The sooner intervention takes place on behalf of the child, the better the chance that abilities in this area will be maintained. Mandy knew what the future held and she had to save her daughter. Everything that she was about to go through on behalf of her daughter was about to be another source of character building. This was in addition to the life struggles that she had already faced. The title of this story, Not By Accident, really originates from Mandy’s beliefs concerning the advent of her daughter’s life. All of the stories that I have written are about kids that battle rare disease. Even though there could be many known cases of each type of rare disease, the numbers are small when compared to the total number of children in the population. Did you catch the number, as stated earlier, for Charlie’s type of Hurler Syndrome? One case in every 100,000 births. That’s rare enough but this is even more so in Charlie’s case. Rarely will the disorder be duplicated in a family like Mandy’s. The disease skipped a generation because both parents will have to be carriers of the same defective gene for it to show up more than once (This, although one set of parents can have more that one child with Hurler Syndrome). In Mandy’s case, she could be a carrier of the defective mutation of the gene that causes Hurler Syndrome but she would have to meet someone that carried the same exact genetic sequence. How rare of an occurrence would that be. Charlie’s father entered Mandy’s life and was gone a few months later. Mandy had no intention of being involved in a relationship at that time but she was pursued by Charlie’s father. She was in the process of healing from a failed engagement and being involved with another man was the furthest thing from her mind. Mandy’s belief that Charlie’s life was meant to be has some merit to it. In fact, one could make a case that this little girl’s life is by design. Mandy stated, “I actually believe that I met Scott so I could meet Charlie's Dad. I would have never had mutual friends had I not met Scott years before. He (Charlie’s father) was from a small town I had never even heard of. It was over on the other side of the mountain between us.” Mandy and her fiance’ had tried to have a child together but they were never able to. Mandy continues, “It just wasn't meant to be but Charlie’s father and I share the exact same genetic sequence of the defective gene for MPS. Charlie is just so rare, there's no way to deny she is meant to be .... It all makes perfect sense to me.” The purposes for this little girl being brought into this young mom’s life is now being played out. In fact, much has taken place already. Whatever course Mandy’s life will take, Charlie’s life will be an integral part of it. This story was meant to take place. Again though, I may be getting ahead of myself as I write so let’s continue. Knowing that her Aunt Christine had lived to only the age of 6 years, Mandy could only think the worst but she was not about to let that stop her from taking action. Finances, or lack thereof, would not get in this mom’s way as she flew into action. Feeling deep down that her baby girl may be affected, Mandy did everything that you could to have the retest for MPS moved along. She shares what she did and also what the end result was, “I pushed the timing of the results by harassing them and soon found myself on the floor screaming.” The testing would, in fact, reveal that Charlie had MPS1, Hurler Syndrome. Prepared for what the truth may be, Mandy was still completely distraught over the news. There had been that glimmer of hope that the test results would come back negative. Any hope for that was now gone. Stories about rare families will usually contain similar responses and they will reveal a type of transformation that takes place. What will begin with complete despondency over the news received will end with the will to move forward and to fight the battle that has been waged. Mandy would soon wake one morning to see a comment on her Facebook page that would energize her and cause her to take further action. As stated by Mandy, “It was a fellow Hurler Mom named Jill. She said, ‘Lay on the floor crying, screaming and lay there for a week if you have to but you then get back up and you fight for your daughter.’ That's all it took. I washed my face, made a cup of coffee and I called…” Along the way, Mandy would go into full research mode, learning about the disease and also about the methods of treatment. She wanted to learn everything that she could. Her baby was only weeks old at the time of the diagnosis. Mandy would soon learn what a nightmare it can be to deal with the medical community and insurance companies as well when you have a child with special needs. Immediately, she had found the people that make up the Hurler Syndrome community over social media. Mandy would learn about things such as Enzyme Replacement Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplants. The Battle for Charlie Grace  Precious warrior! The first, being ERT, was a way to deliver a substitute for the enzyme that Charlie’s body was missing. The second procedure, known as BMT, would allow Charlie’s body to produce the missing enzyme on it’s own. Enzyme replacement is used between the diagnosis and the transplant to preserve pre-transplant condition in the child. Mandy said that she was thankful to God for the Hurler moms that would direct her to the top three hospitals in the nation for having Bone Marrow Transplants performed. She would learn that having a BMT performed would be the best thing for Charlie’s longevity and for her quality of life. Through all of this, she had learned that Dr. Davies at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital was her best hope for a successful transplant and that is where she had made the call to. Mandy used these words to describe what happened as she called, “She (the doctor) took my call immediately. I told her that I heard, she was the best and that I needed her to save my daughter. She agreed and it was set. I knew where we had to be and what we had to do.” What would start to take place as they hung up that phone was that the actions of a single mom would begin to reveal something that can’t be denied. The bond between Mandy and Charlie Grace was so strong and the love that was present was like none other. A bond between a mother and her infant daughter … a daughter that had great need. It wouldn’t happen overnight but Mandy’s thought processes began to work out a plan of action. She had to somehow get her daughter to Ohio in order to give her the very best chance for success. This is a situation that had to be worked out by Mandy and it would be! There was much that would need to take place but nothing would stop this mom from accomplishing her objective. Almost right away, Charlie would begin to receive enzyme replacement therapy. She would receive her central line for infusions at 28 days after her birth and she would receive her first treatment a couple of days later. Mandy had been a very busy mommy in that first month. BMT does not normally take place until the child is 3 to 4 months of age and Mandy had used all of her maternity leave. That meant that even with all that was going on, she had to put her scrubs back on and return to work. On top of figuring out how to get to Ohio in the first place, she also had the details of the move and of getting their belongings into storage. Life was chaotic but this life named Charlie Grace now pushed Mandy to give it everything that she had. She shares what life was like with the following, “I worked 12 hours shifts. In between Patients and paperwork, I made and received phone calls. I scheduled Charlie's very first surgery to have a central line placed in order for her to receive enzyme replacement therapy. On my day off I bundled her up and left at dark to travel for ERT and we came home at dark. After 12 hours of exhausting shifts I picked my baby up from my Mom's. I brought her home, washed her, and flushed her central line myself. Then we went to bed and it was a rinse and repeat.” What Mandy had to say next was incredibly moving to me.  Maternal bond and more! This would take place as the long days would end and it was finally time to lay down for a few hours of rest. Mandy speaks about what she had been feeling as she looked at her beautiful little girl, “I’d lay in bed, soaking in her beauty. It was obvious early on that she was not of this world. She was a Mama's girl right away. She cried for me while I worked but she was just fine in my arms though. She was made for me…” and in fact, it was true. Charlie Grace was made specifically for Mandy and she would find a way. Mandy knew that the only way possible for her to get Charlie to Ohio was to leave her job while away. The result would be that she would be at the mercy of medicaid for Charlie’s insurance. As one might expect, it would be doubtful that they would pay for the BMT if it was performed out of state. The entire thing would be a hard fight for Charlie but in the end, Mandy would prevail. Mandy shared, “I didn't have time to keep beating a dead horse. I stayed up super late for nights in a row. All the while working, doing weekly ERT, and trying to figure it all out. How to stay afloat and accept all this craziness.” Mandy would interview two doctors at two different hospitals in Nashville. Both had been given as options by medicaid but Mandy felt the experience for treating her daughter was waiting for them at Children’s Hospital. She had already met with the people who she felt were the best and that took place with the team in Ohio. The entire situation would be a struggle but the outcome would be just what Mandy had hoped for. Her hard work and research would end in Ohio Medicaid paying for Charlie’s medical expenses. The move was on! Mandy said that her family had hoped that she would have the transplant done locally. This was so that they could visit more and also so that she could keep her little apartment. However, the most important consideration in all of this was Charlie and Mandy just felt that her daughter’s chances for survival were better up North. She simply packed her bags and left with Charlie. Mandy’s 2000 Toyota Avalon was stuffed to the gills. Here is more of what she would relay to me, “I couldn't see out of any windows except the one in front of me and the one next to me. It was kind of funny because that's the only view I needed. I had $160 and no idea if our old car "Ruby Girl" would even make it. But no doubt was stopping us” …. “I knew I had to get Charlie to Cincinnati. After two failed attempts to get Tennessee Medicaid on board I packed up our old car that had 300,000 miles on it and headed North. I never looked back. I couldn't. I didn't even know if Charlie would survive transplant” What exactly is it that happens during a bone marrow transplant and why can they be so traumatic? I’m learning as I go along but I’ll try to explain as best that I can with a little help. BMT, or bone marrow transplant, replaces the blood-forming cells (stem cells) that are missing the important protein with healthy ones. With healthy blood-forming cells, the body will break down the waste that was building up (the missing enzyme is now being produced). This keeps the organs from being damaged further. This will also help to better preserve existing cognitive function. The type of BMT that is used for Hurler Syndrome is what is called an Allogeneic transplant. The healthy cells that are transplanted come from a donor, family member or a matching person, or through umbilical cord blood. The first step in the process involves chemo-therapy to kill the unhealthy cells before transplant of the good ones. You can only imagine how this would make a little person feel as a result of receiving chemo-therapy. After this, the healthy cells are given to the child through a central line, or IV catheter. The new cells travel to the inside of the bones in order to begin to make healthy blood cells. The success of this is called engraftment. Things like infection, anemia, and bleeding are complications that can set in. Organ damage is possible as a result of the transplant and the survival rate is in the range of 80 percent. This can leave parents with an uneasy feeling for sure but the process is the best hope for early intervention in slowing the progress of Hurler Syndrome. Most all babies that are otherwise healthy will come through the procedure just fine but there is always that tension created by the what ifs. Whatever the risks were that were involved, Mandy was on a mission. It was to give Charlie the best life possible. Life had become a whirlwind of events and she had no doubt been taxed mentally. Not only was there the stress over the procedure but there was also concern over what would await them once they returned home. Mandy explains both her thinking and the resolve that she had developed, “I couldn't even begin to imagine the hardship after returning home. Coming home from the transplant and needing a place to stay with no money and no job. Even so, I couldn't see past getting to Ohio for this life saving thing anyways. I tucked away that stress because I was on a mission to save Charlie Grace. I didn't care if we lived in a cardboard box as long as she was alive.” A Determined Love  The dreaded luggage! It would be in the Winter of 2019 that Mandy would arrive in Cincinnati with Charlie Grace. They had vey little money and they were in great need. Mandy was so thankful to learn that the Bone Marrow Foundation had provided her and Charlie with the use of an Air Bed and Breakfast while Charlie was undergoing preliminary testing. The goal there was to determine whether or not Charlie’s organs were strong enough to endure the transplant. Think about a single mom with no help and a baby to care for, trying to move luggage around without any help. That is what Mandy would have to do with every move to a new place or facility. With her own words left intact, “I soon found out that getting a baby inside our apartment AND all of our luggage was harder than I thought. For some reason, out of all that I had already had to do for these past months, the luggage was the hardest. I cried ... I finally just cried and cried. That damn luggage was heavy and the damn stairs were so steep.” Sometimes, a good cry is what we need to release our emotions so that we can carry on and that is what Mandy would do. She would carry on, again doing the best that she could in all things. Her and Charlie were now alone in a strange place and there was a lot of adjusting to undergo in these new surroundings. Mandy said that she would find a groove to fall into as she became more familiar with the hospital and while attending each appointment. As a result, she would become more at ease with everything and she would be encouraged by this. Sometimes, it seems that Murphy’s Law will enter most every situation. As Mandy would become more settled inside herself, she would receive a call that would change things. For some reason, the donor for the bone marrow could not complete the process and would back out for personal reasons. How could that be? Mandy would be tested further as a result and the search for a new donor would begin. It would only take a few months to find another donor but by that time, the funding for Charlie and Mandy’s lodging would be due to run out. Again and again, Mandy would have to move the luggage around as they would stay in the both the Ronald McDonald House for a time and then, a Hotel. In her own words, “it was exhausting”. Not being able to stay in one place was really difficult but they did it! Things would change on May the 6th of 2019. They had found that wonderful person who would serve as a donor and as a result, they would be admitted to the hospital. Mandy shared what she was feeling as her and Charlie found their way to their hospital room. I’m sharing it with you here, “I still remember walking into A16 and just standing there ... I had a lump in my throat and tears stung my eyes. I was sad for me. I was sad because I didn't have to be alone but I was. Most families ditch jobs, homes, and sometimes everything to have at least one person there to help. I had none, I was alone. I felt so small. I knew my child was going to death's door and I couldn't promise it wouldn't open and take her …. I didn't know if I would ever leave with her. It was real.” These words were not an indictment against Mandy’s friends or family. They were just not of the means or the ability to accompany her and Mandy had made the decision to have the procedure done out of state. This left her alone to carry everything out after the decision. This was in Charlie’s best interest and Mandy’s actions had become an example of a type of sacrificial love. This is Charlie Grace that we are talking about. Mandy continued, “All that I had fought so hard for. That exact room in that exact city and hospital … I was finally holding my baby in that place and all that I could do was to be sad.” Even with this, Mandy would do what needed to be done. She just put one foot in front of the other each day. Mandy put baby Charlie in the metal hospital crib, covered her daughter and unpacked the luggage. She took great care with each one of Charlie’s outfits, matching each one as she put things away. Mandy shared, “I refolded her matching blankets and I put toys in her crib for her. I set up our little home with hope and lots and lots of prayer.” It hasn’t been that long ago now but even if it had been, Mandy would still remember the date. It was transplant day, May the 24th, of 2019. In everything, the chemo-therapy, the placement of the central line, and the BMT itself, Charlie had and would sail through it all. But not Mandy. The entire experience would be a traumatic one for her. The fear over losing Charlie petrified Mandy. Some might think of this as having been needless worry. It needs to be kept in mind though, some children will not make it through without complications.  So adorable! Mandy shared, “The fear of her dying any minute consumed me. I suffered mentally so badly that I lost all memory. It was short term memory loss but it was very severe.” Thankfully, Charlie would do very well. She would be monitored in her hospital room to make sure she was stable and had come through the BMT without complication. Once all of this took place, it would be time to move again. Dr. Davies and the social worker handling Charlie’s stay came alone to the room. They informed Mandy that it was time for her and Charlie to move to the Ronald McDonald House. Mandy was not at all ready for this. She stated that she was afraid that she would forget how to take care of Charlie and she dreaded having to move the luggage again. Even with this, Mandy did what needed to be done. She packed and moved. The stay at Ronald McDonald would come and go without any major events taking place and it would be time to go home again. The entire experience had been so trying on Mandy but she did what she felt that she had to. While their lodging had been payed for during the stay in Ohio, there were many other needs. These were met by the caring people that followed this part of their journey on Facebook. Mandy would post about a need and people would act graciously by making the purchase. It would be good to make it home again but it would take Mandy a while to adjust to a normal existence again. Mandy explains, “I hung up lists, set alarms, and I walked through the thick fog I seemed to be in. I was happy, my baby was happy, I just had this thick fog around me.” Mandy said that she never knew the day or the time for a while but she would make it through. She was on top of giving Charlie her meds and they continued with Charlie’s therapies. Charlie was always the number one priority and Mandy was always there for her daughter. This, even if it took her a while to return to a normal frame of mind. We would all have to walk a mile in Mandy’s shoes to know why she had been so greatly affected. She guessed that it took about a year for things to stabilize. It was time to start living the life of a parent with a child who has special needs. Charlie still had a disease that was fatal but she now had the best opportunity to live as normal of a life as was possible. That was if the engraftment of the BMT was strong and she started to produce the enzyme that her body had been missing. Engraftment takes place when the blood-forming cells that are received at transplant start to grow and make healthy blood cells. There are always challenges that would come, even if everything would have gone well with Charlie’s post procedure engraftment. However, with increasing concern over the months that would follow, Mandy would watch as the percentage of engraftment dropped from 100%. She would actually keep track of the numbers and would find that the engraftment was dropping by about 4% per month. That would be alarming to any parent but the doctors would assure Mandy that things would level out. They also assure her that Charlie Grace did not need 100% engraftment to produce the enzyme that she needed. A Chance at Life After all that Mandy had been through, and all that she had done to get to Ohio with Charlie, you could certainly understand how she might feel. Her big concern was that the transplant may need to be repeated at some point in the near future. After all that she had been through to have the first one done, going through it all over again was something that would be painful to even think about. Here is some of what Mandy had to say about what she was thinking, “I kept having visions of times that people mentioned a 2nd transplant but never in reference to Charlie. For example a Nurse told me to ‘be thankful you don't have to do this twice …. there are moms who have done this twice!’ And another Hurler mom told me to just be glad I didn't have to do this twice because she had with her daughter.” Mandy kept hearing comments about a 2nd transplant. Even though this didn’t sit well with her, she wondered what the future would hold for her and Charlie. For a year, she would receive news about the decreasing levels of Charlie’s engraftment. This while wanting the assurance that her body was making the enzyme that she needed. Mandy said that she would grow tired of the entire thing and she quit calling for a while. Then it would dawn on her to ask about the level of the enzyme that Charlie’s body was supposed to be making. Mandy wanted this to be tested. Afterall, this was the purpose of the BMT. Charlie’s body needed to start producing the enzyme that had been missing. The one that was responsible for ridding the cells in her body of the wastes that were instead collecting.  Under the weather but battling! Here is how Mandy put it to me, “So I asked for what made complete sense. I wanted her enzyme level tested. She was born without this enzyme and we transplanted her to make this enzyme .... and even though her engraftment was dropping I was assured she was making enough of this enzyme. So, show me!” The response that she would receive was, “Well, we don't test for enzymes after transplant.” In the notes that Mandy had sent me, she included the word “crickets” at the end of the response that she received. I hope that you won’t mind my divergence from the story but this writer has never heard the word crickets used in this way. I looked it up and this is what I found, “Derived from the cinematic metaphor of chirping crickets at night, signaling (otherwise) complete quiet.” In other words, Mandy was completely bewildered by this, leaving her in complete silence. Other than the crickets of course. I’ll keep the rest of what Mandy had to say between her and myself (humor intended). She would, of course, insist on this testing taking place, to which this would be agreed to. There were no guarantees made however, as this was not something that had been done previously. Mandy would experience a myriad of emotions through all of this, with the most prominent one being anger. In the end, the testing would take place and the result would not be favorable. After learning how to read the results of the testing, Mandy would determine that Charlie’s body was only producing about one percent of the level needed. That meant that the Hurler Syndrome was almost completely free to continue to wreak havoc on Charlie’s little body. This would include damage to her internal organs and continued cognitive decline. As previously stated, Mandy would watch month after month as the percentage of the engraftment continued to drop. The end result would be about 32% engraftment with Charlie’s body making next to none of the enzyme that was needed. This was nobody’s fault. The first transplant had gone well and there was nothing unusual that took place. This was just the way that things would turn out. Mandy’s fears about Charlie needing a 2nd transplant would become a reality and that is what she would push for. She would approach Dr. Davies who would not be immediately on board with the idea. After all, what if Charlie’s body began to produce the enzyme in higher levels at a later date? How would her tiny body tolerate having a 2nd transplant performed? There were risks involved. Mandy would request that the doctor consult with another physician who specializes in children with MPS1, to which she agreed. Mandy stated that she would receive a call back a day later. The doctor agreed to do a 2nd transplant. Mandy had gotten what she wanted but could not believe that she was about to put her daughter through the process again. Here is the way that she put her feelings to me as she began to question herself, “Omg, here we go again .... here we go, only this time, it's all on me.” Mandy continued, “I'm the one putting Charlie back at death's door. Is it worth it? Does God not want her engrafted because he wants her to be severe MPS? Because that's the way he made her? Do I put her through this just to make her what I think she should be? There was only one person who could answer these questions and it was God himself. He answered me. He told me he would take care of us again and pave the way and that's exactly what he would do.” Never as a writer do I force my own beliefs or opinions about faith and existence of a personal God on any of the stories that I write. However, these are Mandy’s own words which express her own way of handling what life had brought her way. Mandy felt, deep down inside, that this was the right decision based on what she knew. Her thoughts were continued in another place with the following, “I was terrified and disgusted with myself. I left it scheduled but in my mind I left it open to change my mind. I fell at the feet of Jesus because he knew I would still love Charlie on a ventilator and unable to walk or talk. I would love her even more and I would be happy to have her still. But I knew in my heart she had a real chance at this life. I just knew it.” To some, the decision would simply be what one would call a “no brainer” or a common sense decision. Charlie Grace was still in need of the best possible chance at a near normal existence. The post that had been previously done by Mandy on Facebook would tell all of us the story as things developed.  What wouldn't you do? The first transplant was known to have been ineffective as the year 2020 was moving towards closure. Preparations both mentally and otherwise began to be put in place for Charlie to undergo a 2nd transplant. Mandy stated that she had just followed her mama’s instincts in wanting another transplant performed. She did so even though she was advised otherwise by some in the Hurler community. This was her daughter and she was on a mission to preserve Charlie’s cognitive abilities. She had seen her daughter declining right before her own eyes as Charlie had stopped talking altogether. Others had tried to talk Mandy out of another transplant for Charlie because either way, her condition is terminal. However, Mandy had visualized Charlie enjoying a near normal life, seeing Charlie “older and smart. Playing ball and going to school like other kids.” And still, she realized this would be her last push to do everything possible for her daughter. Whatever the outcome, she would love Charlie and the life that they were given together. She would be at peace, knowing that she had done everything that she could. Mandy looked forward to completing this final step as she used these words, “Now (after completing the 2nd transplant) all I have to do is love her and give her the best life that is full of laughter. It's not that simple but it is. I refuse to be riddled with what ifs. Charlie has MPS1.” Holding Nothing Back  Tiny warrior princess! Again, Mandy continued, “She has Hurler Syndrome and she will be different than healthy kids. But she is Charlie and God gave her to me whole and perfect. Our journey may be difficult and different and unchosen but it's still life. She is alive and we are together. The beauty is unspeakable. These kids are the light. The closest to Jesus that we can become.” Just as it had been before, the way to Cincinnati and Children’s Hospital would be provided for Charlie Grace. Medicaid would again pay for Charlie’s transplant. Again, between the stay at the hospital and also at the Ronald Mcdonald house, their lodging would be free. This time around, Mandy knew the ropes, so to speak and this was familiar territory to her. Again though, she had to quit her job, pack their belongings in storage, and leave their rented dwelling place behind. While there, many Facebook friends would help to provide the needs that they had and the circumstances surrounding the 2nd transplant would be more cut and dry. Mandy would be more confident about the procedure this time, as well as, Charlie’s ability to survive all that she had to go through. Even with all of this in mind, it would still be difficult to watch little Charlie have to endure the process. Our hats off to all of those little cancer warriors out there that have to go through chemo-therapy. Charlie would undergo preliminary testing again and she would receive chemo for the 2nd time in her life. This, even though she wasn’t battling cancer. There was more enzyme replacement therapy to be done and there was the 2nd BMT. All of this taking place inside of a little person like Charlie. There would be many challenging days ahead for this little person and many days when she just wasn’t at her best. The day of the 2nd transplant was January the 21st of this year (2021). Many were the people praying for and supporting this mamma and darling child. Even with her curls gone, Charlie would continue to warm people's hearts. Perhaps even more so! Charlie is amazingly strong and she would recover, providing smiles and misbehaving at times. A true terrible two and her mom was okay with this. That is even with the challenges that Charlie would provide along the way during her recovery. Mandy’s desire would be a 100% engraftment, however, she will except whatever level of engraftment they receive this time around. In Mandy’s own words, “I will accept it even if she doesn't do so well. I just had to know I did what I could. Now I will work really hard with her and be her advocate in school and medically with her bone surgeries. Our fight isn't over but the biggest part is.” Mandy would tell me that it is almost unheard of for a child to go through two different BMTs without having to go to PICU. She said that one day, Dr. Davies shook her head as she stated that Charlie is as tough as Mandy. In turn, Mandy disagreed but the doctor reminded her that in all of this, Mandy had done everything for Charlie by herself. This almost put Mandy in tears.  A love like none other. We talk about how resilient these children are and it is a fact that they are that. They really are models of resilience but what about the parents? It’s amazing what they often put themselves through for their child. Most often, it takes more than most other parents will see as they raise their kids. Sometimes, it takes more than one might think possible. The saying goes something like this, “You never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice.” This is absolutely true. I have to tell you that as a person, we are really impressed with Mandy at this house. She was a little hesitant to give all of us so much detail concerning her life and how Charlie’s life came to be. This is because she feels that mistakes were made along the way. Well, all I can say to Mandy is join the club that we are all part of. We’ve all made mistakes. The way that she has grown as a person and the strength of character she has shown through all of this is exemplary. When the going gets tough, call Mandy. The way that she models her faith and her humility while also being real is something that both me and my wife took notice of. I mentioned at the beginning that I often joke that we wanted a girl but that we got a Benjamin instead as we were expecting our third child. This is actually true though. We wouldn’t have it any other way now but the fact is that we wanted a girl at the time. Benjamin who is now 31 is the youngest but our oldest son Daniel is just a year younger than Mandy.
Where am I going with this? Simply put, if we were to have had a girl, we would have been proud to have someone like Mandy for our daughter. This is also true. What about Charlie Grace? We love kids with special needs at this house. Also, we are at the age where people are most often grandparents. That will likely not happen for us. Speaking for myself, although my wife would agree, I absolutely love the kids that battle. Charlie is just a little doll baby. She is so full of personality and sass. A definite ray of sunshine. She can speak volumes without saying a word. Charlie Grace will always be the center of attention in whatever place she inhabits for as long as she is on this earth. When I say that these kids are the most special and the most amazing, it’s not just a simple catch phrase. It is the absolute truth and I am talking about kids like Charlie Grace. I look forward to following this little lady through every twist and turn for as long as she continues on her journey. She is just so special! I agree with Mandy. Charlie’s life is not by accident, the two of them were meant to be together. The things that Charlie will teach her mom will go hand in hand with that which Mandy will teach her daughter. Whatever means of help that there will be for Charlie, Mandy will find it! Mandy did a Facebook post as it was time to leave the Ronald McDonald House for the final time and I knew that there would be food for thought inside of it. Here is what she would say at the beginning of the post, “For 2-1/2 years I have fought for two transplants that will enable her to make the enzyme that she was born missing. I guess because I'm a single mom and getting this done was very challenging...” Mandy continued, “I have been so focused on getting her 100% engrafted with new bone marrow that I could put this truth away. I knew I would have to face the truth about MPS1 eventually.” In other words, this mom has done everything that is possible to help her little girl but the truth remains, Charlie is still in for a battle with MPS1. But there is one other thing. Simply put, Charlie Grace won’t be alone in her fight and there are special times ahead for mom and daughter. Mandy will do everything in her power to give Charlie the best and funnest life possible. Dance class, gymnastics, and softball. Why not think big? She states further down in her post, “Now we go home ... I will love her and teach her all I can. I will urge her to jump in mud puddles with her best dress on. I will not stress over small things. I will embrace and celebrate and love everything about her.” Left with the truth that she cannot completely save her daughter from a disease that is fatal, Mandy has to be satisfied with the fact that she has done everything that is possible. A love that is profound and undying. I often repeat myself in order to place emphasis on the things that are true. Mandy has demonstrated this type of love and that cannot be denied. Yes, there is beauty in this journey. That has been clearly demonstrated and this will continue to be seen. This story has not taken place by accident. It’s on display for all of us to see. That is if we pay attention. ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  What an amazing pic! “I couldn’t hear anything else after I heard the word “terminal”. No parent should ever hear that their child is dying! All my hopes and dreams for my little 4 year old were just crushed .... My heart broke in a million pieces that day. I remember running to the bathroom where I fell to my knees and just cried, drowning in my tears.” ~Jenn Fuller~ Victoria’s Mom and Advocate There is no way that I can know personally, however, I try my best to understand. The word empathy comes to mind. A true Empath is a highly sensitive individual. These people have an ability to sense what people around them are thinking and feeling. It’s like they are able to feel what others are experiencing. I don’t know that I fit into that category completely. It’s so easy to be self absorbed and to fail to be concerned about others. Yes, I do try my best to understand and this all started to take place after I first became aware. Aware of what you may ask? Well, it happens to be children that battle rare diseases. Children are by nature beautiful. Their little faces are yet unmarked by the worries and concerns that come our way as we travel through life. They look so innocent in their ways, even if a bit mischievous in their actions. Our hearts ache when we know that a child is battling through something that should be reserved for those of us that are aged. Things like dementia should not impact someone that is just starting their young life. Most people pay no attention to something like this unless it impacts their family directly. Most are not even aware when it comes to something like rare and fatal childhood disease. Sure, somewhere in the recesses of their minds is the reality that things like this exist. However, these types of things only have an impact on those that have to deal with them directly. That is unless people take the time to look beyond themselves and their own surroundings. And still, one needs to first, be made aware. My writing first began when I was made aware concerning a little girl who battled something called Batten disease. Following her life and legacy was an eye opener and it changed my life. The plight of these kids, as well as their parents and siblings, consumes my thinking. There are other subjects that I could write about, but no others can I write about with the same amount of passion. I have shared with people repeatedly concerning my own son who has special needs. For a long time now, I have had a sensitivity towards these special people. This is due to the connection that I feel with Benjamin. When the time was right, and this little girl with Batten came into my life, my world was changed and I began to write. What gets to me is the details. It is so very true that greater awareness towards rare diseases is important and that is part of the reason for the effort that I put forth. However, what really drives me is that I feel that I have this opportunity to tell others concerning the details. That is the details that tell others about the love that is poured out towards these children and the impact that they have on people. Obviously, there is always a certain amount of sacrifice involved in caring for those that can’t care for themselves. The task can bring with it a multitude of frustrations. My own son has taught me much about service and sacrificial love. However, what I see in parents of kids with rare and fatal diseases extends beyond anything that we have been through as a family.  We knew almost right away that we had a special case on our hands when it came to Benjamin. We also knew why that was. Things are different for the parents of a child with a disease that is rare and fatal. In their case, receiving the diagnosis for their child blindsides them. Who would ever consider the fact that something like that could happen? Who would have ever thought that a set of symptoms that had developed were part of something so terrible? The life that was once known, or imagined, is changed forever. All of a sudden, the joy of parenting becomes mixed with grief and heartache. The grieving process begins for someone that is still present and that someone is an innocent child. Loneliness and confusion are part of the initial shock but those things will soon give way. This happens as the family learns, they are not alone. Rather, they are part of a community that they previously knew nothing about. That community is there to lend its support and they become like family to the ones who now share in the experience. It seems like such a whirlwind of events has taken place as the puzzle pieces have worked their way together. That couple that once fell in love is now the parents of a child with a rare set of special needs. Life is different but it is still one that is worth living. Your purpose now, involves helping one that battles. That one is a most special son or daughter. There is now an opportunity to love in a way that was previously unknown. We are heading towards another story where a transformation of sorts takes place. Grief and despondency ultimately give way to a renewed strength and resolve to do the very best that can be done. This, in order to provide a type of love that is undying. This in turn, creates a bond that is stronger than any other. Things will be seen that are not experienced by most everyone and that is what makes these families so special. Difficulties that are “normal” are expected, but ones that are not become part of a life together in the case of these families. These stories are similar in many respects, although many of the details can be different. It is almost always the case that it all begins as two people meet and fall in love. The attraction is physical in the beginning. As time continues, thoughts of a future together start to enter a couple’s thinking. Sometimes, two people meet and they know right away. The person that they are with was meant specifically for them. Almost always, a life together involves raising a family. This next story is about a young couple from the great state of Florida. They met one another in the normal kind of way, finding each other during the normal course of life events. They would meet at work and would be attracted to each other. Nowhere in their thinking as they did meet, was the possibility that they would one day face a set of rare circumstances together. This would all take place as they became parents and this story is about the little family that they would become. Jenn Fuller first asked me about doing a story about her daughter near the time that Victoria had been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome. Sanfilippo is part of a broader group of diseases known as MPS (Mucopolysaccharidosis). Sanfilippo is also known as MPS III. Just like all of the forms of MPS (and Batten disease), Sanfilippo Syndrome is what is known as a lysosomal storage disorder. Without giving a lot of detail here, let’s just briefly explain these disorders. The human body uses enzymes to break down the wastes that are made in cells of a person’s body. This is especially important in the human brain. This process is dealt with in something that is called a lysosome. If one of these important enzymes is missing, the body stores up these wastes instead of breaking them down. This in turn, causes damage to the cells because the wastes remain in the lysosomes. Surprisingly, there are thousands of these types of disorders. Most people would never have knowledge of something like this unless it had impacted their life directly. The lives of the Fuller family have been impacted in a big way by Sanfilippo Syndrome. Jenn thought that participating in my blog about rare kids would be beneficial. It, however, took her a little while before she was in a place where she thought that she could share the details with me. I’m so glad that the time arrived and that I heard back from her. I am grateful that she had kept it in mind to work with me. I appreciate the opportunity to have their family’s story in this blog that is about kids that are rare and so very special. Let’s get started. Two People Meet  What an attractive couple! Jenn Moreno grew up in Hollywood, Florida and would eventually attend McArthur High school. Like so many young girls, her desires for her future included marriage and a family. You never know at what time or in what place that you will meet that special someone. Life continues on and when the time is right, things start to fall into place. That person that you are meant to be with crosses your path and your personal story of life and love starts to develop. In Jenn’s case, things would come together quite quickly. This would start to happen for her as she was beginning a new job at a Chili’s restaurant, there in her hometown. The year was 2005 in which Jenn would begin work there at Chili’s. She didn’t know it at the time, but it was during her orientation at work that she would meet the person that was meant for her. It was Jeff Fuller that would perform the orientation on that, her very first day at work. Jenn was immediately attracted to Jeff. In her own words, she thought that he was “cute”. The two of them would do well together, however things were not progressing at the speed that Jenn had desired them to. She would actually be the one that would ask Jeff out on their first date and Jeff, would of course say yes. The rest, as Jenn would say, “is history”. The couple really hit it off from the beginning and would become inseparable. Their relationship would only continue to grow as they thought about a future together. Jenn would tell me that they perhaps did things a little backwards for some people. However, this couple knew that their individual futures involved being together for a lifetime as husband and wife. That being said, it would be three years after they began to date that they would buy a house together in 2008. Their goal was to save money and fix up their home in preparation for their wedding and having children. They had a plan and they were putting it into action. It took a little while for the big proposal to take place but it would happen. The year was 2012 and the couple was vacationing at a favorite spot in Fort Myers, Florida. They were staying at a beach front hotel and this gave Jeff an opportunity to propose to Jenn in a way that was magical and that would provide a special memory for the both of them. In the sand below their balcony, Jeff wrote, “Will you Marry me?” He then told Jenn that there was something that he wanted her to see outside. Of course once seeing what Jeff had written, Jenn would accept his proposal. After all, marriage and a life together was what they had always had in mind. And so it was that they would become man and wife the following year. They got married on their 8-year anniversary of starting to date each other. The big day was on July the 13th of 2013. When it came to their plans for marriage, Jeff and Jenn had a desire to have a larger wedding and celebration. They would do just that, having many friends and family members in attendance. The day was perfect and they looked forward to everything that would follow in the life that lay ahead for them.  Absolutely stunning! Starting a family would be the next big step for Jeff and Jenn but the couple wouldn’t rush into having children. Instead, they had decided to first enjoy married life for a while. The newlyweds wanted to travel for a bit before it was time to settle down and start a family. They would do just that, going on cruises and road trips while enjoying every minute that they had together. This all afforded them opportunity to fall deeper in love and also, to have more time to discuss their future. Talk about an extended honeymoon, that was the way to do things. More time would pass and then, it was time to think about starting their family. It would be at the beginning of 2015 that Jenn would present the news to Jeff. She was pregnant with their first child and you just know that the two of them were excited that she was. Everything that they had wanted for a life together was falling into place and as expected, things would go well as Jenn carried their first child. The months would pass without complication and the day would come. Jenn would spend a total of 15 hour in labor. It was during this time that some concerns would arise. One was that the couple’s little bundle to be had turned “sunny side up”. The other was that since Jenn’s water had broken 12 hours prior, there was the possibility of infection setting in. Because of this, the doctor decided that an emergency C-section was the way to go. It would be on October the 11th of 2015 that Jenn would be prepped for surgery. Their very first child was born and that child was a girl. Their beautiful baby girl would make her appearance at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida ... she was oh, so perfect! This little girl was the most beautiful thing that this set of parents had ever laid eyes on. She had all of her fingers and toes and she was covered in brand new baby skin. Their new little bundle was born a healthy 7 pounds and 4 ounces and she was 19 inches long. Jeff and Jenn named their little girl Victoria Marie. She was flawless and had passed every newborn test that the medical staff had performed. The feelings that this couple had shared at that time was like nothing else that they had ever experienced. Jenn explains, “We were overwhelmed with happiness. When I held her for the first time, everything I was worried about with being a mom went out the window. My heart was so full of love for this tiny little human that had just made me a mommy.” There was nothing, at that time, that would lead anyone to believe that this kind of happiness would continue. This would hold true with each new achievement and milestone that was reached. The future was bright as everything continued to progress in this couple’s life. Whereas the center of each other's attention was their better half, things would now be different. This baby, that was already so beautiful, would now develop into a most beautiful little girl. She would quickly become the princess of the house and she was the center of her parents world. Jeff and Jenn were once free to go wherever they wish but they now had someone else that they were responsible for. Baby seats and strollers, not to mention cribs and Victoria’s first bed, would all be essential equipment. Life as a Family  Absolutely beautiful! Every bit of change that took place brought new experiences that were welcomed with much joy. This is what a life together was supposed to be about. There were outings together as little Victoria took in each and every new experience. Much time would be spent with family and friends and Victoria quickly became a priceless and precious little person to everyone that knew her. In addition, this little girl would only cause her mom and dad to grow closer together in the bond of marriage. Jenn would tell me that when it came to Victoria’s development at the beginning, she stayed “pretty much” right on track. In other words, she was achieving most of her milestones at the time she was expected to. The only concern early on was that Victoria was a little slow with learning how to walk. There is a big variable when it comes to the age that different children begin to walk. Some start walking before 9 months while others don’t take flight until 18 months or older. The average age for independent walking in a child is about 12 months old. Victoria did not begin to walk on her own until 20 months of age. Was Victoria just at the end of the range for when children begin to walk or was there something to be concerned about? It would be difficult, especially as first time parents, to believe anything other than she was just taking her time with developing in this area. Other than this, there was not much else to be concerned about at that time. There would, however, soon be some medical concerns that would arise. Each one individually, would not necessary be a cause for worry. All were the “normal” type of concerns that might come along in a child’s early health. One thing in addition to the concern over Victoria’s late mobility was that she was getting frequent sinus infections. This was found to be caused by fluid build up in her ears. As a result, Victoria would have her adenoids removed and tubes placed in her ears. This was taking place at the time that Victoria was two and a half years old. She was also having an issue with speech delay and it was felt that this was caused by the issues with her ears. It makes sense that it would create a problem if a child couldn’t hear well at the time he or she was learning to speak. There still was nothing going on with Victoria that seemed overwhelming. She just needed a little extra help. Every child is different and minor health issues often arise. Issues like this can all be worked out in time. This little girl was so loved and the extra effort was just a labor of affection. One reason why Victoria’s health issues could have been a challenge was because it was at this time that the Fullers were expecting their 2nd child. Just as it had been with Victoria, Jenn had carried her next baby without any major complications. It would be one month prior to the delivery of Jeff and Jenn’s next child that Victoria would have her first set of tubes placed in her ears. I can only imagine that this was a very busy time for the Fullers.  Victoria's new little doll! Everything that Jeff and Jenn had planned for their future had been thought out and discussed. They had wanted one more child and that hope had become a reality as Jenn gave birth to their 2nd bundle of joy. It would happen in September of 2018 that she would give birth to a baby boy. Jeff and Jenn now had a son and they would name him Nicholas Michael. He would soon be affectionately known as Nicky and just like his big sister had been, Nicky was a beautiful and perfect baby. He had all of his fingers and toes and it only took one look to know that Nicky was going to be an adorable little man. How much more perfect could things be at this time? A beautiful little girl and now a charming little man. Yes, there were a couple of issues with Victoria but it seemed that they were things that could be overcome with time. They were just, in the figurative sense, growing pains. As Jenn would put it to me, their family was now complete and the Fullers were as happy as any couple could be at that time. When it came to Victoria’s feelings about her new little brother, she was overjoyed, She thought that baby Nicky was her own little doll. Sibling love was in full effect. All of the changes and challenges that are associated with having a new baby in the house were present again in the Fuller house. All of these things however, were most welcomed. Usually, it is the case that little babies have to learn to adjust their sleep patterns so that they are like everyone else's. That was to be expected in Nicky’s case. As things would turn out though, Victoria was having problems sleeping through the night at the time that Nicky was brought home. Was this related to the problems with her ears? Was it related to all of the excitement over the new baby? Time would tell and life would continue on. The speech delay that the family was experiencing with Victoria would require some help. She was given some early intervention with a speech therapist and that seemed to help. The Fullers were seeing some improvement in their daughter’s speech as she was entering pre-kindergarten in January of 2019. Victoria loved going to school. She would sing every morning as she walked there and would say hello to the people that she met along the way. How cute is that? There was no reason to be anything but optimistic about her growth and her future at this time. Such a special little girl and a big part of a special young family. Victoria would do well in her first term of pre-k and Summer break would come and go. As she returned to school in August, it would be noticed that some things were a little different with her behavior. Victoria was all of sudden really hyper and would run away at school. How concerning this had to have been for the school staff. It had to be very concerning for Jenn as the teacher of Victoria’s class had started to voice her concern over Victoria’s regression. All of sudden, the joy over being a family and having baby Nicky in the house was being mixed with some new concerns. What was it that was going on with Victoria? A Family Challenge  What a special little family! Jenn explains a bit about what her thoughts were after talking with Victoria’s teacher, “As first time parents we often try to list the reasons ‘why’ your child is acting this way. Maybe summer vacation set her back, or she started not sleeping through the night so maybe she’s tired and cranky .... or she’s acting out because there’s a baby at home and she might be jealous.” Was it just that too many changes had taken place over a short period of time and they were overwhelming Victoria? So many questions had to be answered. Could it have been something like true hyper-activity or the early signs of autism? Jenn would tell me that she was losing sleep over what her daughter was going through. She was worried in her “mom gut” as she was seeing the regression. It was slow as it continued but Jenn was able to take notice. Gradually, abilities continued to slip away from Victoria. In the area of her speech, words had disappeared and they continued to do so as Jenn took notice. These two children that the couple had brought into the world were now a huge part of life together. Aside from all that living life entails, Victoria and her little brother were the center of their parents attention. When things aren’t right with one of your kids, that child becomes the subject of a lot of conversation. This as you try to figure out what may be taking place. Jenn shared, “Jeff and I would often talk and think maybe it’s autism… I would see other 4 year olds and think ‘Victoria isn’t doing that’ but you are not supposed to compare, every child develops differently…”. It was Jeff and Jenn’s hope that Victoria would eventually catch up. I think that still, there was this gut feeling that something out of the ordinary was taking place with Victoria. Every child does develop at their own pace, but there is also a normal range. Sometimes, differences can indicate that there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. Jenn said that at this point, she was voicing her concerns and opinions to the pediatrician and Victoria’s teacher. Questions like this were asked, “Will Victoria catch up?” and “Is there something wrong with my daughter?” No one was seeing any red flags of great concern. It was just felt that Victoria was developmentally delayed. As January of 2020 rolled around, something would take place that would shake Jenn’s world. There was something “SERIOUSLY WRONG” with Victoria. Jenn’s own words were that something was wrong with her “BABY”. This being Victoria, her firstborn child and only daughter. Jenn describes what she was seeing that was so alarming, “…. all of a sudden Victoria couldn’t talk, she would stare at us blankly, like she wanted to say something but couldn’t.” This kind of regression would seem to indicate that there was somehow, something very serious happening inside Victoria. There had to be something dramatically wrong going on to cause such a severe regression of skills. All of sudden, this perfect little family story was beginning to include details concerning a serious situation.  Little princess! Jenn stated that they had felt a sense of panic and had rushed to get in with a neurologist. Who could blame them for taking such a course of action as quickly as possible? Victoria would be seen by a neurologist in early February of 2020 and would be given the label, or initial diagnosis for autism. The doctor stated that the type of regression that the Fullers were seeing was a red flag for the disorder. Although some of the behaviors that the Fullers were seeing in Victoria may have lined up with a diagnosis of autism, she didn’t completely fit the description. For instance, she still maintained good eye contact and she was still very sociable/lovable. Jeff and Jenn accepted the early label but it still didn’t sit right with Jenn. She just had this feeling that there was more to her daughter’s situation than just autism. It would be difficult for the neurologist to be completely sure of this diagnosis and not wanting to take any chances, he would recommend genetic testing. More would take place quickly as an initial appointment with the geneticist would take place on February the 27th. Jenn would tell me that upon looking at sweet Victoria for the first time, the geneticist would come to an initial opinion. He had seen something in Victoria that led him to believe that she had a type of “enzyme disorder”. The doctor would have a blood draw taken from Victoria in order to have genetic testing done. It would be four weeks later that the Fuller’s would receive a call from the medical assistant working with the geneticist. She stated that the doctor wanted to speak with them as soon as possible. Jenn’s statement concerning that call is telling. She simply said, “... at that moment we knew it was bad news …. just didn’t know how bad.” As all of this was going on, the world was in the process of shutting down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant that the follow-up appointment with genetics would take place by means of a video conference. This would happen on March the 26th of 2020. That was the day that Jeff and Jenn’s world would be rocked and changed forever. They would be told that their beautiful little girl had a condition called Sanfilippo Syndrome. Jeff and Jenn were also told that it was the most severe form of the disease and that Victoria would not live beyond her teen years. The Fuller’s listened with stunned expressions as the doctor gave them the news that would bring them utter dismay. How could the news be any worse? The word terminal is the last thing that Jenn remembers hearing as they listened. All of a sudden, everything that she dreamed about for her daughter’s future was taken away by the reality of their situation. This is a 4 year old girl that we are talking about. Understandably, both parents were crushed. Jenn’s mamma’s heart was completely broken and the tears would flow for days to come. Something such as this had never entered their thinking. How could this be? Embarking on a Journey  Both adorable! As the news continued to set in it would lead to depression. Who would expect anything different at this point in the Fuller’s journey? All of sudden, everything had changed in the couple’s outlook for their future. Jenn describes what she was feeling after the time that they had returned home, “I couldn’t even look at Victoria without crying. It hurt me so much to watch her laughing and jumping and all I can think about is that this disease is going to take that all away from her. My innocent little child has no idea how much she will suffer and I couldn’t face her sweet face at that moment.” At a time when so many were alarmed over what was taking place on the planet, Jeff and Jenn had something going on that for them, was just crushing. Neither of Victoria’s parents were working at the time because of the pandemic and this gave them the opportunity to just process and grieve. Their grieving was for someone that was still with them. Jenn said that Jeff would grieve differently than she would. He would do so by keeping busy, doing projects around the house. She shared that he pushed through the process and would be the rock that the family needed. They were at that point, and still are, a team in this journey ... balancing each other out in a way that helps them to deal with things. Of course there were times that they would hold each other and just cry in the quiet of the night. There is a processing of emotions for every family that is given this type of a diagnosis for their child. The darkness that held Jenn in it’s grip lasted for about a month. This was until she discovered that, as a family, they were not alone. It’s amazing the difference it makes when we surround ourselves with people who understand what we are going through. People who have gone through the same trying experience. They are able to share what they have learned and are able to give advice while understanding what is being felt. That is what Jenn would find as she discovered the people that make up the Sanfilippo Syndrome community on Facebook. What a huge pick-me-up this would be for her as she got to know many of the people that share the same experience. Of course, Jenn found Glenn and Cara O’Neil of the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation to be an amazing couple. They were responsible for giving the Fullers a lot of guidance at a critical time. In addition, Jenn would meet a lot of the moms that are fighting the same battle. One mom in particular really stood out and that mom would be Erica McKenzie. Erica and family had already experienced much with her own daughter Reagan being previously diagnosed with Sanfilippo. She was able to help Jenn in a way that the average mom would not be able to and the connection between them was instantaneous. Erica and her husband Kirk had already been involved with a clinical trial for Reagan at the time that these two ladies would meet on-line. Erica was willing and able to answer every single question that Jenn had. As far as Erica was concerned, there were no stupid questions as she understood completely what Jenn was going through.  No love like a mother's love. Just like with the O’Neils of Cure Sanfilippo, the Mckenzies had been in the same situation at one point. Again, one of the biggest things that Erica had provided Jenn was just the knowledge that she was not alone. Of course, there would also be many close family members and friends to give comfort and support following the diagnosis. Jenn does a great job of describing the kindness they received, “Our friends and family did make a point after they received the diagnosis that they wanted to come see Victoria right away and soak her in, and some of our friends cooked us dinner knowing that we weren’t even thinking about food at all. People that I haven’t spoken to in years reached out to us, checked on us and sent us their best. It was well appreciated, the amount of support and love we have from friends and family, near and far.” With the help of so many that showed kindness, and those that would become like extended family, the Fullers would go through a recovery process. It’s not like the grief would completely go away … it’s just that they would begin to cope with things after receiving all of the support that came their way. They received strength from all of those people that came alongside. With this, the realization that this mommy needed to take action set in. With the following, Jenn briefly described what her thinking was at that point, “‘We are on borrowed time now and I can’t stay in bed sad.’ Mommy mode took over and my next steps were … what can I do to help my baby?” Jenn started to look into possible clinical trials and found that there was one that was taking place in Spain. This would turn out to be another way in which Erica McKenzie was able to be a help to Jenn. The McKenzies had already traveled with their daughter Reagan to have her treated in the same trial. Erica was able to furnish the Fullers with information about the trial and also, who to contact. As things would turn out, the team running the trial would want to test Victoria to see if she would qualify. So even though travel opportunities were limited in the Summer of 2020, Jeff and Jenn would make their way to Spain with Victoria by their side. They had “a glimmer of hope”. Most always, there is no limit for what a family will do to help their child in a situation such as what the Fullers were facing. Before they knew it, Jeff and Jenn were present with Victoria in Spain. Jenn described what it was like for the duration during their stay, “We spent 10 days in Barcelona Spain watching Victoria kick and scream as doctors and nurses poked and prodded my little bug. Every day was a new test, I held back my tears, as watching my baby go through all this at just 4 years old was just so hard to see.” Full of hope, Jeff, Jenn, and Victoria would leave Spain and return to Florida to await the findings of the testing. The results would come back to the family three weeks later and what they would learn was not what they had hoped to hear. Before we continue, let me stop and explain something for those who may not already know. Need for Transformation  Sibling love! The trial in Spain involved a procedure called gene replacement therapy. In the case of gene replacement, scientists create a working copy of the missing, or nonworking gene. The gene is then placed in something called a vector. A vector is like an envelope that is used to carry the gene to the places that it needs to go within the body. The vector can be created by making changes to a naturally occurring virus. That is what scientists use to allow the gene to travel to the places that it needs to go. The Fullers would receive word back three weeks after their return and it stated that the trial would not work in Victoria case. You see, she was found to carry the antibodies for the virus that was being used for the vector. That means that her body had the ability to fight and neutralize the virus that would be used to carry the gene to the places that it needs to go. How completely disheartening. It would be possible that another vector could be found at a later date but the Fullers could only wait and hope this would happen. This, because there were no other trials that Victoria would qualify for under these circumstances. Jenn described in brief, her disappointment but also speaks of the resolve that she would feel towards their situation, “That was a hard pill to swallow, another gut punch but this time I would force myself to keep going. Wiping my tears away and every day, being there for Victoria and Nicky because no matter what, they are STILL here RIGHT NOW.” Way to go mom! One additional thing that needed to be accomplished along the way was to have little Nicky tested for the presence of Sanfilippo Syndrome. The good news was that the results would come back negative but the results did show that Nicky is a carrier of the gene. Most all of the stories that I have written about rare families include certain details that are similar. There is always a transformation that takes place. It usually ends with a resolve to do the very best that can be done for the child that is affected. The heartache continues but the will to move on is strengthened with time. This special child needs and deserves every bit of attention that is received. A love that is profound and undying is seen in the details and a bond that could never be broken is formed over time. These families press on because that is what is in the best interest of everyone. You never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice (not my words). Jenn described how Sanfilippo Syndrome has changed their perspective as parents and how their life has changed as a family. What she had to say sounds so familiar to me as their perspective is very similar to what I’ve read while doing many other stories. She started her comments like this, “As a family, Sanfilippo has changed us completely. We now try to enjoy every moment with each other, take lots of pictures and videos, and try very hard to not let our minds wander to the future....” There is so much in these words that could be unpacked. Like the others, Jenn states that there are too many things that are unknowns. They just take each day, one day at a time while not looking too far ahead. Every sweet memory that is formed is captured. Every smile and bit of laughter is enjoyed. Perhaps, we could all learn something here by observation.  Perfect little lady! The Fullers are joining hands with others in the community that they have found themselves being a part of. They will help to raise funds for potential trials that may help Victoria and the other little warriors. They will also take part in spreading awareness concerning Sanfilippo Syndrome. The biggest mission that they are on is to help Victoria to experience the best quality of life and to experience the most funnest times possible! Jeff and Jenn are both realists that have been through the type of transformation that gets written about often. Jenn explains her current thinking with this, “... at the end of the day, us as parents .... all we want is for our children to be happy. Love is all you need, there is no room for anger or sadness as that just takes away time that we don’t have.” Is Victoria not a beautiful little girl? Yes, she certainly is. In fact, the Fullers are another beautiful young family with a story to tell. These kids are both special and amazing and they cause their families to become one in the same. Now Victoria is, in so many ways, just a normal little girl and a warrior that is unaware. Jenn told me that Victoria loves Elmo and jumping while music is playing (The Fullers use music and singing songs a lot to help Victoria in maintaining her skills). This little girl is full of smiles and energy, just like you would expect her to be. She is both precious and priceless. After seeing a picture of the siblings together, I asked about Victoria’s relationship with her little brother Nicky. It looks like it is a special one. Victoria loves to look on as her little brother plays with his tablet.
I made the statement to Jenn that there must be lots of sibling love in the house. Her stated response was “Mostly, LOL.” Knowing that I needed an explanation, She went on to tell me that Nicky, being just 2 and half years old, does not understand why Victoria likes to give him death hugs all of the time. Poor Nicky. You will one day understand! Telling me this conjurs up images in my mind that are priceless. Many are the pictures that can be seen of this family out together on sunny Florida days. They are enjoying fun times together as they grow in their love for one another. Little Victoria has a lot of life yet to live and who knows what the future may hold. There is a heroic group of research scientists out there that are working on cures like the type that Victoria needs. Who knows, perhaps they are looking for the vector that will work as this is being written. In the meantime, there are many things to be treasured along the way. A lot of love and joy to be experienced as Victoria’s family walks alongside her. I often say things such as, “these kids are the most special, and the most amazing.” I say these kinds of things repetitively because I believe that they are true and I want to place emphasis on them. Their resilient ways and the way that they change people’s lives can be clearly seen if we take notice. That is why they need to be talked about and that is why I take the time to do these stories. All my best to little Victoria and her dear family. Sincerely, ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  A dream in the making. “Sashka teaches me how to love, how to live, how to cherish every moment. Every smile, every great day when he is not in pain is a blessing! Through my touch he knows that he is safe. Through my voice he knows that he is loved.” ~Cristina Berliba~ Sashka’s Mom and Advocate The entire experience passed by so quickly. Life seemed so chaotic back then and I guess that I didn’t take the time to stop and think about it. Having children is something that most people look forward to as they are thinking about the course that their life will take. Having children is something we were made to do. The desire to have them was placed within us and having kids fills us with so much pride and joy. Yes, there are also challenges along the way. With children, we have the opportunity to help shape a person's character, which will hopefully bring future success. Along the way, there are all those memories that will be made as we watch our kids grow. We live life together and share in the experience of being a family. That is what we look forward to when we decide it is time to start building a family. For my wife and I as a couple, having children was something that was just part of a life together. We both had siblings from each of our individual families and our friends were having children. It was just the normal thing to do. I can’t believe how fast the time passed us by and here we are. We are empty nesters. Well, almost. The two oldest of our three boys have left home and have made lives for themselves. Our number three son is different because he was born with special needs. He is still with us after being born 30 years ago. Our life revolves around him in a big way. The writing that I do is centered around families that have children who battle rare and fatal diseases. We have had challenges along the way with our son Benjamin. However, we have never been given a diagnosis for him that creates the kind of heartache that is faced by these families. Yes, there were chaotic times for us as a young family. Keeping a roof over our heads in an expensive area to live was a challenge. Home life had its challenges as well. There were a lot of doctor appointments in the beginning. This wasn’t unexpected once it was revealed that we were parents to a baby boy with special needs. We had never considered that this could be a possibility, but we should have. There was some family history that we were aware of. For parents of a child with a rare and fatal disease, like Batten, things are different. Both parents have to be carriers of the same defective gene and when they are, it is usually without knowing it. This fact is what makes their situation one that is so rare. The news comes out of nowhere once the diagnosis is reached. The symptoms seen in their child leads the parents on a search for answers and the conclusion brings a kind of heartache that is not known by many. Dad and mom often receive more than one diagnoses during their search with each one being progressively worse than the previous. The final outcome brings the news that their child has a disease for which there is no cure and to make things even worse, the disease is fatal. It is termed as being rare because the number of cases is small when compared to the percentage of total population. One child being affected is one too many and when all are added together, the number is too great to ignore. An American Dream  A Batten family story could be played out anywhere in the world. Batten, and other rare diseases, know no boundaries. They don’t discriminate when it comes to things like a person’s income or social status. When it comes to a couple’s dreams for their future, children are a major part of that. This is the case no matter what country or place that a family resides. Having children is what young women often dream about. As well, it is something that men look forward to when they meet the girl that will be the one for them. When it comes to living in the United States, we all look forward to taking part in what is called the American dream. The things that make that kind of dream possible can exist in most any developed country but the term is truly American. Finding success through hard work and creativity in order to enjoy life together. Doing so in a place where freedom and opportunity exists. Having a family and having the means to support that family financially is a big part of making this happen. You can live in a place where both the surroundings and the people are beautiful but if opportunity exists elsewhere, your desire to be in that place increases. Moving to such a place can be exciting and adventurous and building a life in that place can be a dream come true. And again, part of fulfilling that dream includes having a family with the one that you love. We all expect challenges along the way. Our hope is that they are ones that can be met at the time that they arise. We rarely consider the possibility that something overwhelming might come our way. Things that we dream of can be interrupted when we receive the news that brings shock and complete dismay. A life that we have helped bring into this world has been given a diagnosis that involves a rare disease. The world has not ended but ours has been turned upside down. The life that was once known has been changed forever. That child that was already so loved begins to create a love in us that is like none other. I have a question. Is it possible to love another person so much that it hurts? It absolutely is and that is what happens when a diagnosis like Batten is given to an innocent child. The love that was already so strong is mixed with griefed over what we are told the future holds. The bond is intensified by what has transpired. I have heard from more than one who has told me what it is like to return from that consultation with a doctor. Or even worse, what it is like as that phone call has ended. This child who looks perfectly healthy is anything but that. There are things that are lying in wait. A journey begins that was previously unknown of and it is one that is taken as a family. Shock and confusion ultimately gives way to resolve and will to fight. The details are what I have taken notice of and they are the reason that I write. A love that is profound and undying. Each one of these little warriors produces feelings in us that are more powerful than any other.  Andrei's bride. As it is when these stories take place, they almost always begin as two people meet. The details of how they come together may vary but the result is always the same. Sometimes, the attraction is instantaneous. Two people fall in love and they become inseparable. Cristina Berliba talks about the day that she and her husband would meet. Cristina said this, “I remember that day of December… It was a snowy and cold day. We met at a birthday party and since that day I knew that Andrei would be my husband. I had that feeling when you know that is your person. You can feel it with your skin.” It is amazing to consider how two people can start their individual lives with their own plans for the future. Once they meet, their lives take a different course and that course includes the person they have met. This next story is so much like that. The story includes life in America but it doesn’t start out that way. This story actually begins in a country named Moldova. The country is bordered between Romania and Ukraine in Eastern Europe. A country that relies heavily on agriculture as the major part of its economy, Moldova has been through many geopolitical changes over the course of its history. This is where Andrei Berliba and Cristina Budis would meet. It would take some time for both of their paths to meet as each of them was busy developing careers of their own. Both of them had plans for their future and Cristina’s involved a desire to be in a legal profession. Cristina was a student in the Law program at the Moldova State University in Chisinau. While a student there, and in the course of time, Cristina would be given the opportunity to come to America and work during the summer. This she would do for two summers, both in 2010 and 2011. Denali, Alaska is a ruggedly beautiful place with many sites to see and visit. This is where Cristina would be exposed to the American culture and she would become impressed with what she had seen. She was impressed by the hardworking nature of the people that she came in contact with. Alaska is a good place to meet people such as this! Speaking of hard work, Cristina set her own example for others to see while she was in Alaska. While there, she worked at the Grande Denali Lodge and the famous King Salmon restaurant. Up at four o’clock in the morning and at work by five, her days were very busy. She worked as both a cashier and a hostess. I can only imagine that it was fun for both Cristina and the people that she was in contact with. This, as they got to know her and to hear about her background. In her own words, “I had two crazy summers with no sleep.” The experience of living and working in Alaska would leave an impression on Cristina and it was one that that would help shape her future. Cristina decided that she would like to live in America one day and that she should apply for the green card lottery. She did exactly that and then, forgot about it. Life goes on! Meant for Each Other  Meant for each other. This would take place before Cristina would meet her life partner Andrei. As far as Andrei was concerned, he had desired a career in law enforcement. It would be several years before their meeting that Andrei applied for and attended the police academy in neighboring Romania. He would attend in the city of Bucharest to be exact. Following the completion of the academy, Andrei decided to “try his fate” in a small town in Spain. He would live and work there for seven years before he and Cristina met on that fateful day in December. It would be after the time that Cristina had been to Alaska, and had applied for the green card, that her and Andrei would meet. As Cristina has already told us, she just knew in her physical being that Andrei was the one for her. I can only imagine that Andrei had been feeling the same attraction towards Cristina. They were meant for each other! These two people who previously had goals of their own to achieve now had each other. Andrei and Cristina had a life together and they would be married. Upon becoming man and wife, Cristina would move to Spain with Andrei. It would only be a couple of months later that while there, the couple would be surprised with the news that they had won the green card. So many changes, so quickly and now, a big opportunity. They did what most any couple in their situation would. They moved! Cristina explains with the following, “We moved to America in 2013. A young couple, with two pieces of luggage ... with no money in our pockets but with a big American Dream!” How many times have we heard stories, so similar? A young couple meets and falls in love. They begin a life together that is so full of potential and in this case, it would all take place so quickly. Before they knew it, Andrei and Cristina were beginning a new life together in America. They would relocate to the city of Sacramento, in the state of California. The young couple was ready to begin a life together, starting in a rather adventurous manner, in a brand new place. How exciting! Andrei would find work and they would set up a household to begin forming their new life. Certainly, having children would be a big part of the life that they would want. That part of their American dream would begin to take place. This as Cristina would soon be expecting their first child. Growing up in Moldova, Cristina had fallen in love with the name Alexandru. She did so at a young age. This is the name that she and Andrei agreed to give their first born child in the event that Cristina had a boy. Call it a mother’s intuition, or whatever you will. From the first day that Cristina received the news that she was pregnant, she felt within herself that she would have a boy. She would carry her baby full term and with no major complications up to the time that she was to give birth. It would be the first week in November of 2014 that the big day would arrive. Cristina had some hard work in front of her. The labor with her newborn to be would be a long and difficult task as Cristina would spend 32 hours in labor. As time continued, it would then be decided that she would undergo an emergency C-section. This in order to deliver the baby safely.  The perfect baby! So it would be on November the 2nd of 2014 that Andrei and Cristina’s first born son would make his entrance into their lives. The scene would play out at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, California. It’s no wonder that their baby boy had such a hard time exiting his mom’s tummy. He came into this world weighing in at an even 10 pounds and he was 22 inches in length. He was a big baby and at the same time, he was a beautiful little guy. Cristina’s own words describe her feelings as Alexandru made his appearance, “...he was so precious and sweet that it was worth all my suffering.” Yes, he would be given the name that Cristina had adored since her youth but he would come to be known as Sashka. This name is a derivative of Alexandru in their native language, which is Romanian. Baby Sashka was a flawless little man, having all of his fingers and toes. Sashka was a pretty baby and he was oh, so healthy! Andrei would get to meet his brand new son right after he was born but poor mom would have to wait a while. The doctor, after all, had to finish with her surgery. It would be so worth the wait and holding her baby for the first time was a special experience. Part of a dream come true! So much had taken place in a short period of time. Andrei and Cristina had found one another and being together was the right thing for each of them. Then came the chance to move to a place that was full of opportunity and adventure. How must it have been at this point as baby Sashka made his entrance into the couple’s lives. Did I mention the fact that he was a pretty and perfect baby? I did but it is worth mentioning one more time. Both Andrei and Cristina were so happy and their life together in America was really taking shape. Just as one would expect, Sashka would grow into the toddler stage of his development. Everything about him was adorable to those who loved him. His parents enjoyed watching him as he crawled and then as he stood with the aid of the things around him. He displayed all of the signs of progress that parents so enjoy seeing. Sashka was on his way to becoming a charming little man and one day soon, he would take flight as he began to walk. This happened at one year of age. There were no major concerns as Sashka visited the doctor for his check-up at 2 years old. After all, he was so healthy. One question that the doctor had at that time was concerning the number of words that Sashka was currently using. To this, Cristina would reply that Sashka was only using a few words. Why would this be a concern? Well, it is normal for a child to be using up to 20 words by the age of 18 months. Some will use as many as 50 words by the time that they reach the age of 2 years. Certainly there are those that would use less at that time. This was something to keep an eye on. Would Sashka have a more difficult time in the area of developing his speech? Some children are just slower in this area of their development. Sometimes, being slow to develop in this area can be an indicator that there is a larger problem that may exist. However, there was no reason to be overly concerned at this point. A Beautiful Life  Special brothers! Life was beautiful for this little family and things would begin to get even better. This is because Cristina would become pregnant with their 2nd child. Once again, both Andrei and Cristina were excited. Joining them in the excitement this time around was little Sashka. He was soon to have a playmate in the house. Their life together was shaping up to be a regular, yet special, American life together. Things would again go according to plan and Cristina would carry her baby full term. The happy occasion would take place in April of 2017. Sashka was two and a half years old when the family was joined by another baby boy. This one they would name Dan and like his big brother, he was an adorable little man in the making. Sashka loved his little brother from the very start and he was so excited to have him in the house. This is not to mention the fact that Dan’s mom and dad were excited as well. Cristina described the interaction between the two brothers and what the mood was as a family at the time, “He (Sashka) was so happy. He loved to give lots of kisses and hugs to his brother Dan, all day long. We were the happiest family in the world.” A mom and dad that loved each other immensely and two very special little boys with so much to look forward to. This was a perfect little story in the making as this couple’s dreams were coming true. How exciting it had to have been to be building a life together as a young family in what was to them, a very special place. Every family will have it’s struggles along the way and it doesn’t matter where we live or where we are from. Things just happen. Hopefully, most of the trials experienced will be overcome but sometimes, things come along that are more difficult to handle. Nobody wants to see a child experience trying circumstances but this sometimes happens too. Soon, the Berliba family would begin to experience things that the average family will not see as they are growing together. Just like a lot of parents will, Cristina remembers dates that are significant to the journey that they find themselves on. It would be on the 19th of July in 2017 that an event would take place. This one would shake them as a family as that would be the day that Sashka would have a seizure. Cristina would tell me that it was “the scariest day” in their lives and who could not understand how that would be. Emergency services would be called and they would come quickly. I certainly can see how traumatic of an experience this would be. Sashka would have to be intubated to make sure that his breathing was not obstructed and he would then be transported to UC Davis Hospital in Sacramento. His condition was termed Status Epilepticus. Sashka’s stay would last several days and several different tests would be performed in that time. They included a lumbar puncture, blood and urine tests, and MRI, and x-rays. In addition to all of that, they would perform an EEG on Sashka. All of the testing would return with a negative result except in the case of the EEG. This test showed that there had been seizure activity that was taking place.  Warrior son and warrior mom. Andrei and Cristina would then take Sashka home with him being given the diagnosis of epilepsy. At that time, this seemed like the worst news that parents could ever be given concerning their child. Epilepsy however, is something that can be dealt with. Their Sashka would have challenges over the course of his life and this they would have to share as a family. At this point, Sashka had a diagnosis for a condition that he could take with him into adulthood. He could live a near normal life with special circumstances. Epilepsy, of course, can be controlled with the proper medication and a person can function when the seizures are under control. In the very near future, Sashka would be placed under the care of a neurologist and he would be prescribed the seizure medication called Keppra. This would keep the seizures under control for a short time and this must have brought some relief to the Berliba’s in the immediate. There was, however, more that would soon take place. Cristina remembered the exact day that the seizures would return. Sashka would experience his second seizure on November the 4th. This would be just two days after Sashka’s third birthday. A time that should be filled with happiness was instead, a time for deep concern. When the seizures returned, they did so with a vengeance. Sashka was having a grand mal seizure every four days. How helpless this must have made Sashka’s parents feel as all of this took place. The grand mal seizures were ferocious and so difficult to watch. The life that had been simple and so sweet was now becoming so much more complex. Of course, the neurologist was being consulted during all of this and a follow-up appointment was attended. The staff at UC Davis is highly qualified and Sashka’s neurologist, Dr. Benko, would be included in that category. He knew that there was a possibility that more was taking place than just simple epilepsy. His recommendation was that Sashka should undergo genetic testing to see if there was something more going on. Was there more than just simple epilepsy taking place? Andrei and Cristina would, of course, want to know if there was more to the situation and they would seek to have the testing performed. They would hit a bit of a short road block in their search as they were told that their insurance company would not cover the cost of the testing. How could this be? Well, because of the official diagnosis that Sashka had already received, the insurance company didn’t feel that the testing was necessary. How could it be that he didn’t qualify? Cristina would do her research and she would find out that it was cheaper to have the testing done in Russia than it was in the United States. And so it was that they would travel to Moscow to have the test performed. Sashka’s seizures had begun on the 19th of July in 2017 and they would travel to Moscow on February the 8th of 2018. Finding the Answer I can only imagine that the trip was an anxious one with all that was taking place with Sashka. Not only that but the waiting period to receive the result must have seemed like a long time. It would take roughly five months to receive the findings which would come near the end of the month of June. What the test would reveal took Cristina completely by surprise. It must have been so difficult to read the findings while alone at their home. Sashka had CLN2 Batten disease. That is what was causing the seizures and that is why they were so relentless. Sashka had a metabolic disorder that Cristina had never heard of. In fact, she didn’t know that such a thing even existed. Most any parent would never consider the fact that such a thing could possible. How could this kind of thing be happening to such a special young family? Genetic disorders know no boundaries and they do not discriminate. There had to be so many questions that had to be answered at that point. How could something like this be happening? Life was so perfect just months before and now, the situation had become so complicated. The Berlibas would return to the doctor's office, just days later with the results of the tests in hand. Cristina described what took place as they returned to the doctor’s office. She spoke about the doctor’s response as he looked at the test results, “In three days we rushed into the Neurologist's room and showed the results to our doctor. He was speechless ... first time in his life he had a patient with this diagnosis. First time in his career of more than 20 years.” A doctor that was well versed in genetic disorders had never come across a patient with CLN2 Batten disease. Cristina shared that she can’t remember all of the content of that conversation with Dr. Benko but she does remember one thing for certain. That is that the doctor advised her and Andrei to “make memories''. How badly does it hurt when you hear something like this? Hearing that making memories is the only thing that you have any control over. Just like so many parents that get a similar type of diagnosis for their children, the Berlibas were filled with shock and hopelessness. The doctor’s response as things unfolded showed an attitude of caring compassion. He would try his best to do everything that he could. As Cristina would tell me, “He promised us that he is going to do the possible and the impossible to take care of our boy.” He would, in fact, help Andrei and Cristina to find something that would have a major impact in their son’s battle against CLN2 Batten. This, however, would not take place right away and the Berlibas would have time to consider what it was that they were facing. This was their new reality as they came home and looked at their Sashka as he was playing. Cristina describes what her thoughts and feelings were at that time, “We came home and were looking at him, Sashka was jumping and running around, playing with his little brother, smiling and enjoying his favorite French fries. And I couldn’t even imagine that in a few months, our Sashka will not be able to walk, to sit, to talk and even to hold his neck up.”  Sashka and his fries! Cristina would refer to what had happened as a nightmare and one that they could not wake up from. Then and still now, they cannot make it go away. For many years, families that were given a diagnosis such as CLN2 Batten had no hope at all. There could only be hope, perhaps, because of the fact that there are researchers that are working towards a cure. Regardless, families will always come to the realization that they must do everything that is possible to help their children fight. The parents find the strength to continue because that is the only choice that they have. This is where Andrei and Cristina would find themselves but there would be good news almost right away. The timing of the diagnoses carried one positive. That was that the FDA had recently approved a new therapy. The therapy used a solution named Brineura for infusions to replace the enzyme that Sashka was missing. The children involved receive the infusions to the brain through a port that is surgically emplaced in their head. This would hopefully improve the quality of Sashka’s life while giving him greater longevity. Dr. Benko called Cristina and urged her to get Sashka into the program for enzyme replacement therapy. What must have seemed like a whirlwind of events led to much confusion on Cristina’s part and she knew that she needed more information. With this, she says as much, “I was so confused, I didn’t understand what he was talking about, how can an infusion go into the brain. I realized that I must study much more about this genetic disease.” The referral would have to be made to Children’s Hospital of Orange County because this was the only hospital in California that was doing the infusions at that time. This would be a great distance away from Sacramento but it was this family’s only hope in the immediate. Andrei and Cristina would meet with the responsible physician at CHOC and he would make a referral to UCSF Benioff Hospital in Oakland California. The distance between Oakland and Sacramento was much closer. This would be welcomed and much appreciated by the Berlibas. At UCSF Benioff, they would meet with the doctor who explained everything concerning the infusions and how they work. He would include how often Sashka would receive the infusions and what the risks would be. The surgery to implant Sashka’s port would be scheduled for the month of September in 2018. How difficult would it be for the parents of a child as young as Sashka… to imagine their small son or daughter going through such a procedure? The entire ordeal would be taxing on mom and dad and especially on Sashka. There would be many tears shed over what was taking place. Even so, getting started with the process of beginning the infusions would be successful. To me, this is a heavy commitment on the part of any family that is involved and all of these have my respect. The infusion is given every two weeks and that means another trip to the hospital each time. The entire experience of getting started must be surreal before the time in which things become routine. That is how the process would begin for the Berliba family. Different and Still Beautiful  A love like none other! It was essential that the Berlibas get Sashka’s little brother Dan tested to make sure that he would not be affected by Batten disease. The very good news was that his test came back showing that he did not have Batten. Still in his future will be testing to see if he is a carrier of Batten disease. For now, all is okay for brother Dan! It was not long after the diagnosis that Cristina would learn that their family belonged to an entire community worldwide. A community that she had not even known existed. Previously, she and Andrei had not even considered that a rare genetic disorder could be affecting their son. Now, they knew and they would learn of the support that was available online and through organizations like the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA). Groups that existed through social media would become part of their support as Cristina communicated with families that were going through the same thing. The Berlibas would learn that they were not alone in this battle, although, it still feels like a lonely existence at times. Time has passed as this story is being written and Sashka has battled. He has battled like you would expect a little warrior to, showing a type of resilience that only these kids can, but it has been difficult. The entire thing has been difficult on both Sashka and his parents. There is no love like a mother’s love and this has been especially hard on Cristina. With this, she talks about the difficulty at the beginning and up until this time, “It was hard, it was so hard to see how he was fighting, how he was crying… but now, after two years of infusions, is harder to realize that he is no longer able to fight, that pain is normal for him…” There are always challenges that are associated with being a parent of someone with special needs. As parents to someone with special needs ourselves, we can testify to this fact. It has to be known however that parents who have a child with a rare disease will face some severe challenges not known by many. What was expected for a life together here in the United States has been changed dramatically with the diagnosis of Batten. Cristina described what most of her days are like and how those days have changed because of Batten, ”Of course, our life changed a lot. Medical appointments are a must. Infusions, physical and occupational therapies .... there are follow-ups with Neurologists, Rheumatologist, Dentist, Orthotic, and the Pediatrician. My day is busy and every mom of a special needs child knows about it. There are dozens of phone calls for medication, refills, fighting for medical equipment, etc.” Sashka’s daily routine takes away the time that would be spent socializing or going on vacation but he is so worth the sacrifice of time. He fights every day and he deserves parents that are there to help him in his battle. He has that and he has the love of his parents. A type of love that is profound and undying. It is all overwhelming at times for Cristina but she keeps fighting. Andrei is her rock and a great support to his family. Much of their strength comes through fighting the fight together.  Such a special family! These are sweet people. We traveled to Denver to the Batten family conference in July of 2019 to spend time with friends and acquaintances within the Batten community. Each one of these conferences is a special event, although they can be overwhelming too. So many young warriors, with their families, in one place. We spent a lot of time in the lobby as the families were coming and going and I will never forget seeing Andrei and Cristina coming through the entrance with Sashka. Although I had not gotten to know them that well before that time, they walked up to us immediately. They greeted us warmly and said hello. We were able to spend time together and later they even invited us to join them at a microbrewery that is in a neighborhood behind the hotel. That was a special occasion and one that will always provide special memories. Woven in between all of the conversation was talk about Sashka. So many times have I written about the intensity of the bond between the kids that battle and the people that care for them. When somebody needs you, I mean really needs you, for the most basic care, and beyond .... and that is mixed with grief over their plight. There is a type of love that develops and it is mixed with heartache. That is a love that hurts. There is no way that a person in that position would give up or give in but it can be difficult when you love someone that deeply. I could see the mix of emotions on Cristina’s face as we talked. This is a special little family for sure and what they are experiencing can bring difficulties unlike many others. It is a privilege to know them and to also know a bit about their story. Their big American dream is still alive but the journey that the Berlibas are on has provided some real challenges. Life is quite a bit different than what was expected but there are still wonderful things to experience. Sashka is teaching his dad and his mom about a type of love that is like none other. He is teaching his family about the things that are important in life and how to take each day, one at a time. With every smile from Sashka, his parents smile in return because they then know that he is having a good day. Every day in which they know that he is free of pain is “a blessing” to them. Sashka knows that he is loved through the touch of those that love him. He “knows that he is safe”. Whereas Sashka would once love on his little brother Dan, Dan is now loving on Sashka and that is certainly very sweet to see. Either way, they are both feeling the love. Yes, there are many great dads out there in the Batten community and beyond but I am still a firm believer that there is no love like a mother’s love. There is nothing like a mother’s touch. It is a maternal thing that belongs only to them. Through Cristina’s touch, Sashka “knows that he is safe” Through Cristina’s voice, “he knows that he is loved.” Cristina is there for Sashka and she always will be. She can provide the things that he needs, being his hands, his feet, and his eyes. Cristina is strong because Sashka needs her to be. She says, “How can I be weak? I keep moving just because he needs me.” I know that Andrei is a strong support for his entire family. Do I have to say it again? I will regardless of whether or not I need to. These are special people. I am happy to have this opportunity to honor them in this way. My hope and prayer would be that they would be able to continue in the pursuit of their dreams. I am so happy to have met them even if it is because of a difficult set of circumstances. I use words like “special” and “amazing” when trying to describe the kids that battle. They remain so resilient, giving life everything that they can through strength combined with childlike innocence. These families are special because they have been asked to do that which most of us will never know anything about. Because of this, more people need to be made aware. Once you give a little piece of your heart to these children, they come close to taking all of it. At least, that is what has happened to me. Cristina says concerning Sashka, “He is my little sunshine with a big, big heart! I love him more than I ever could imagine! I’m gonna fight for him until my last breath. Sashka is my life!” I believe you Cristina. You’re a special mom, one of two special parents. It was so nice to meet the three of you in Denver and I hope to see you all again someday! Sincerely, ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate Mai jos este pentru prietenii noștri care vorbesc română O iubire care doare - Povestea lui Sashka „Sashka mă învață cum să iubesc, cum să trăiesc, cum să prețuiesc fiecare moment. Fiecare zâmbet, fiecare zi în care nu suferă este o binecuvântare! Prin atingerea mea știe că este în siguranță. Prin vocea mea știe că este iubit ”. ~ Cristina Berliba ~ Mama și avocatul lui Sashka Întreaga experiență a trecut atât de repede. Viața părea atât de haotică pe atunci și cred că nu mi-am luat timp să mă opresc și să mă gândesc la asta. A avea copii este ceva la care majoritatea oamenilor visează, deoarece se gândesc la cursul pe care îl va lua viața lor. Da, există și provocări pe parcurs. Cu copiii, avem ocazia să ajutăm la modelarea caracterului unei persoane, ceea ce va aduce, sperăm, succesul în viitor. Pe parcurs, creăm amintiri pe măsură ce ne urmărim copiii crescând. Trăim viața împreună și împărtășim din experiența de a fi o familie. La asta așteptăm cu nerăbdare când decidem că este timpul să începem să construim o familie. Pentru soția mea și pentru mine ca un cuplu, a avea copii era ceva ce făcea doar parte dintr-o viață împreună. Amândoi aveam frați din fiecare dintre familiile noastre individuale. Nu-mi vine să cred cât de repede ne-a trecut timpul și iată-ne. Suntem un cuib gol. Ei bine aproape. Cei doi dintre cei trei băieți ai noștri au plecat de acasă și și-au făcut familii. Fiul nostru cel mic este diferit pentru că s-a născut cu nevoi speciale. El este încă cu noi după ce s-a născut acum 30 de ani. Viața noastră se învârte în jurul lui. Poveștile pe care le redau aici sunt concentrate în jurul familiilor care au copii care luptă cu boli rare și fatale. Am avut provocări pe parcurs cu fiul nostru Benjamin. Cu toate acestea, nu i s-a dat niciodată un diagnostic care să creeze genul de durere cu care se confruntă aceste familii. Da, au fost vremuri haotice pentru noi, ca o familie tânără. Păstrarea unui acoperiș deasupra capului nostru într-o zonă scumpă de trăit a fost o provocare. Viața a avut și provocările sale. La început, au fost o mulțime de întâlniri medicale. Acest lucru nu a fost neașteptat odată ce s-a descoperit că suntem părinți ai unui băiețel cu nevoi speciale. Nu am considerat niciodată că aceasta ar putea fi o posibilitate, dar ar trebui să o avem. Erau niște istorii familiale de care eram conștienți. Pentru părinții unui copil cu o boală rară și fatală, cum ar fi Batten, lucrurile stau diferit. Ambii părinți trebuie să fie purtători ai aceleiași gene defecte și atunci când sunt, este de obicei fără să știe. Acest fapt face ca situația lor să fie una atât de rară. Știrile apar de nicăieri odată ce diagnosticul este găsit. Simptomele observate la copilul lor îi conduc pe părinți în căutarea răspunsurilor, iar concluzia aduce o durere imensă, care nu este cunoscută de mulți. Tata și mama primesc adesea mai multe diagnostice în timpul căutării lor, fiecare fiind progresiv mai rău decât precedentul. Rezultatul final aduce vestea că copilul lor are o boală pentru care nu există niciun remediu și, mai grav, boala este fatală. Este denumit ca fiind rar deoarece numărul cazurilor este mic în comparație cu procentul din populația totală. Un copil afectat este prea mult și, când te gândești câți asemenea copiii sunt în lume, numărul este prea mare pentru a fi ignorat. Un vis american O poveste de familie Batten ar putea fi oriunde în lume. Batten și alte boli rare nu cunosc limite. Nu discriminează atunci când vine vorba de lucruri precum venitul sau statutul social al unei persoane. Când vine vorba de visele unui cuplu pentru viitorul lor, copiii reprezintă o parte importantă a acestui lucru. Acesta este cazul indiferent de țara sau locul în care locuiește o familie. A avea copii este ceea ce visează adesea femeile tinere. De asemenea, este ceva la care bărbații așteaptă cu nerăbdare atunci când întâlnesc fata care va fi cea pentru ei. Când vine vorba de a trăi în Statele Unite, cu toții așteptăm cu nerăbdare să participăm la ceea ce se numește visul american. Lucrurile care fac posibil acest tip de vis pot exista în majoritatea oricărei țări dezvoltate, dar termenul este cu adevărat american. Găsirea succesului prin muncă grea și creativitate pentru a ne bucura de viața împreună. Facând acest lucru într-un loc în care există libertate și oportunități. A avea o familie și a avea mijloacele necesare pentru a susține această familie din punct de vedere financiar este o parte importantă a acestui lucru. Poți locui într-un loc în care atât împrejurimile, cât și oamenii sunt frumoși, dar dacă există oportunități în altă parte, dorința ta de a fi în acel loc crește. Mutarea într-un astfel de loc poate fi interesantă și aventuroasă, iar construirea unei vieți în acel loc poate fi un vis devenit realitate. Și din nou, o parte din îndeplinirea acelui vis include o familie cu cea pe care o iubești. Cu toții ne așteptăm la provocări pe parcurs. Speranța noastră este că acestea sunt cele care pot fi îndeplinite în momentul în care apar. Rareori ne gândim la posibilitatea ca ceva copleșitor să ne vină în cale. Lucrurile la care visăm pot fi întrerupte atunci când primim știrile care aduc șoc și consternare completă. O viață pe care am ajutat-o să aducem în această lume a primit un diagnostic care implică o boală rară. Lumea nu s-a încheiat, dar a noastră a fost răsturnată. Viața care a fost cunoscută cândva a fost schimbată pentru totdeauna. Copilul care era deja atât de iubit începe să creeze în noi o dragoste care nu este ca nimeni alta. Am o intrebare. Este posibil să iubești o altă persoană atât de mult încât să doară? Este absolut și așa se întâmplă atunci când un diagnostic ca Batten este dat unui copil nevinovat. Iubirea care era deja atât de puternică este amestecată cu mâhnirea din cauza a ceea ce ni se spune că viitorul nu ne va aparține. Legătura este intensificată de ceea ce s-a întâmplat. Am auzit de la mai mulți părinți care mi-au spus cum este când își aduc aminte cînd li s-a dat diagnostic. Sau și mai rău, cum este, după acea vizită la medic și ce întorsătură ia viața de atunci încolo. Nu poți concepe că acest copil care arată perfect sănătos poate suferi o boală fatală. Există lucruri care stau în așteptare. Începe o călătorie despre care nu se știa până atunci și năvălește peste acea familie. Șocul și confuzia lasă în cele din urmă loc de rezolvare și o voință aprigă de luptă. Detaliile sunt ceea ce am luat în seamă și sunt motivul pentru care scriu. O iubire profundă și nemuritoare. Fiecare dintre acești războinici mici produce în noi sentimente mai puternice decât oricare altul. Așa cum au loc aceste povești, ele încep aproape întotdeauna când doi oameni se întâlnesc. Detaliile despre cum se reunesc pot varia, dar rezultatul este întotdeauna același. Uneori, atracția este instantanee. Doi oameni se îndrăgostesc și devin inseparabili. Cristina Berliba vorbește despre ziua în care ea și soțul ei s-au întâlnit. Cristina a spus acest lucru: „Îmi amintesc acea zi de decembrie ... A fost o zi cu multă zăpadă și friguroasă. Ne-am întâlnit la o petrecere de ziua de naștere și din acea zi am știut că Andrei va fi soțul meu. Am avut acel sentiment când știi că este persoana ta. O poți simți cu pielea ta ”. Este uimitor să luăm în considerare modul în care doi oameni își pot începe viața individuală cu propriile lor planuri de viitor. Odată ce se întâlnesc, viața lor urmează un curs diferit și acel curs include persoana pe care a cunoscut-o. Povestea include viața în America, dar nu începe așa. Această poveste începe de fapt într-o țară numită Moldova. Țara se învecinează cu România și Ucraina în Europa de Est. O țară care se bazează puternic pe agricultură ca parte majoră a economiei sale, Moldova a trecut prin multe schimbări geopolitice de-a lungul istoriei sale. Aici s-au întâlnit Andrei Berliba și Cristina Budiș. Ar dura ceva timp pentru ca ambele drumuri să se întâlnească, fiecare dintre ei fiind ocupat să-și dezvolte propriile cariere. Amândoi aveau planuri pentru viitorul lor, atât Andrei cât și Cristina aveau studii în domeniul jurisprudenței. Cristina a fost studentă la Drept la Universitatea de Stat din Moldova din Chisinău. În timp ce era studentă, Cristinei i s-a oferit ocazia să vină în America și să lucreze în timpul verii. S-a întâmplat timp de două veri, atât în 2010, cât și în 2011. Denali, Alaska, este un loc extrem de frumos, cu multe locuri de vizitat. Aici Cristina va fi expusă culturii americane și va deveni impresionată de ceea ce văzuse. A fost impresionată de natura muncitoare a oamenilor cu care a intrat în contact. Alaska este un loc bun pentru a întâlni asemenea oameni! Vorbind despre munca grea, Cristina și-a dat propriul exemplu pe care să-l vadă alții în timp ce se afla în Alaska. În timp ce era acolo, a lucrat la Grande Denali Lodge și la celebrul restaurant King Salmon. La ora patru dimineața era trezirea și la locul de muncă la cinci, zilele ei erau foarte aglomerate. A lucrat atât ca casieră, cât și ca gazdă lacresraurant. Îmi pot imagina doar că a fost distractiv atât pentru Cristina, cât și pentru oamenii cu care a fost în contact. Acest lucru, pe măsură ce au ajuns să o cunoască și să audă despre țara din care provine. Din propriile sale cuvinte, „am avut două veri nebune fără somn”. Experiența de a trăi și de a lucra în Alaska ar lăsa o impresie asupra Cristinei și a contribuit la modelarea viitorului ei. Cristina a decis că i-ar plăcea să trăiască într-o zi în America și că ar trebui să aplice pentru loteriaGreen Card. A făcut exact asta și apoi a uitat de asta. Viața merge înainte! Înțeles unul pentru celălalt Acest lucru ar avea loc înainte ca Cristina să-și întâlnească partenerul de viață Andrei. În ceea ce îl privește pe Andrei, el dorise o carieră în forțele de ordine. Câțiva ani înainte de întâlnirea lor, Andrei a absolvit Academia de Poliție din România. Pentru a fi exact, din orașul București. După finalizarea Academiei, Andrei a decis să-și „încerce soarta” într-un oraș mic din Spania. El a locuit și lucrat acolo timp de șapte ani înainte ca el și Cristina să se întâlnească în acea zi friguroasă de decembrie. Abia după ce Cristina fusese în Alaska și aplicase pentru Green Card, ea și Andrei se vor întâlni. Așa cum Cristina ne-a spus deja, știa că Andrei era bărbatul potrivit pentru ea. Nu-mi pot imagina decât că Andrei simțise aceeași atracție față de Cristina. Erau meniți unul pentru celălalt! Acești doi oameni care anterior aveau obiective proprii de atins acum se aveau reciproc. După ce a devenit bărbat și soție, Cristina s-a mutat în Spania împreună cu Andrei. Doar câteva luni mai târziu, când a fost acolo, cuplul ar fi surprins cu știrea că au câștigat Green Card-ul. Atât de multe schimbări, atât de repede și acum, o mare oportunitate. Au făcut ceea ce ar face majoritatea cuplurilor din situația lor. S-au mutat! Cristina explică următoarele: „Ne-am mutat în America în 2013. Un cuplu tânăr, cu două bagaje ... fără bani în buzunare, dar cu un vis american imens!” De câte ori am auzit povești atât de asemănătoare? Un tânăr cuplu se întâlnește și se îndrăgostește. Ei încep o viață împreună care este atât de plină de potențial și, în acest caz, ar avea loc atât de repede. Înainte să știe asta, Andrei și Cristina începeau o nouă viață împreună în America. S-au mutat în orașul Sacramento, în statul California. Tânărul cuplu au început o nouă viață într-un mod destul de aventuros, într-un loc nou-nouț. Ce palpitant! Andrei își găsea de lucru și își înființau o gospodărie pentru a începe să-și formeze noua viață. Cu siguranță, a avea copii a fost o mare parte din visul pe carel-au avut. Acea parte a visului lor american a început săprindă contur. Asta întrucât Cristina aștepta în curând primul lor copil. Crescând în Moldova, Cristina se îndrăgostise de numele Alexandru. A făcut-o la o vârstă fragedă. Acesta este numele pe care ea și Andrei au fost de acord să-i dea primul copil născut în cazul în care Cristina ar fi avut un băiat. Spune-i intuiția unei mame sau orice vrei tu. Din prima zi în care Cristina a primit vestea că este însărcinată, a simțit în sine că va avea un băiat. Își va purta bebelușul pe termen și fără complicații majore până la momentul în care avea să nască. Ar fi prima săptămână din noiembrie 2014 când va sosi ziua cea mare. Cristina a avut ceva muncă grea în fața ei. Munca cu nou-născutul ei ar fi o sarcină lungă și dificilă, deoarece Cristina a petrecut 32 de ore în travaliu. Pe măsură ce timpul a continuat, atunci s-a decis că va fi supusă unei operații de cezariană de urgență. Acest lucru pentru a livra copilul în siguranță. Așadar, pe 2 noiembrie 2014, primul fiu născut al lui Andrei și al Cristinei își va face intrarea în viața lor. Scena se va juca la Mercy General Hospital din Sacramento, California. Nu este de mirare că băiețelul lor a avut atât de greu ieșirea din burtica mamei sale. A venit în această lume cântărind 4,530 grame și avea o lungime de 56 de centimetri. Era un bebeluș mare și, în același timp, era un băiețel frumos. Cuvintele proprii ale Cristinei descriu sentimentele ei în timp ce Alexandru și-a făcut apariția, „... era atât de prețios și dulce încât merita toată suferința mea” Da, i s-ar fi dat numele pe care îl adorase Cristina încă din tinerețe, dar va ajunge să fie cunoscut sub numele de Sashka. Acest nume este un derivat al lui Alexandru. Baby Sashka era un omuleț fără cusur, având toate degetele de la mîini și de la picioare. Sashka era un bebeluș drăguț și era oh, atât de sănătos! Andrei avea să-și întâlnească fiul nou-nouț imediat după ce s-a născut, dar biata mamă va trebui să aștepte un timp. Medicul, după toate, a trebuit să termine cu operația ei. Ar merita așa așteptarea și a-și ține bebelușul pentru prima dată a fost o experiență specială. O parte dintr-un vis devenit realitate! Atât de multe se petrecuseră într-o perioadă scurtă de timp. Andrei și Cristina se găsiseră unul pe celălalt și a fi împreună era lucrul potrivit pentru fiecare dintre ei. Apoi a venit șansa de a te muta într-un loc plin de oportunități și aventuri. Cum trebuie să fi fost în acest moment în timp ce bebelușul Sashka și-a făcut intrarea în viața cuplului. Am menționat faptul că era un copil drăguț și perfect? Am făcut-o, dar merită menționat încă o dată. Atât Andrei, cât și Cristina au fost atât de fericiți, iar viața lor împreună în America a prins contur. Așa cum ne-am aștepta, Sashka va crește în stadiul de dezvoltare a copilului. Totul la el era adorabil pentru cei care îl iubeau. Părinților săi îi plăcea să-l privească în timp ce se târâ și apoi în timp ce stătea cu ajutorul lucrurilor din jur. El a afișat toate semnele de progres pe care părinții le plac atât de mult să le vadă. Sashka era pe cale să devină un om mic fermecător și, într-o zi, în curând, va lua zborul când începea să meargă. Acest lucru s-a întâmplat la vârsta de un an. Nu au existat îngrijorări majore, deoarece Sashka l-a vizitat pe medic pentru controlul său la vârsta de 2 ani. La urma urmei, era atât de sănătos. O întrebare pe care doctorul o avea la acea vreme se referea la numărul de cuvinte pe care Sashka le folosea în prezent. La aceasta, Cristina avea să răspundă că Sashka folosea doar câteva cuvinte. De ce ar fi aceasta o preocupare? Ei bine, este normal ca un copil să folosească până la 20 de cuvinte până la vârsta de 18 luni. Unii vor folosi până la 50 de cuvinte până când vor ajunge la vârsta de 2 ani. Cu siguranță sunt acelea care ar folosi mai puțin în acel moment. A fost ceva de urmărit. Ar avea Sashka o perioadă mai dificilă în domeniul dezvoltării discursului său? Unii copii sunt mai lenți în această zonă a dezvoltării lor. Uneori, dezvoltarea lentă în acest domeniu poate fi un indicator al existenței unei probleme mai mari. Cu toate acestea, nu a existat niciun motiv pentru a fi prea îngrijorat în acest moment. O viata frumoasa Viața a fost frumoasă pentru această mică familie și lucrurile ar începe să se îmbunătățească și mai mult. Acest lucru se datorează faptului că Cristina ar rămâne însărcinată cu al doilea copil. Încă o dată, atât Andrei, cât și Cristina au fost încântați. De data aceasta i s-a alăturat entuziasmului micuțul Sashka. În curând avea să aibă un coleg de joacă în casă. Viața lor împreună se contura pentru a fi o viață americană obișnuită, dar specială, împreună. Lucrurile ar merge din nou conform planului. Ocazia fericită va avea loc în aprilie 2017. Sashka avea doi ani și jumătate, când familiei i s-a alăturat un alt băiețel. Pe acesta îl vor numi Dan și, ca și fratele său mai mare, era un om mic adorabil în devenire. Sashka și-a iubit fratele mai mic de la bun început și a fost atât de încântat să-l aibă în casă. Cristina a descris interacțiunea dintre cei doi frați și care era starea de spirit în familie la acel moment, „El (Sashka) era atât de fericit. Îi plăcea să-i dea o mulțime de sărutări și îmbrățișări fratelui său Dan, toată ziua. Am fost cea mai fericită familie din lume. ” O mamă și un tată care s-au iubit enorm și doi băieți foarte speciali, cu atâtea lucruri de așteptat. Aceasta a fost o mică poveste perfectă, în timp ce visele acestui cuplu se împlineau. Cât de incitant a trebuit să construiască o viață împreună ca o familie tânără în ceea ce era pentru ei, un loc foarte special. Fiecare familie va avea lupte pe parcurs și nu contează unde trăim sau de unde suntem. Lucrurile se întâmplă. Sperăm că majoritatea încercărilor experimentate vor fi depășite, dar uneori apar lucruri care sunt mai dificil de manevrat. Nimeni nu vrea să vadă o experiență a copilului încercând circumstanțe, dar uneori se întâmplă și asta. În curând, familia Berliba va începe să experimenteze lucruri pe care o familie obișnuită nu le va vedea pe măsură ce cresc împreună. La fel cum o vor face mulți părinți, Cristina își amintește datele care sunt semnificative pentru călătoria pe care o parcurg. Ziua de 19 iulie 2017 i-a zguduit ca familie, deoarece aceasta ar fi ziua în care Sashka a avut prima criză. Cristina îmi spunea că a fost „cea mai înspăimântătoare zi” din viața lor. . Serviciile de urgență au fost chemate. Cu siguranță văd cât de traumatică ar fi această experiență. Sashka a fost intubat pentru a se asigura că respirația nu a fost obstrucționată și apoi a fost transportat la spitalul UC Davis din Sacramento. Starea sa a fost denumită Status Epilepticus. Am fost internați patru zile cît s-au efectuat mai multe teste diferite în acel moment. Au inclus o puncție lombară, teste de sânge și urină, RMN și raze X. În plus față de toate acestea, ei ar efectua un EEG. Toate testele au fost cu rezultat negativ, cu excepția cazului EEG. Acest test a arătat că creierașul lui Sashka avea o activitate epileptică mărită. Andrei și Cristina l-ar lua apoi pe Sashka acasă, fiind diagnosticat cu epilepsie. La acea vreme, aceasta părea a fi cea mai proastă veste pe care părinții ar putea să o primească cu privire la copilul lor. Cu toate acestea, epilepsia este ceva care poate fi rezolvat. Sashka lor ar putea avea provocări de-a lungul vieții sale și ar trebui să le împărtășească ca familie. În acest moment, Sashka a avut un diagnostic pentru o afecțiune pe care ar putea să o ia cu el până la maturitate. Ar putea trăi o viață aproape normală cu circumstanțe speciale. Desigur, epilepsia poate fi controlată cu medicamentele adecvate și o persoană poate funcționa atunci când convulsiile sunt sub control. În viitorul foarte apropiat, Sashka va fi pus sub îngrijirea unui neurolog și i se va prescrie medicamentul pentru epilepsie numit Keppra. Acest lucru ar menține convulsiile sub control pentru o perioadă scurtă de timp. Cu toate acestea, au existat mai multe lucruri care aveau să aibă loc în curând. Cristina și-a amintit de ziua exactă în care s-au întors convulsiile. Sashka a avut a doua sa criză pe 4 noiembrie. Aceasta ar fi la doar două zile după a treia zi de naștere a lui Sashka. Un timp care ar trebui să fie umplut de fericire a fost, în schimb, un timp pentru îngrijorare profundă. Când s-au întors convulsiile, au făcut-o cu răzbunare. Sashka avea o mare criză la fiecare patru zile. Cât de neajutorat trebuie să-i fi făcut pe părinții Sashka să se simtă pe măsură ce toate acestea au avut loc. Crizele mari au fost feroce și atât de greu de urmărit. Viața care fusese simplă și atât de dulce devenea acum mult mai complexă. Desigur, neurologul a fost consultat în timpul tuturor acestor lucruri și a urmat o întâlnire de urmărire. Personalul de la UC Davis este foarte calificat, iar neurologul lui Sashka, Dr. Benko, ar fi inclus în această categorie. Știa că există posibilitatea să aibă loc mai mult decât simpla epilepsie. Recomandarea sa a fost ca Sashka să fie supus testelor genetice pentru a vedea dacă se întâmplă ceva mai mult. A avut loc mai mult decât simpla epilepsie? Andrei și Cristina ar dori, desigur, să știe dacă există mai multe situații și ar căuta să se efectueze testarea. Părinților li s-a spus că compania lor de asigurări nu va acoperi costul testării. Cum ar putea fi aceasta? Ei bine, din cauza diagnosticului oficial pe care Sashka îl primise deja, compania de asigurări nu a considerat că testarea este necesară. Cum s-ar putea să nu se califice? Cristina își va face cercetările și va afla că este mai ieftin să se facă testele în Rusia decât în Statele Unite. Și așa s-ar fi deplasat la Moscova pentru a face testul. Convulsiile lui Sashka începuseră pe 19 iulie 2017 și urmau să călătorească la Moscova pe 8 februarie 2018. Găsirea răspunsului Îmi pot imagina doar că călătoria a fost una neliniștită, cu tot ce se petrecea cu Sashka. Nu numai asta, ci perioada de așteptare pentru a primi rezultatul trebuie să fi părut mult timp. Ar fi nevoie de aproximativ cinci luni pentru a primi concluziile care aveau să se apropie de sfârșitul lunii iunie. Ceea ce ar dezvălui testul a luat-o pe Cristina complet prin surprindere. Trebuie să fi fost atât de dificil să citești concluziile în timp ce erau singuri acasă. Sashka a fost diagnosticat cu boala CLN2 Batten. Acesta este motivul pentru care au fost cauzate crize și de aceea au fost atât de incontrolabile. Sashka avea o tulburare metabolică de care Cristina nu auzise niciodată. De fapt, nu știa că așa ceva există chiar. Majoritatea părinților nu ar lua în considerare niciodată faptul că așa ceva ar putea fi posibil. Cum s-ar putea întâmpla acest lucru cu o familie tânără atât de specială? Tulburările genetice nu cunosc limite și nu discriminează. Trebuiau să fie atât de multe întrebări la care trebuia să se răspundă în acel moment. Cum s-ar putea întâmpla așa ceva? Viața era atât de perfectă cu doar câteva luni înainte și acum, situația devenise atât de complicată. Familia Berliba avea să se întoarcă la cabinetul medicului, doar câteva zile mai târziu, cu rezultatele testelor în mână. Cristina a descris ce s-a întâmplat când s-au întors la cabinetul medicului. Ea a vorbit despre răspunsul medicului în timp ce acesta se uita la rezultatele testelor: „În trei zile ne-am repezit în camera neurologului și i-am arătat rezultatele medicului nostru. A rămas fără cuvinte ... prima dată în viață a avut un pacient cu acest diagnostic. Prima dată în cariera sa de peste 20 de ani. ” Un medic care era bine versat în tulburările genetice nu întâlnise niciodată un pacient cu boala CLN2 Batten. Cristina a spus că nu-și poate aminti tot conținutul acelei conversații cu dr. Benko, dar își amintește un lucru sigur. Adică medicul i-a sfătuit pe ea și pe Andrei să „facă amintiri”. Cât de rău te doare când auzi așa ceva? Auzind că a face amintiri este singurul lucru asupra căruia aveți control. La fel ca mulți părinți care primesc un tip similar de diagnostic pentru copiii lor, familia Berliba au fost plini de șoc și deznădejde. Răspunsul medicului în timp ce lucrurile se desfășurau a arătat o atitudine de compasiune grijulie. Ar face tot posibilul să facă tot ce putea. După cum mi-ar spune Cristina, „El ne-a promis că va face posibilul și imposibilul să aibă grijă de băiatul nostru”. De fapt, el i-ar ajuta pe Andrei și Cristina să găsească ceva care ar avea un impact major în bătălia fiului lor împotriva CLN2 Batten. Totuși, acest lucru nu va avea loc imediat, iar ei vor avea timp să ia în considerare cu ce se confruntau. Aceasta a fost noua lor realitate când au venit acasă și s-au uitat la Sashka lor în timp ce se juca. Cristina descrie care au fost gândurile și sentimentele ei la acea vreme, „Am venit acasă și îl priveam, Sashka sărea și alerga în jur, se juca cu fratele său mai mic, zâmbea și savura cartofii prăjiți preferați. Și nici nu mi-aș fi putut imagina că peste câteva luni, Sashka meu nu va mai putea să meargă, să stea, să vorbească și chiar să-și țină capul." Cristina s-ar referi la ceea ce s-a întâmplat ca pe un coșmar și din care nu s-au putut trezi. Atunci și încă acum, ei nu pot să o facă să dispară. Timp de mulți ani, familiile cărora li s-a dat un diagnostic precum CLN2 Batten nu au avut deloc nicio speranță. Poate exista doar speranță, probabil, din cauza faptului că există cercetători care lucrează pentru o vindecare. Indiferent, familiile își vor da seama întotdeauna că trebuie să facă tot ce este posibil pentru a-și ajuta copiii să lupte. Părinții găsesc puterea de a continua, deoarece aceasta este singura alegere pe care o au. Aici s-ar regăsi Andrei și Cristina, dar vor fi vești bune aproape imediat. Momentul diagnosticelor a fost unul pozitiv. Aceasta a fost că FDA a aprobat recent o nouă terapie. Terapia a folosit o soluție numită Brineura pentru perfuzii pentru a înlocui enzima care lipsea lui Sashka. Copiii primesc perfuzii în creier printr-un port care este plasat chirurgical în capul lor. Sperăm că acest lucru va îmbunătăți calitatea vieții lui Sashka, oferindu-i în același timp o longevitate mai mare. Dr. Benko a sunat-o pe Cristina și a îndemnat-o să îl aducă pe Sashka în acest tratament. Ceea ce trebuie să pară un vârtej de evenimente a dus la o mare confuzie din partea Cristinei și știa că are nevoie de mai multe informații. Cu aceasta, spune ea la fel de mult: „Am fost atât de confuză, încât nu am înțeles despre ce vorbea el, cum poate o infuzie să intre în creier. Mi-am dat seama că trebuie să studiez mult mai multe despre această boală genetică. ” Au fost trimiși la Spitalul de Copii din Orange County, deoarece acesta era singurul spital din California care făcea perfuziile cu Brineura în acel moment. Aceasta ar fi o mare distanță de Sacramento, dar era singura speranță a acestei familii. Andrei și Cristina s-au întâlnit cu medicul responsabil la CHOC și el ar fi trimis la spitalul UCSF Benioff din Oakland, California. Distanța dintre Oakland și Sacramento era mult mai mică. Acest lucru ar fi binevenit și mult apreciat de către familia Berliba. La UCSF Benioff, s-ar întâlni cu medicul care i-a explicat tot ce privește perfuziile și cum funcționează acestea. El ar include cât de des ar primi Sashka perfuziile și care ar fi riscurile. Operația de implantare a portului Sashka a fost programată pentru luna septembrie 2018. Cât de dificil ar fi părinții unui copil la fel de mic ca Sashka ... să-și imagineze fiul sau fiica lor mică trecând printr-o astfel de procedură? Vor fi multe lacrimi vărsate pentru ceea ce se întâmpla. Chiar și așa, au început infuziile cu Brineura. Pentru mine, acesta este un angajament greu din partea oricărei familii implicate și toate acestea au respectul meu. Perfuzia se administrează la fiecare două săptămâni și asta înseamnă de fiecare dată o altă călătorie la spital. Întreaga experiență de a începe trebuie să fie suprarealistă înainte de momentul în care lucrurile devin de rutină. Diferit și încă frumos Era esențial ca familia Berliba să-l testeze pe fratele mai mic al lui Sashka, Dan, pentru a se asigura că nu va fi afectat de boala Batten. Vestea foarte bună a fost că testul său a revenit arătând că nu are Batten. Totuși, în viitorul său, va fi testat pentru a vedea dacă este purtător al bolii Batten. Deocamdată totul este în regulă pentru fratele Dan! Nu după mult timp după diagnostic, Cristina va afla că familia lor aparține unei întregi comunități din întreaga lume. O comunitate pe care ea nici măcar nu o cunoscuse exista. Anterior, ea și Andrei nici măcar nu au considerat că o afecțiune genetică rară ar putea afecta fiul lor. Acum știau și vor afla despre sprijinul disponibil online și prin organizații precum Asociația de Cercetare și Asistență pentru Boli Batten (BDSRA). Grupurile care existau prin intermediul rețelelor de socializare ar deveni parte a sprijinului lor pe măsură ce Cristina comunica cu familiile care treceau prin același lucru. Ei au aflat că nu au fost singuri în această bătălie, deși, uneori, se simte încă o existență singură. Timpul a trecut pe măsură ce această poveste este scrisă și Sashka se luptat. Selupta așa cum te-ai aștepta de la un mic războinic, arătând un tip de rezistență pe care doar acești copii îl pot avea, dar este fost dificil. Întreaga luptă este dificilă atât pentru Sashka, cât și pentru părinții săi. Nu există dragoste ca dragostea unei mame și acest lucru a fost deosebit de greu pentru Cristina. Cu aceasta, ea vorbește despre dificultatea de la început și până în acest moment, „A fost greu, a fost atât de greu să vezi cum lupta, cum plângea ... dar acum, după doi ani de perfuzii, este mai greu de realizat că nu mai este capabil să lupte, că durerea este normală pentru el ... ” Există întotdeauna provocări fiind părinte al unui copil cu nevoi speciale. În calitate de părinți pentru copii cu nevoi speciale, putem mărturisi acest fapt. Cu toate acestea, trebuie știut că părinții care au un copil cu o boală rară se vor confrunta cu unele provocări severe, care nu sunt cunoscute de mulți. Ceea ce era de așteptat pentru o viață împreună aici în Statele Unite a fost schimbat dramatic odată cu diagnosticul lui Batten. Cristina a descris cum sunt majoritatea zilelor ei și cum s-au schimbat acele zile din cauza lui Batten, ”Desigur, viața noastră s-a schimbat foarte mult. Programările medicale sunt obligatorii. Infuzii, terapii fizice și ocupaționale .... există vizite cu neurologi, reumatologi, dentisti, ortotici și pediatru. Ziua mea este ocupată și fiecare mamă a unui copil cu nevoi speciale știe despre asta. Există zeci de apeluri telefonice pentru medicamente, reînnoiri de prescripții, lupte pentru echipamente medicale etc. ” Rutina zilnică a lui Sashka îndepărtează timpul care ar fi petrecut socializând sau plecând în vacanță, dar merită atât de mult sacrificarea timpului. Luptă în fiecare zi și merită părinții care sunt acolo pentru a-l ajuta în lupta sa. Are asta și are dragostea părinților săi. Un tip de iubire profundă și nemuritoare. Uneori este totul copleșitor pentru Cristina, dar ea continuă să lupte. Andrei este stânca ei și un mare sprijin pentru familia sa. O mare parte din forța lor vine prin lupta împreună. Aceștia sunt oameni dulci. Am călătorit la Denver la conferința familiei Batten în iulie 2019 pentru a petrece timp cu prietenii și cunoscuții din comunitatea Batten. Fiecare dintre aceste conferințe este un eveniment special, deși pot fi și copleșitoare. Atât de mulți tineri războinici, cu familiile lor, într-un singur loc. Am petrecut mult timp în hol în timp ce familiile veneau și plecau și nu voi uita niciodată să-i văd pe Andrei și Cristina venind cu Sashka. Deși nu am ajuns să-i cunosc atât de bine înainte de acel moment, ei s-au îndreptat imediat spre noi. Ne-au salutat călduros. Am putut petrece timp împreună și mai târziu ne-au invitat chiar să ni le alăturăm la o microberărie care se află într-un cartier din spatele hotelului. A fost o ocazie specială și care va oferi întotdeauna amintiri speciale. Toată conversația s-a ținut despre Sashka. De atâtea ori am scris despre intensitatea legăturii dintre copiii care luptă și oamenii care îi îngrijesc. Când cineva are nevoie de tine, vreau să spun că într-adevăr are nevoie de tine, pentru îngrijirea cea mai de bază și dincolo de asta ... și asta se amestecă cu durerea din cauza situației lor. Există un tip de iubire care se dezvoltă și este amestecat cu dureri în inimă. Aceasta este o iubire care doare. Nu există nicio modalitate prin care o persoană în această poziție să renunțe sau să cedeze, dar poate fi dificil atunci când iubești pe cineva atât de profund. Am putut vedea amestecul de emoții pe chipul Cristinei în timp ce vorbeam. Aceasta este o mică familie specială, cu siguranță și ceea ce experimentează poate aduce dificultăți, spre deosebire de multe altele. Este un privilegiu să-i cunoști și să știi, de asemenea, câte ceva despre povestea lor. Marele lor vis american este încă în viață, dar călătoria pe care se desfășoară familia Berliba a oferit unele provocări reale. Viața este destul de diferită de ceea ce era de așteptat, dar mai sunt lucruri minunate de experimentat. Sashka îi învață pe tatăl său și pe mama sa despre un tip de dragoste care nu este ca nimeni altul. El își învață familia despre lucrurile care sunt importante în viață și cum să le ia în fiecare zi, câte unul. Cu fiecare zâmbet de la Sashka, părinții lui zâmbesc în schimb, pentru că atunci știu că are o zi bună. Fiecare zi în care știu că este liber de durere este „o binecuvântare” pentru ei. Sashka știe că este iubit prin atingerea celor care îl iubesc. „Știe că este în siguranță”. În timp ce Sashka își cuprindea odată fratele său mic Dan, Dan îl iubește acum pe Sashka și este cu siguranță foarte dulce de văzut. Oricum ar fi, ambii simt dragostea. Da, există mulți tati grozavi în comunitatea Batten și nu numai, dar sunt încă un credincios ferm că nu există dragoste ca dragostea unei mame. Nu există nimic asemănător cu atingerea unei mame. Este un lucru matern care le aparține doar lor. Prin atingerea Cristinei, Sashka „știe că este în siguranță” Prin vocea Cristinei, „știe că este iubit”. Cristina este acolo pentru Sashka și va fi mereu. Ea poate oferi lucrurile de care are nevoie, fiind mâinile (senzațiile), picioarele (mersul) și ochii (văzul) lui. Cristina este puternică pentru că Sashka are nevoie de ea. Ea spune: „Cum pot fi slabă? Continui să trăiesc doar pentru că are nevoie de mine ”. Știu că Andrei este un sprijin puternic pentru întreaga sa familie. Trebuie să o spun din nou? Voi face indiferent dacă am sau nu nevoie. Aceștia sunt oameni speciali. Mă bucur că am ocazia să-i onorez în acest fel. Speranța și rugăciunea mea ar fi că vor putea continua să-și urmărească visele. Sunt atât de fericit că i-am întâlnit, chiar dacă este din cauza unui set dificil de circumstanțe. Folosesc cuvinte precum „special” și „uimitor” atunci când încerc să descriu copiii care luptă. Ei rămân atât de rezistenți, dând vieții tot ce pot prin forță combinată cu inocența copilului. Aceste familii sunt speciale, deoarece li s-a cerut să facă ceea ce majoritatea dintre noi nu vor ști niciodată nimic. Din acest motiv, mai mulți oameni trebuie să fie conștienți. Odată ce le dai o mică bucată din inimă acestor copii, aceștia urmează să te fascineze pentru tot restul vieții. Cel puțin așa mi s-a întâmplat. Cristina spune despre Sashka: „El este micul meu soare cu o inimă mare, mare! Îl iubesc mai mult decât mi-aș fi putut imagina vreodată! Voi lupta pentru el până la ultima mea suflare. Sashka este viața mea! ” Te cred Cristina. Ești o mamă specială, unul dintre cei doi părinți speciali. A fost atât de frumos să vă cunosc pe voi trei în Denver și sper să vă revăd pe toți cândva! Cu sinceritate, ~ Greg Lopez ~ Blogger și avocat  The complete picture! “That was the day I will never forget because the world stood still. My heart and soul was forever changed and so damaged, and Lydia had no idea what I had just learned. I couldn't face her for hours. I told my family and I watched my strong dad cry and my mother break down. Every day after was the same.” ~Alicia Headrick~ Lydia’s mom and advocate So similar are the stories of those who have learned that their child is battling Batten disease. This, even though many of the details of each story may be different. They all however, share in common the experience of caring for a child with a rare and fatal disease. Some families have had more than one child that has battled or who may be currently involved. The experience shared involves a type of heartache that is profound. The only thing that can overcome the heartache of the battle is a type of love that is like none other. Love that is undying and which helps a person to move forward. This in order to do whatever it takes for the sake of the one that battles. These are children that we are talking about, defenseless and in need of the attention that is poured out. The circumstances involved may be different but the stories are so similar in terms of the commitment. I was once told by the mother of a young Batten warrior that the journey that is Batten disease can be a lonely existence. I can only imagine that she was speaking the truth. Somewhere on the planet sits a mother with her child. It doesn’t matter where that place might be although it could be several places, all at one time. In fact, that place exists anywhere a young mom moves through the day with one goal in place. That is to help her child to experience the greatest amount of joy that is possible while battling a disease that neither of them has any control over. Things like paying the bills and taking care of the basics is a struggle but it is one that has to be faced. This child after all, is more important than anything else in the mom’s existence. This child is the center of her world and her reason for waking each morning. Everything that is done comes from a love that is mixed with heartache. These, in combination with each other, provide a type of emotion that is not felt by many and it creates a bond that cannot be equaled. The daily tasks are many and each one is necessary for the welfare of the young warrior. The days are so long and sleep is often fleeting. Some are sympathetic to what is happening within the walls of the place of dwelling and still, there are those that turn a blind eye. Good as gold are friends and family that are willing to extend a hand of support. Not everyone will take the time to consider the special nature of these children. It often seems that they are sent to teach us things and to change us in ways that no one else can. This type of thinking may evade those that are the closest and in the middle of the battle. From a distance, they are more clearly seen. There is another scene that plays out in various places at any time. In a hospital, having lost track of the number of times they have been there, is a set of parents with their Batten warrior. So often, we are talking about a mom because dad had no choice but to return to work. Complications have set in with their child’s health yet again and they are things that have come along as a result of the battle with Batten. Relentless is the disease as time continues but it is incapable of diminishing the love that exists. Whatever it takes on any given day. Everything that is done is done so out of love and a bond that is greater than any other. It is more than most any can know about. Why do these stories matter? You have to take the time to pay attention. As a parent to someone who has special needs, I find that the kids that battle a rare disease like Batten are the most amazing. They are so resilient along the way and they are that for as long as they are allowed to be so. What they do to the human heart is something that is more than words can often describe. It is a tragedy anytime a parent receives the news that their child has a fatal disease for which there is no cure. Many of the details of what will follow will create a type of love story that has made me take notice. There are many that I am aware of now but in the beginning, there was this one young mom in particular. She had told me that anyone would have done what she had. While many will do anything necessary for their child’s welfare and well-being, not all will be asked to do things that take real courage. It takes courage, when being a young single mom, you have to pick up and leave the home that you are familiar with. Not knowing what awaits you, you leave because you have no other choice. Your daughter’s needs come first and this causes you to take action. Being an ordinary person, without an immense amount of support, you just pick up and move to a place where help exists. No Love Like It  As the battle begins. I met Alicia Headrick in the same way that I have met other parents of kids that battle Batten. That being through social media. The resemblance between herself and her little girl, who is named Lydia, was striking. I have said a couple of things about the love that exists between a mother and her daughter in the past. Being a dad to three boys, I am simply making an observation or two as I state - There is no love like a mother’s love and, there is no bond like that which exists between a mother and her daughter. There seems to be something kind of dramatic to me about a young mom getting into a car with her tiny daughter and leaving home after receiving the worst news possible. Searching for any help that may be available. Finding it and petitioning those responsible to make sure that her daughter is included. Not knowing what her new surroundings will be like, nor what the future will hold. Just going because there is no other choice. I approached Alicia about the possibility of working with me to which she responded by showing interest. So much has taken place since that day and what I write here will be a snapshot of the entire story. Alicia had asked me if I was good at piecing information together after she agreed to work with me and I said that I was. As a result, she forwarded to me several emails that could be used to construct her story. What I found as I read through them helped me to form an opinion about her that has stayed with me to this day. My feelings were only strengthened when I met Alicia and Lydia at the Batten conference in Nashville. This was that she was an intelligent and articulate young woman. As I looked at the emails, I found the details concerning a single mom on a search for answers. Frantic over what was taking place with her daughter, she reached out to the medical community, looking for someone that could help her daughter. At this point, little Lydia is one that has battled but in the beginning, there was so much that Alicia had yet to learn. With the following, she talked about all that she was just finding out, “I don’t understand why, when Batten parents reach out to me and tell their child’s story, it always starts out so similar to mine. How their child was so healthy and so active and happy when little. Even a few of the kids have a laugh like Lydia’s that’s so contagious. They were enjoying life and love and family and their child was and is the center of all this goodness. Then major symptoms start to show, and you are told your hopes and dreams will just remain hopes and dreams. There’s all these what-ifs and fears and nightmares, and any new possible sign or symptom of regression sends such a terrible feeling straight into your heart.” Having learned so much, she now understands more than one would want to know exists.  A life changing event! These days, there is greater awareness but there is much more that needs to be done. When a parent finally receives the diagnosis of Batten disease, it often comes after an exhaustive search for answers. Sometimes a person has had to deal with a number of different doctors to get answers and it takes a long time to get through the maze. Along the way, a child can be given a false diagnosis. Sometimes, there is more than one. Once the cause is determined, the news brings devastation. The parent finds out. The child that they have brought into this world has a disease for which there is no cure, and it is fatal. All of a sudden, a grieving process begins and that grief is for someone that is still with you. Soon, and even though the heartache continues, a sense of determination takes over. A love that is profound and a bond that cannot be broken will be revealed through action. This child needs you and you are determined to give your very best to help him or her battle. From a distance, what is revealed to those of us who look on, is a type of love story that is like none other. Honoring the child that battles, as well as, those who are by their side is the reason that I write. This is another opportunity to share a story of one that battles. A very special one at that, so let’s get started. Alicia Headrick had dreams and aspirations for her life as she was growing up and I am certain that being a mom was a big part of what she had dreamed of. This would become a reality for Alicia as she gave birth to a baby of her very own. The big event would take place in the state of Tennessee and in the city of Chattanooga to be specific. Alicia’s baby would be named Lydia Rose. Baby Lydia would make her appearance into this world in the usual way, and without major complications. To this mom of a baby girl, it would be no ordinary event. Rather, it was one that would change her life forever. I am certain that she was not the only baby that was born in the city of Chattanooga on the day of August the 27th, 2011. She was however, to Alicia, the most beautiful. It would be difficult to argue that she was not. Lydia Rose had all of her fingers and toes and she was covered in brand new baby skin. She was a princess from the very first sight of her. Alicia was a mom! The bond that had begun to develop as Alicia carried her unborn daughter only intensified as Lydia was handed to her. Life’s circumstances can take us to places that we might not expect them to and as it was, Alicia would begin parenting as a single mom. Yes, there were concerns about what the future may hold but any that might exist would be overshadowed by the joy Alicia was feeling. This baby girl was beautiful and she was the object of her mamma’s affection. There are not many things more treasured in a parent’s memories than those of their children as they are growing up. Most always, a child’s upbringing is filled with laughter and innocent fun as life’s lessons are learned. The purity of a child and their innocent ways is one of the reasons that we so enjoy having them around us. Watching all the adorable things that they do. The questions that they ask, the giggles, and innocent laughter are things that are treasured for all of time. These memories are built upon by the ones that are formed as a child grows into adulthood. All as our children go through the various stages of growth. We have all experienced the joy of having little people in our midst and having Lydia around was so enjoyed by her mom, extended family, and friends. She was loved by all who knew her and none more than her mom, Alicia. To say that she loved her daughter Lydia would be an understatement. The dreams that she held for her young daughter were without limit. There were challenges ahead for sure. Ones that any single mother may face. There was, however, also hope for a bright future together. Lydia would grow and achieve her early milestones as one would expect. Not only this but she was becoming more darling by the day. If you had to describe her in only one word that word would be “cute”. If you were to add to that a little bit, you might say that she was “total cuteness”. When she learned how to talk, the sweetest things came out of her little mouth. One example is how she would pronounce her colors. For Lilly, yellow wasn’t yellow. It was Lellow! As she continued to reach new milestones, her vocabulary increased. Hope for the Future  Melt my heart! My exposure to Alicia had shown me that she was an intelligent and articulate individual. She is someone that could meet the challenges that lay ahead and there is no reason that the dreams that she had for Lydia could not be realized. Whether raising Lydia as a single parent or one day married, Alicia could visualize Lydia achieving all the things that future may hold for her. There would be grammar school through high school and possibly, even college. Perhaps Lydia would be involved in sports, or Cheerleading. There might be high school dances and even senior prom night. What parent who loves their child wouldn’t be thinking ahead, at least just a little? As time would continue, however, events would take place that would be a cause for real concern with Lydia.This would begin to change everything for Alicia. So soon after the advent of Lydia's appearance into Alicia’s life, she began to notice things that concerned her. As early as one and a half years of age, Lydia started to give Alicia cause to be concerned. At as early as one and a half years of age, Alicia began to see things in her daughter that could be a problem. Little Lydia was having sleep issues. She was waking early and staying awake until very late on many occasions. Alicia said that Lydia would often wake up crying and she would be inconsolable. What could possibly be happening with a child when something like this is taking place? Lydia was the center of her mother’s universe at this point and Alicia would, of course, be a keen observer of anything that was different about her daughter. So concerning would this kind of thing be for a young mother and the problem didn’t end with the sleep issues. She went on to say that it seemed liked Lydia’s whole body would stiffen if she was touched. This made Alicia wonder if her daughter was in pain. It’s so disheartening when trouble begins to strike a little person like Lydia. She was a darling little girl and the object of affection for so many people. What was it that was plaguing her? Alicia was also noticing things in relationship to Lydia’s speech. She could not pronounce several letters or speak in sentences with over three or four words back to back. There is a type of maternal instinct that just makes moms key observers of the circumstances surrounding their children. I am talking about a mother’s intuition. Alicia would know her own child as well as, or better than, anybody. She had some real concerns and would bring them up to the pediatrician. What she was told in response is typical. Alicia was told that this was all normal and that she should not worry about it. After all, Lydia was meeting her other milestones. Gradually her speech improved but this would not be the end of it. What would happen next would reveal that there was something taking place with little Lydia that was not normal. Alicia remembers that it was on May 22, 2015 that Lydia had her first grand mal seizure.  An amazing pic! This would take place an hour after she was sent to daycare on the day care bus. Alicia would, of course, take Lydia to the hospital where she would be told to not be overly concerned. Alicia was told that one seizure does not mean that Lydia would have another. There are seizures, for example, that are associated with an increase in body temperature. These may only happen once, or on occasion, and they are called febrile seizures.This however, was not to be the case. Lydia would have her second grand mal seizure on June the 1st of 2015. What would it be like to experience such a thing? To watch helplessly as the seizure took its course? At this point, testing would be performed and Lydia would be given the early diagnosis of epilepsy.The drug Keppra was prescribed for her but it would prove to not be effective. Even with the maximum dosage, Lydia was having one grand mal per month. The problems would not be isolated to a monthly seizure but would include other issues that Alicia was noticing. As of August, Lydia had also developed uncontrolled movements and stuttering in her speech. At times, there was also sudden and complete muscle loss. This was all in addition to the grand mal seizures that continued through December of 2015. As if this all wasn’t bad enough, Lydia would begin to display abnormal movements with her little frame. She would also fall to the ground frequently. Alicia had no idea what was going on and neither did the Neurologists. Alicia wondered, was this all a side effect to the medication or was she seeing Lydia having a new and different type of seizure? There had to be something more going on than simple epilepsy. You’re a mom and there is nothing more important than this life that has been entrusted to you. The desire to make things better is so strong and yet, Alicia had to feel frustrated with her inability to change Lydia’s situation. There was something going on in her daughter’s body that she did not yet know existed. Alicia would try to deal with what was in front of her. She would research the side effects of the medication that Lydia was currently taking and compared them to what she was seeing. At the time, Alicia felt that she may have the answer. Could this all have simply been the side effects of the medication? The procedure for handling seizure disorders in general is to add more and or different medications until the seizures are under control. There is not one type of medication that works for everybody. Perhaps, the seizures were part of a larger issue that had not been considered at this point. A medication named Topamax was prescribed for Lydia next. The Topamax was prescribed in capsule form and the doctor recommended that Lydia be given the medication by having it sprinkled over her food. Alicia suspected that this would be an issue and she explained the situation to the doctor. You see Lydia was having problems with things like swallowing and even speaking. In general, she was having problems with eating and to expect her to get the medication through this means was not to be expected. In addition to these concerns was added the fact that the medication would not dissolve on food. As a result, Lydia was receiving next to none of the medication. Nothing was working to relieve her of these awful seizures and all of the other issues that Alicia was observing. According to Alicia, Lydia continued to have movements that were out of control and dangerous. She would have a body part jerking quickly every three to five minutes or she was dropping to the ground. Is there any way that we could possibly imagine what it was like for this young mother at that point in time? What about sweet Lydia? What was all of this like for her? What damage was taking place in her as a result of all the seizures. The totality of what all this was doing to Lydia was so disturbing to this bewildered mama. Alicia shared, “She was bruised, scraped, and cut up by now, but the hit her spirit took from the constant physical limitations ... her own little person minded misunderstandings of her condition and mistreatment she received by less than par local daycares is what I saw hurt her the most.” Most alarming was Lydia’s own misunderstanding as to what was happening to her. How damaging was all of this to her little spirit? Alicia continued as she explained what Lydia’s perception of what was happening to her was, “My happy child thought her seizures were people she cared about pushing her down, and she made it clear she felt this way, and that her feelings were hurt worse than the trauma her body was experiencing.” This would be heartbreaking to say the least! Circumstances Beyond the Ordinary I can only imagine the concern that Alicia had for her daughter at that point. This little person had become such an integral part of the family and the center of Alicia’s world. She had brought so much joy to all who knew her. Now, Lydia’s health had declined and things were out of control. No one had answers for what was going on. Alicia’s own anxiety was growing to the point that she reached out for additional help. The trauma that all of this was creating was almost more than one could bear. Alicia explained, “I pleaded for help, because Lydia was beginning to be covered in bruises and the daycare was not comfortable with what she was going through either. She was losing coordination, sleep, and the ability to even walk without dropping flat on the ground.” Again, as things continued, it just seemed that more was taking place with Lydia than could be explained with a simple diagnosis. Lydia would continue to have at least one grand mal seizure per month and had seemed to lose control of her little body. She started having potty accidents whereas she had been completely potty trained prior to the start of the seizures. Alicia and Lydia used public transportation for getting around over a two year period and having a child with these issues was making travel more difficult. This was besides the fact that you could just see the changes in Lydia. Whereas you once had a happy child with unlimited energy, Lydia was now more cautious and withdrawn. Alicia described some of the changes in her little girl, “... though she used to walk up the bus steps and wave to the driver, and even sing her abc's on the bus, she was now at the point where she couldn't walk without holding my hand. She was too tired to sing, and was weary from falling down all the time.” It would make most any person’s heart ache to think about the impact that all of this was having on this perfectly sweet little person. Daily, the level of concern and anxiety over her daughter’s condition would impact Alicia’s own personal well-being. All during this time there continued to be trips to the doctor and the neurologist in a search for answers. It would soon be determined that what Lydia was experiencing was a combination of Myoclonic, Drop, and Absence seizures. Several different medications would be prescribed as the neurologist attempted to come up with a “cocktail” of prescriptions that would control the seizures. This, while a weary young mom hoped and prayed for some relief as her daughter’s situation grew to be more dire. Many times, as I have written these stories, I see a resolve to get the answers needed start to form. Initial contact is made and decisions are left with the treating physician. Sometimes, this initial contact will bring about a conclusion as to what is going on. However, that is not always the case. Oftentimes it will be the parent, or parents, “stepping up their game” and becoming more assertive in order to get results. Alicia had seen enough and she needed answers.  Looking for answers. Obviously, there was more going on than just epilepsy and she had reached her limit. Alicia shared what she was feeling, as well as, the action that she took as time continued, ”I repeatedly and frantically called the neurologist until we were scheduled to go to Vanderbilt on October 22nd, 2015 for a better understanding of Lydia's sudden change in movements.” It was on that day that little Lydia was checked into Monroe’s Children’s Hospital for a two to three day video EEG. Lydia would stay in the hospital long enough for the Neurologists to determine what kind of seizure activity she was experiencing. This would also allow time needed to perform any other testing that would help them determine the root cause of all the seizures. In the course of trying to determine what was taking place with Lydia it was thought that she may have a disorder called Doose Syndrome. Doose Syndrome is also known as Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy. This syndrome affects people in their early childhood and the disorder is characterized by difficult to control generalized seizures. The types of seizures that Lydia was experiencing, i.e., drop and absence seizures, are included in that category. Alicia described her feelings concerning that possibility, as well as, learning what was causing the abnormal movements seen in her daughter, “...my heart broke again that day when reading about Doose, and learning that her abnormal movements were due to myoclonic, drop, and absence seizures that had begun to be noticeable after her 2nd grand mal in June.” A high percentage of individual children with Doose Syndrome will eventually become seizure free but there are still challenges along the way. The earlier that the seizures are brought under control the better the outcome will be. Failure to find a way to control the seizures can lead to impairment of learning and development. This may lead to mild to severe developmental delay. Many believe there to be a correlation between Doose Syndrome and the development of ADD or ADHD. For these reasons, there would be challenges ahead for this mom and daughter but they were ones that could be overcome. These concerns would weigh heavily on Alicia as she studied the effects of Doose. This syndrome, however, would eventually be ruled out much to Alicia’s relief, however the results of the EEG were revealing. Lydia's test showed seizure activity all over her brain. It even included nocturnal seizure activity. No wonder Lydia had problems with her sleep patterns. Alicia would describe it in such a way as to say that “her daughter’s brain was like a storm.” The drug Depakote was added and other medication adjustments were made. This helped for almost two months. The seizures were under control and the abnormal movements had stopped. This was a relief however, Alicia was concerned about the possible side effects of all the medications that Lydia was on at this point. This although she had to have been satisfied by the improvements she was seeing. The very sad part was that these improvements were short lived. Two weeks before Christmas, the seizures would return. This time however, they were twice as bad as they were before. This is what Alicia had to say about the return of the seizures, “…she suffered another grand mal, and I watched all four seizure types return. My little girl was back on the floor after getting knocked down again by another drop seizure.” Whatever this monster was, it was relentless. Can you imagine being in the midst of the holiday season and having this type of thing happening to the princess of the family? A time that is normally reserved for being together and winding down from the events of the year was only bringing pure anxiety to Alicia. On top of everything that was happening with little Lydia, the battle with the insurance company had to be dealt with. Moving forward had been made difficult by the insurance company’s stance on further testing. Alicia said that it was declined by the insurance company for, quote, “lack of importance”. The only option that was made available was to add another medication, one that is named Onfi. Again, Alicia not only had the concern for what the seizures were doing to her daughter’s health. She was also concerned about the effects that the cocktail of pharmaceuticals was having on her daughter’s little thirty-seven pound body. This was not an acceptable situation. More needed to be done and Alicia would not stand still and do nothing. She remained persistent as an answer had to be found. She was frantic over what was taking place with Lydia and agitated over the fact that more was not being done. Road to the Unthinkable  Such a little doll! More testing needed to be performed and Alicia was determined to make sure that happened. Doose Syndrome had been ruled out but again, there had to be something more than simple epilepsy involved. More phone calls were made and eventually, more testing would be agreed upon. This time, genetic testing would be pursued and Lydia would have bloodwork performed on her to support this. It was hoped that a mutation in one of Lydia’s genes could be found that would reveal the cause of the seizures. Alicia would wait to receive word concerning the results of the testing but they would never come. Instead, she would receive a letter from the insurance company stating that payment for the testing had been declined. The letter used words like “experimental” and it included phrases such as “not helpful to assist in her treatment”. Wasn’t Alicia going through enough at that point? To have that come from the insurance company at that time seems so cold and indifferent. Alicia said that she was floored by the wording in the letter. How could she not be? More phone calls were made and it was determined that they would return to Nashville to have genetic testing done that the hospital’s program would pay for. The Gene-Rx test was performed, and for this they would have to wait three months to receive the results. Just as one would expect, the time in waiting would seemingly take forever. Alicia’s mama's heart continued to break for this little girl that was the center of her attention. The entire situation was crushing to her. While waiting for the results, Lydia was regressing. She began to wear a helmet for her safety and she had to wear pull-ups due to accidents. Alicia kept Lydia close by her side for fear of her getting hurt while having a seizure. Her speech was slurred and she was stuttering. She no longer sang songs and was barely able to use a spoon to feed herself. Lydia was Alicia’s baby girl, her reason, and the purpose for waking each day. The months that it was taking to get a diagnosis had to have been so difficult. To witness the regression was more than what most any person her age would normally encounter. Alicia would spend many nights awake due to Lydia’s broken sleeping patterns. She would observe her daughter, watching her body shake and her eyes flutter. Her words concerning those occurrences are so moving to me as I try to visualize those moments in the hours of the night. Her and Lydia together. She commented on little Lydia as she would awaken, “In the mornings, her body was shaky and unstable, but she continued smiling and trying to communicate, and I kept up hope that the test would give us answers and she would eventually be okay. We went to meetings to develop an IEP, for which she did qualify for, and we tried to adjust to all the changes happening all at once, it seemed.” It’s so heartbreaking to know what the outcome would be once the news was received. However, what this mom would do out of a love that is undying would so impress me. I have been doing these stories for a few years now and I have been moved by each individual one.  Each story conveys the feelings that are experienced by the families as the diagnosis is found out. Almost all of them express what is the depth of despondency, grief, and sometimes rage that is felt by the parents and family. When you love someone as much as Lydia was loved, whatever takes place in terms of a response, must be understood. Alicia’s days, and also her nights, revolved around this little person who was so adored. Hope for an answer that would bring a resolution for what was seen in Lydia would fade. This would all happen on April the 16th of 2016. The hospital at Vanderbilt would call Alicia and explain that she would need to contact the neurologists in order to receive the test results. Was this because they did not want to assume the responsibility of explaining Lydia’s plight to her mother? A mom that would be consumed with grief? Was it that they did not have the time to do an adequate job of explaining things? Whatever the case may have been, Alicia persisted and would be given the answer right then. She would learn that it was both copies of the cln2 gene that were mutated. This meant that the TPP1 enzyme was not being produced. Alicia would take the information that was given to her and would do the research. In her own words, is what she would discover as some of the words leaped from the screen, “I researched and found Batten Disease, CLN2-Late Infantile. I read the words NO CURE, NOT ENOUGH FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, CHILDHOOD DEMENTIA and EARLY DEATH.” All of a sudden, everything for Alicia just stopped on that day. There had been hope that the testing would bring a diagnosis for a condition that could be treated. That hope was now gone. This sweet and innocent child had a disease that had no cure and it was fatal. Everyone was crushed by this news. Her mom and dad, and all others who would soon learn of Lydia’s condition. Everything that made Alicia who she is as a person was changed forever. Along with her daughter, she had begun a journey down a course that is traveled by very few. One that, up until then, she was unaware of. Some might question the depth of despondency that was felt and the raw emotions exhibited at this time. Most all, however, will understand! She expresses what she did and what she was feeling with the following, “I quit my job. I was cracking and so broken. I isolated as much as possible. I felt forsaken by God. I cursed him while standing in my kitchen many days with my fists raised to him.” I think that God understands the anger, although he is also there to bring comfort! This story doesn’t end here. No not even close. Like the other stories, the parent is overwhelmed with the news that brings devastation and hopelessness. Things then change although the feelings of brokenness do not go away. It is just that added to that comes feelings of resolve towards helping their child battle the monster that has taken control. Alicia would begin to take immediate action. All the while, a bond that had already been stronger than most was becoming one that is like none other. A love that is undying would be on full display as those who would look on took notice. So sweet are the memories that would be formed as those of us who would follow Lydia’s journey see them from a distance. They would, of course, be mixed with challenges that most know nothing about. It was time to take action because of love and Alicia would do just that. Most of us, as parents, would do whatever it takes for the well-being of our children. A very small percentage of us will be asked to do that which is out of the ordinary. Alicia would get right down to business, getting whatever was needed for Lydia. Taken from an email, Alicia stated what was involved at the very beginning, “Even with such a grim diagnosis we have much to do. She's being referred to have leg braces fitted, Speech, PT, OT therapy, and vision testing. She's already passed her hearing test. I requested a geneticist, and am waiting for them to fit us in.” Alicia got up and would do whatever was needed. She continued to care for Lydia after receiving the diagnoses even as the symptoms continued. The disease would bring to Lydia and her mom constant challenges but there was much more to come as their story continued to be written. Lydia would continue to face daily struggles because of Batten. She would rebound in the way that you would expect a little warrior to but the effects of Batten would be very traumatic. Lydia would go through spells of crying and yelling, sometimes at a level that was deafening and with her hands clenched. The Will to Fight  Princess!! She would go through cycles. Three or four good days and then bad days that lasted about the same amount of time. Emotions would run from high to low for both Alicia and her little girl as Lydia would sometimes be inconsolable. Even so, Lydia continued to laugh and display that smile that was just so darling. Alicia described what she was seeing in her daughter near the beginning of the battle and would talk about how it would help them to endure, “Lydia's stubbornness and free spirited nature are beautiful qualities to possess, and most importantly it'll help her to continue to fight. it'll help me continue to fight with and for her.” And fight, they would. They would fight together! It is unimaginable to think about what Lydia was experiencing on the difficult days of the battle. The disappointment of this young mom over what had happened is difficult to overlook. She had to have felt that their entire lives had been ruined by Batten disease. Her early dreams of what Lydia might have accomplished in life had been undermined. Achieving the things that she had dreamed of for her daughter would, in all likelihood, never come about. With the following, Alicia talks about what she was feeling at the time and why she would fight through the feelings, “I grieved her losses before they even happened. I grieved the loss of her before she was even gone. I had no idea what my purpose was in life other than to be a mother, Lydia's mom, and now I had no reason to live if she wasn't with me. Still, she needed me and I had to pull myself out of death's grip, to keep fighting for her until the end.” Out of the most tragic of circumstances will often come the sweetest of details. A love that is like none will be on display for all of us to see. That is if you are willing to pay attention and take notice. Again, what is there that most people would not do for an innocent child like Lydia? And still, some parents will be asked to give more than is required by the majority of us. I’ve heard it said, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice that you have.” This is a quote fits so well the journey that Alicia would take with her daughter Lydia. Doing the best that she possibly could was about to involve leaving everything that was familiar to her. Alicia had to do whatever was needed to help this innocent life that had been entrusted to her care. Finding something that would help did not come through the recommendation of a physician but rather through a search of the internet. In her search for help with her daughter, Alicia would find out about an experimental drug trial while on the website named clinicaltrials.gov. She found a trial that involved something called Enzyme Replacement Therapy. Upon reading about it, Alicia felt that it looked to be their “last hope” for helping Lydia. All throughout this time, Lydia was continuing in her decline. Of course, Alicia would apply for the program. She would not only find out about the clinical trial but she would also learn of an organization named the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA).  All that personality! Alicia would learn that both herself and Lydia were part of a community that previously, she knew nothing about. It would be in July of 2016 that Alicia and Lydia would attend their first Batten disease family conference, put on annually by BDSRA. While at the conference, Alicia would have the opportunity to meet many of the families that had the same battle on their hands. So many were the innocent faces that had been afflicted with Batten disease. A person’s first time at these conferences can be overwhelming, however, Alicia did also have an opportunity to meet with the representatives from BioMarin. This is the name of the company that ran the clinical trial that Alicia was hoping to have Lydia placed in. The time at the conference passed in a blur and life continued on. A week after the trip to the conference Lydia had lost her ability to walk. She hadn’t eaten for a week and wasn’t moving around. The concern over Lydia’s decline became more severe with each passing day. This would lead Alicia to write an impassioned email to the representatives at BioMarin. The email was a plea for help. It seemed at the time that she did not have hope of Lydia being accepted for the next trial that was coming up. Among other things in her plea for help, she talked about Lydia and the other children at the conference. Here is some of what was included in her email, “ I looked into these beautiful children's eyes at the conference in St. Louis and they are the most beautiful children I've ever met. Even the ones who have declined so much are so full of life and smiles. That's my Lydia, too. She was an energizer bunny. Always running, always smiling, and always socializing. She is slowly fading from me. Her adventurous, daring, and free spirit is barely noticeable these days. She's taken to sitting around when she used to run from the time her feet touched the floor in the morning. To think I used to complain about how tiring it was chasing after her. Now I don't have to chase her, and I'm even more tired. I am mentally and physically exhausted from watching her suffer.” That was just a small portion of what I read. This impassioned mom said that she felt out of her mind as she was writing and had written to BioMarin out of anger. In response she received an opportunity to conference over the phone with a couple of the reps from the company. Alicia would find that the response that she received was one of understanding. She would make it clear to me that the response was one that was both compassionate and sweet. How very wonderful that must have been? A week before Lydia’s 5th Birthday, Alicia received a call stating that the extended trial was open to five children who had CLN2 Batten disease. BioMarin requested that Alicia bring Lydia up to Ohio so that she could be seen by staff members. Soon after, on August the 29th, they were in Ohio getting an evaluation performed to see if Lydia qualified for the trial. Alicia would find out that day that Lydia did qualify. So it was a week later that a shunt would be surgically implanted in Lydia’s head. Two weeks later, in September of 2016, Lydia received what would be the first of many infusions. One is given every two weeks. During these infusions, Lydia would receive a solution through the shunt that would replace the enzyme that her body was missing. The commitment for each of the families in this trial is a heavy one but one that is gladly accepted. While not a cure for CLN2 Batten, it does offer a greater quality of life for the children that take part in it. All of a sudden, things had changed for Alicia and Lydia. Alicia knew what they were facing and there was hope and help for Lydia. Most often, knowing is better than trying to cope with the unknown. This mom could now catch her breath for just a little bit and further evaluate the situation that she now had knowledge about. There would be much to come but for now, Alicia felt that to a certain degree, they had been fortunate. Here is a little of what she had to say concerning that time, “Looking back now, and after hearing other rare disease stories from amazing parents, I learned that we had/have more to be thankful for that I didn't even notice!” Alicia was thankful that Lydia’s diagnoses came relatively soon compared to others. Her princess had been granted access to a clinical trial that is available only to kids that battle CLN2 Batten. A Bond Like No Other Along the way Alicia would meet some very wonderful people but would also continue to face some real struggles. It is always a very good thing when a child that battles CLN2 receives Enzyme Replacement. The more time that is spent getting a diagnosis and gaining entrance into the program ... the more time the disease has to progress. Alicia’s assertiveness and her desperation would have a profound and positive impact on Lydia’s health. Lydia had lost some valuable time as her mother searched for answers, but the answer would arrive more quickly than in countless other rare disease cases. This would grant Alicia and Lydia so many more quality days together. A bond that was already very strong would become one that is like none other. A sacrificial type of love would ensue and it would be on full display for those of us that would take notice. It has been some time now since Lydia first began her battle and so much has happened. The following is some of what Alicia had to say right after Lydia began her treatments, “Batten disease is an absolute living nightmare. It is hell, and it doesn't discriminate against anyone from anywhere. The only good thing about Batten is the people we have met in the same situation and have become a long distance family to. This includes the wonderful therapists who actually have passion for their career, and the compassionate Batten's disease specialist and her proactive staff in Ohio. The uplifting support of the Batten Disease Support and Research Association, also in Ohio. They have made their presence known from the very beginning, and it is such a light in our darkness.” Alicia had also referred to some of the people that they have gone on to meet as lifelines. That is in fact, literally true and all of these people would continue their assistance for sometime to come! All of them would become vital to Alicia as Lydia continued on enzyme replacement. This would require the two of them to relocate from their home in Tennessee to the state of Ohio. Over time, and in writing many stories about families that battle Batten alongside their children …. I have seen that there are not many things that parents will not do for the well-being of their warriors. That includes picking up and leaving the home that they are familiar with. They will cross oceans and move to a different country if there is no other option available. Whatever it takes, there is nothing more important than this little life (their child) that they have been entrusted with. While Alicia would not have to cross an ocean in order to get help for Lydia, there would be many difficulties along the way. Think about it. A single mom with limited means, needing a place for shelter and resources to sustain herself and Lydia. She would move to a place that she was not familiar with. Finding an affordable dwelling place in a safe neighborhood would be a challenge. Maintaining a vehicle that is safe to travel in to all of the appointments and to Lydia’s infusions. Car repairs can be so expensive, let alone basic maintenance cost. At a time when most young women would be shaping their careers or finding true love, Alicia had other things to be concerned with. Her priorities surrounded the health and welfare of her daughter.  One to remember! While Alicia would say that anybody would have done what she had, I can’t help but to be completely impressed by her actions. Separated by the miles from family and in large part alone with her daughter. Yes, they would make friends along the way. There would be all of those people that would become lifelines but most of the hard work would have to be done by Alicia. This mom would do anything to help improve her daughter’s quality of life. Anything to relieve her of the symptoms and progression of the disease. Being a single mom is difficult enough in any day and age. To try to live on your own and maintain a home environment for your child while providing for their needs is a most difficult thing all by itself. What if on top of that, your child has a rare disease? What if the only way to get that child the treatment that they need requires you to pick up and move away from your family. You have to be driven by love and a sense of urgency. I know that I have a habit of repeating myself to an excessive degree. Here I go again. There is no love like a mother’s love and there is no love like that which exists between a mother and her daughter. Alicia and Lydia would continue on a journey together and it would take them from the home that they were familiar with. The life that they would now lead would be so unlike what Alicia had expected. Once expecting to see all that she had hoped for Lydia, her circumstances were now unlike what most would experience. She was the mother of a child that had a rare disease and that would bring with it a series of rare circumstances. Enzyme Replacement Therapy would not take place easily for Lydia and as a result, it would also be extremely taxing on Alicia. What was meant to provide an increase in the quality of life for Lydia would also bring challenges to this warrior princess. It has now been a little over four years since Lydia started ERT and much has happened. Alicia described to me the setbacks that were associated with Lydia’s treatments and also how it has affected her as a person. Traumatic is a word that comes to mind and the trauma would affect both mom and daughter. The following quote is purposely included as I begin the remainder of this story. Here is what Alicia stated, “... there are times when I stood in front of the washing machine to watch and hear the water fill up, but my waterfall meditations were short lived because, I believe, the flashbacks are opportunistic. If I tried to escape they would find me, and I'd have to check on her by texting her teacher.” The type of love that we have discussed previously was and still is present in great measure when talking about this mother and daughter. A love that is undying. There would be special times spent together for sure, however they would be mixed with struggles beyond compare. I cannot get out of the recesses of my mind, the pictures of these two people in their dwelling place. A mom alone with her daughter, a daughter surrounded by the abundance of stuffed Minnie Mouse figurines. Those given to her by people who love and care about this little person. Everything that is done by this young mom is done in support of her only child. Even in caring for herself, she is doing so in order to make it to the next day. This again, in order to care for her daughter. I don’t mean to be overly dramatic. I only want to paint a picture using words. Every two weeks, Alicia and Lydia would return to the hospital for the next treatment. Of course, in between that time would be a mixture of doctor appointments and meetings with those who were essential to Lydia’s cause. As I have stated, the treatments for Lydia would not be easy on her. In fact, they created anxiety within her. Alicia would tell me that poor Lydia would begin to cry as soon as she recognized the hospital. Lydia’s anxiety would become Alicia’s anxiety as well. A mother that so loves her daughter. Even times when there were no needles involved, like check-ups, Lydia would become hysterical. Lydia’s high pitched crying has now been suppressed by her lack of strength but they are still a part of the flashbacks that Alicia experiences. In addition to the sight of needles, a big portion of Lydia’s anxiety would come from the nausea that would take place as a result of the infusions. The Struggle for Lydia  Just SO darling! Lydia would be prescribed one sedative or another to help with the anxiety. Each trip home from the hospital was difficult because Lydia would be prone to losing the contents of her stomach (I don’t know of a better way to state it). How difficult would that be to drive the distance with that going on in the back seat? How do you drive and tend to your daughter at the same time? It was the most difficult at the beginning. Alicia would describe the first couple of years in detail. Here is some of what she shared, “For a couple years straight she would get so sick during treatment. She was very nauseated, and suffered from headaches and sensitivity to light. She also ran high fevers that could last from 2 to 4 hours, even after receiving meds. She would sometimes have leg tremors, and would often need rest until the next day.” Lydia would become flush near the end of each infusion and she would vomit each time. This would happen multiple times with each treatment. The feelings of helplessness for Alicia had to be present at times but the will to move forward was stronger. Alicia would eventually purchase a special head restraint to keep Lydia from experiencing aspiration during the trip home. She talked about the sadness over the effect that this was having on Lydia, “I sometimes called my dad crying on the way home. I was so sad for her, and felt awful that I couldn't sit with her and drive at the same time. We had tried several meds for her adverse reaction, but to no avail.” The doctors would finally come up with an anti-nausea medication that was delivered in a different manner to Lydia and this would help tremendously. The solution to the problem would not arrive right away though. As we first alluded to, Lydia would begin treatment later for CLN2 than would be desirable. This allowed for the disease to progress before a diagnosis was determined. Some of the difficulty she has experienced is related to this fact. She just wasn’t as strong physically as one that receives a quick diagnosis and a faster start with treatment. This, however, has never kept her from being a beautiful warrior princess and one that is able to melt a person’s heart with a single glance. She has always had that awe-factor going for her little self! Lydia doesn’t get nearly as sick as she once did but she also does not bounce back from the treatments as quickly. Whereas she used to attend school the next day, she now needs more rest after the treatments. Of course, Covid-19 has affected Lydia’s ability to attend school this year, just like with most others. She still sometimes has a fever after the treatments and needs rest and recovery afterwards. She has to wait for a while to eat as well. Lydia began treatments at five years of age and she has been a real warrior. She is now nine years old and as one might expect, her overall health has declined. This has, no doubt, been very difficult on Alicia but she has been a warrior of a mom as well. However it may be that Alicia views things, it has to be felt by all who know her that she has been one strong person. Really, she has had no other choice but to be that. With this, Alicia shares a little more about the journey, “I'm thankful we had a piece of hope, an opportunity, even if it’s temporary. I'm sad it has been such a traumatic journey for her. I will always hope for a cure.” As will we Alicia!  Lover her smile! There have been other health issues along the way for Lydia. The type that you might expect for a child that battles Batten disease. As well, there have been some difficult decisions. One was associated with the right timing for when to have a feeding tube inserted. Having it inplaced surgically turned out to be a tremendous help in Lydia’s care. Overall, she has been one strong little girl and with as difficult as things have been, she has always bounced back to the point that she is able to. As September of this year rolled around, Lydia would achieve an important milestone for kids on enzyme replacement. That happened as she reached 100 infusions. This has afforded her and her mom many days together. There will always be a big measure of respect from me for those who have suffered loss and have come out on the other side of things. The rest of life doesn’t stand still for Batten disease and it hasn’t for Alicia. As if she hasn’t been through enough with Lydia. She, along with her family, would suffer the loss of a cousin and her own brother. That in itself, has brought so much heartache but she has pressed on with life. She has done so because Lydia’s needs come before anything else. There have been so many sweet exchanges between these two as they have battled Batten together. A mother and her young daughter, alone much of the time but not unknown about. There are so many of us who have seen the sweet details either up close or from a distance. And yet, there have been many hardships. In relationship to those sweet details, I knew that they had taken place but I wanted to ask Alicia about them. I think that the two of them have been through so much that it is often difficult to reflect on the intimate exchanges that have taken place. Alicia said as much as she responded, “…. I want to tell you all about sweet moments and fun we've had, but Greg, we've just tried to survive moment by moment.” Think about the types of activities that a young mom and daughter would be involved with. Soccer games or dance practice. Time spent at the park, in the sand or at the mall together. Batten however, has robbed them of most things. Alicia shared that as the symptoms of the disease have progressed, they have kept them home bound most of the time. Alicia is a realist and she knows that this battle will one day be over. Holding Lydia in her arms brings her comfort and a measure of peace but this journey won’t last forever. Just as I had thought, there have been many special moments spent together. Here is more of what Alicia shared with me, “She and I have had many, but never enough, snuggles and laughs. That's how we've coped. Those are sweet times always, but they're fading from her ability now.” Alicia struggles with this too and who could not understand that? The journey that is Batten disease is a most difficult one and making memories that will last can help carry a person through to another day. This experience will always be a part of who Alicia is as a person. Lydia is the center of Alicia’s world. She said as much in this quote that was taken from Lydia's Facebook page, “She's the sun, the center of my universe, and as long as she still shines I'll know where I belong. Right next to her.” When I talk about a type of love that is profound and undying ... does Alicia and Lydia’s story not exemplify what I have been talking about? In that same post, Alicia shares some of the sentiment that has come out of the turmoil that the two of them have faced together, “I remember discovering how well big sunglasses hide tears. I remember her pain. I miss every word she's lost. I miss her voice. Yes, she's worth it. I'd give up everything just to have her pieces put back together. I hope she feels my love, and I hope it's enough.” Alicia, she feels it and she has experienced it through your actions. And yes, she has been so worth it! Just as one would expect, it was love at first sight for Alicia as she gazed upon her newborn daughter. She was a gift that was without, and beyond, price. The love has gone both ways. It could be seen in Lydia’s eyes even when she could no longer say it with words. This little girl loves her mommy. Alicia has been so brave and a hero to her daughter. She had no choice in this but Alicia has remained willingly because of her love for Lydia. The emotions that run through Alicia are so complex. Here, she explains a little more, “She makes my heart shatter daily, but she's also the reason it's still beating. I would never suffer so much for anyone else. She's my withering Rose, and I'm her protective glass case surrounding her. I only want to nurture her, save her, and watch her grow. But, unfortunately, the curse is within us, and her petals still fall.” Loving Lydia - Life in the Now  The sweet details. Alicia continues, and keeps things real as she does so, “We are two peas in a pod, she and I. Life has battered us, but we're here. Sometimes I'm not sure why, how, or for what reason. Sometimes smiling is too much, but we are here, for now.” Along the way, there have been some sweet moments that will forever stay with Alicia. Many include the friendships that have been made. Many in the Batten community are like family and time spent at Batten conferences together brings with it memories that will never be forgotten. It was at these conferences that this mom and daughter experienced many firsts. Memorable are the times that the other parents would look upon Lydia with love. They had warm smiles on their faces and had tears in their eyes. They had experienced things very similar and these parents knew what the two of them were facing together. Alicia shared one thing in particular that will always stay with her and that is when a Batten daddy asked if Lydia could dance with him. Alicia speaks about it here in her own words, “A bereaved Batten dad asking me for a chance to dance with Lydia at the Father/Daughter dance. My heart felt complete joy to see such a sight. Lydia was bashful, but allowed him to carry her away from me for just one song. It's a moment I will always remember. Some may have prom to look forward to, but I had the privilege to see Lydia being held within the caring arms of a dad, and even more special because he's a Batten dad.” Having been to two conferences myself, I can testify to the fact that they are very special events. While I have focused on the relationship between Alicia and Lydia as I write, it needs to be said that they are both loved by many, both friends and family. Loved by her parents, Alicia is especially close to her father who has tried to help as much as is possible. In the beginning, he drove from Tennessee to Ohio for Lydia’s first port placement. While there, he carried Lydia to the room she would be in as she was being readied for surgery. This year, Alicia would have to carry her daughter by herself as she underwent surgery to receive a new port for continuing enzyme replacement. And still, that time with her dad will always be remembered. There are so many other experiences that will be a part of who Alicia Headrick is as a person as she presses on in life. Ally, as she is called by her friends, is someone who always will have left an impression on me and she is someone that I have a great deal of respect for. Some who have fought in battle may take exception to using terms of war as people try to relate them to the battle that is Batten disease. After all, there are not many things more terrifying than serving on the battlefield. I do believe that there are many veterans who will not mind the comparison once they know what these families will go through as they battle alongside their children. Especially, this mom who has been through so much. So many return from combat having been changed by what was experienced. PTSD can impact a person’s life negatively for all time. However, many will grow out of what was faced and will live a life of purpose as they conquer and overcome the challenges that were endured.  Sleeping Beauty! War can be so chaotic and a person can only react using the training that they might receive. A lot of the time, a person will experience things that their training doesn’t cover. There is no training for what Ally has been through with darling Lydia! She gives us some added detail as to what life has been like for her with this, “I can't decompress if I'm on caregiving duty 24/7 for 6 years. I've been stuck in panic mode this entire time, and I have no doubt she has felt my stress. Survival mode isn’t sweet or pretty, but Lydia puts up with me.” I know, without a doubt that Lydia has felt and knows of the love that her mom has for her. She has been the recipient of a type of love that is profound and undying. Although the sweet details are sometimes missed in the middle of the chaos, they are there. That is, even if they are only seen by those of us that look on from a distance. They are there! Those details have been there throughout this journey which continues. Ally has struggled along the way but she still stands tall, at least in my estimation of things. Again, there have been so many friends and people that have come alongside and their contributions have been so important. Alicia, again, gives us some added insight, “I've begged for help, but have instead received the wisdom of those who are my friends and also have received that which resulted in physical support in the form of professionals. My mental health case manager has been here through this seemingly hopeless situation, and hasn't given up on me yet. She's a tough lady.” What if one day, Alicia is the one that is counseling others? That taking place because she has come through this experience? Like every protective mother might, Ally sometimes wishes that she was the one that was experiencing the symptoms of Batten instead of her young daughter. She has done everything possible to help Lydia along the way. So much has been given up for the cause that is her daughter’s life but there are no regrets over the actions that she has taken. As Alicia said concerning her little warrior, “She is everything that's good, and was born into a life, filled with bad.” Lydia is just a precious little girl who has fought so hard and her life has impacted the lives of countless people. She has what is the attractive features of all of the ladies in the Headrick family and her little smile lights up any room that she is in. Her laughter will always be a part of the memories that have been formed. She is the model of the resilient little warrior that we so often talk about. Lydia has come through so much, always bouncing back to the degree that this dreaded disease will allow her to. At her very core, she is a beautiful little girl and one whose journey we have followed for sometime now. I have a son that I love who has special needs. There are certain things that I can understand but as things relate to children with rare and fatal diseases, I can only do my best to understand. I have something that crossed my mind. Something that people may disagree with or which may even cause them to become angry. It is thinking along these lines …. So if these kids have a profound impact on the lives of others. If they change people and their impact lasts long after the time that they leave. Can it be felt that in that way, they stay with us forever? Is that a fair question? It’s a bond that can never be broken, nor would you want it to be. This is a real story and I can’t help but to keep things real as Lydia has been on her journey for some time now. In the back of every parent’s mind, when they have a rare child, are concerns about what the future may hold. This is another reason why this writer’s level of respect for all of you as parents, is off the chart. There are many stories like this one, even if many of the details are different. One of those is the story of a grandmum in the United Kingdom that was trained in palliative care nursing. She had a grandson that was born to a lovely daughter of hers and the connection between this infant grandson and nurse was instantaneous and so very strong. As it turned out, her grandson had the same variant of Batten disease that Lydia has, only it was at a time in which enzyme replacement was not yet available. How amazing was it that she was trained in the exact type of nursing that this warrior would need as he battled CLN2 Batten disease. The grandmum would leave her career to care for her grandson and she would become his advocate and full-time caregiver. The story is one of the most beautiful that I have ever heard of. The two of them would almost literally, and in a real sense, cling to one another for as long as he battled. That is until this charming little man left for heaven. With a void that could not be filled, this grandmum returned to caring for others as she picked back up her career in nursing. I have always wondered. What was it like to be on the receiving end of her care after she returned to practicing medicine? What was it like for her on that first day back?
So many questions. What will Lydia’s impact be on the life of her mom? What will there be that Alicia can’t handle after going through these challenging times? What would she not be able to accomplish? This, given the measure of strength she has shown in the middle of things experienced? What is there that would be too hard for her? Who are the people whose lives will be impacted by a mom who loved her daughter so fiercely? There is so much potential for Alicia's life as she continues and yes, Lydia is so worth this struggle. It is my hope and prayer that the number of days that Alicia and Lydia experience together are a great many. We so need a cure! Thanks for taking the time to read their story. Sincerely, ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate  Both are beautiful! “Looking at Nicole that night when we got home, sitting in her room. Surrounded by her little princess dolls, with fairy lights on and Disney bedtime music softly playing in the background, I cried like I had never cried before. It was a sickening feeling to look at our little sweetheart and to know that she had no idea what she had and how her life was to be. It was absolutely heartbreaking.” ~Gail Rich~ Batten Mam and Advocate It can happen when I am reading something concerning a child that battles Batten disease, or it can come from a passing thought when I am driving. It might also happen when I am watching a YouTube video in preparation for writing a story. That is what took place today. I get moved by the details. Watching a younger sibling who has Batten disease as she helps her older sister to do something that she is now incapable of doing by herself. This while exhibiting the love that is there while she is doing so. These are the kinds of things that often move me in a big way. Writing is not something that I do full time. I actually work in the aviation field on components for helicopters that fight fires. I work in a shop in which I spend a lot of time with male co-workers and I do so for a lot of hours. I bring my laptop with me, using breaks and lunch to write or get organized to do so. Sometimes, I will have to stop typing as I put my thoughts into words. This is because I can feel myself getting worked up beyond the point where it is safe to continue. Am I somehow exhibiting a pathetic show of emotions as a male individual? Whatever your opinion might be, I can tell you that it is possible to be strong while at the same time, also being sensitive. You only have to allow yourself to become vulnerable. Kids that battle a rare disease like Batten are to me the most special. Others might agree but first, they have to be shown some things. A person first has to be made aware. Most people won’t even think about kids that battle a rare disease. Many might be reminded that such a thing exists only to shrug their shoulders and move on. After all, the plight of these kids doesn’t concern them. The result could be different for those who take the time and who show some interest. If a person pays attention and takes the time to be involved, they may be changed. They might end up giving a piece of their heart to these kids. As I have said in the past, if that happens, a person may come close to giving these kids all of it. I repeat myself frequently as I write these stories. I do so because I like to place emphasis on things that I have mentioned before. Things that apply to each family that battles alongside their little warriors. Each story is unique because each one shares the details of a different family’s journey. However, there are some things that all of the stories have in common. After all, these are children that we are talking about. The things experienced while battling alongside them can be those which the families share in common. Undying love and a bond that cannot be broken. These are just two examples of what a parent or caregiver of a Batten warrior will come to understand. Battling illness is something that should only be experienced by those who have aged. It is so difficult to watch when a child suffers through something like a rare disease.  One question that I have asked frequently is this - What is it about these kids? Is it the feelings that are produced in us as we consider the plight of these children? Is it just what we are feeling or is it that there is truly something special about them? When something like the loss of a child’s eyesight occurs and they bounce back from the disappointment. When we see them press on in life, finding the joy in living again and showing this through laughter and innocent smiles that can still light up a room. Should we not find that a cause to be amazed? When a child can no longer communicate verbally with us but we can see the love that is there. We can see the love that is being reciprocated as the child’s eyes light up in our presence. There is that smile again. The smile that gives many parents encouragement to move forward and fight for another day. So familiar to me now are the images of the children that battle CLN2 Batten. CLN2 is just one of 13 variants of Batten disease but it is one of the most common forms to affect young children. Oh, how I wish that all of the kids that battle Batten had access to Enzyme Replacement Therapy. Even so, I am thankful that this therapy is available to these beautiful children that battle CLN2. The images that I speak of are the ones that show these kids wrapped in bandages. This as a result of the treatment that they receive every two weeks. What a commitment on the part of the families as they travel to have this procedure performed. These kids are such troopers. For many of them, the side effects and complications associated with enzyme replacement take their toll. This, each time they undergo the therapy but again they always bounce back. The images of these sweet faces surrounded by bandages will always stay with me. Innocent children enduring more than most any adult will see in a lifetime. The things that they go through will not take away the joy that they have for life. Being in large part, unaware of the enormity of what they face, they simply press on. They do what kids do in every way, for as long as they are able. They battle so hard and they do so, so sweetly. It would be so easy to focus solely on the negative impact that something like Batten will have on a family. They do not call what is experienced by Batten families a “journey” for nothing. There are many struggles along the way and I try my best to detail these in the stories that I write. I do, however, try my best to make the love stories that are produced by these families my focus. There is sadness yes, but a love that is profound and undying. There is a bond that is formed that can never be broken (you wouldn’t want it to be). There I go, repeating myself again. With all of this in mind, I am headed towards telling the story of another family that personifies most everything that I have just talked about. Having sought to be a normal family, finding success as such, they have become much more than average when compared to your other families. Let’s not wait any longer to get started. Life Together  Talk about an attractive couple! Gail Baxter grew up in the city of Carlisle, which is a town that is close to Scotland and in the northern part of England. Growing up, she thought about what her life might be like as she grew into adulthood. Whatever the case may have been in her thinking, she would find success in whatever she endeavored to do. Gail would grow to be a take care of business kind of individual. She would move from Carlisle to the city of Newcastle in her early adulthood and she would begin a career in the banking and mortgage sector. Gail would work her way up to a managerial position by climbing the ladder. She started her ascent serving in positions such as financial advisor and customer service manager for the Northern Rock Building Society. One day, she would begin to manage people, overseeing a team of sixty individuals. Gail was a coach and a person who helped in developing the talent of others. That is something that she thrived in and also, something that she thoroughly enjoyed doing. She had found success in her work life but there was more to life than just working. There was more for Gail to yet experience. The sun was shining on a bright August day. It was actually a Bank holiday in the UK that day and the year was 2006. Gail was out with her sister Emily and they had found their way into a bar which was named Osbornes. This was a well known and well put together establishment in Jesmond (a suburb) within Newcastle. As the two ladies were enjoying their conversation, in would walk members of the Newcastle Vipers Ice Hockey team. One of the players, who by the way, was brand new to the team was a gentleman named Matthew Rich. Matthew had literally dropped his bags off in the hotel where the team had just arrived and had headed to the bar with his new teammates. Matthew was originally from Glasgow, Scotland and had grown up playing hockey. He had even moved to Canada when he was young to play at the high school level. Matthew had attended school and played hockey for Brock high school in Cannington, Ontario his first year and then headed to Notre Dame High in Wilcox, Saskatchewan to play his second year. Hockey was a huge part of Matthew’s life and Canada was, of course, a great place to further develop his skills. Matthew also sharpened his abilities by playing at the highest level within minor hockey in Canada. This as he played for the Central Ontario Wolves. He had even played for Scotland’s U21 Hockey squad (Under 21 age group) in preparation for a career in professional hockey. Matthew’s career had developed, just as he would want it to and here he was, a member of the Vipers and in Newcastle at Osborne's. This is where Matthew Rich and Gail Baxter would meet. Mathew had walked over to talk with the two sisters and he and Gail would gain an attraction towards one another. Neither of them knew at the time but they had each met their life partner. Before they left each other’s company, Matthew had put his number into Gail’s phone and a friendship would quickly develop.  Matthew Rich - The real deal! Texts and phone calls would be exchanged as each one continued on in life with their individual careers. The two of them would soon after begin to date as their relationship continued to develop. Gail was not too familiar with the world of hockey at the time that she and Matthew would meet but she would soon get a crash course in the sport. This, much to her amazement. Gail explains, “I had never seen an ice hockey game before and was soooo impressed!! It is such an amazing sport to watch. I couldn’t even stand up on the ice and to see Matthew flying around the ice with such speed, strength, and skill was just incredible – I loved it!” Gail would have the ability to watch Matthew play in Newcastle for a few months until he was signed by a team named the Manchester Phoenix. This would mean a move for Matthew to a town name Hale, which was about 13 kilometers from Manchester. With this, Matthew and Gail would embark on a long distance relationship. Gail would not let the distance between them get in the way. She began to travel the distance necessary for them to spend time together and to see Matthew play. This would take place most every Friday after she finished at work and the trip would take over two and a half hours one way. She would return to Newcastle in the early morning hours on Mondays, in time to go straight to work. That is commitment but it was well worth the effort as Gail and Matthew continued to grow in their relationship. It is amazing to think about how the two of them would meet and fall in love. They could have missed meeting each other by an hour's time and would have never met at Osbournes but their relationship was one that was meant to be. Matthew’s career would continue on as he had put in the hard work that it takes to play at a high level. All of the training, practice, and play in competition had really paid off. Hockey had become a way of life for Matthew and Gail was more than willing help by supporting his pursuit of excellence. Sadly though, things would take a drastic turn as the couple took a vacation together in Egypt. It was at that time that Matthew would come down with a severe case of food poisoning. The reaction that took place was one that was extreme and that would land Matthew in the infectious disease ward in Glasgow. This would happen as soon as he and Gail had returned home and he wouldn’t leave that facility for weeks. Matthew couldn’t walk and was bound to a wheelchair upon leaving. He would be diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis and it would take around six months to recover from his illness. Just to walk again, handling his own weight was a struggle but Matthew would overcome and get his health back. Gail would tell me that Matthew’s hockey club was very supportive during the ordeal and they would reinstate him after he returned to full health. Matthew would train and then return to playing hockey when he was able to compete. Being a professional athlete and staying at a competitive level is not easy. Recurring injuries can often take their toll on a player and that is what would take place in Matthew’s case. An issue would arise with his shoulder dislocating. This would take place a few times and it would interfere with his ability to compete. His shoulder was never the same and this would cause him to have to walk away from the sport that he loved. Hockey was such a huge part of Matthew’s life and leaving was a “massive blow” to his existence. Even so, he accepted what was the reality of the situation. Matthew started to look for work while he and Gail set up home together. Hockey would no longer be the center of the young couples existence but they had each other and they were in love. They now had a life together, although they could not know what that life would entail for them. All throughout this time period, Gail had continued to work in the banking sector and Matthew would find employment working in industry. Life was about work and time spent between the two of them as their new life together continued to take shape. Gail had found success in her work life and had been rewarded by gaining positions of increased responsibility. She had put a lot of time and energy into her work but there was more that she wanted out of life. Before I continue, I should stop to explain that this writer learns something new every day. I am, in fact, learning new things with each story that I write so let me explain. We all know that having children of our own as we grow is a God given desire for most of us. I know there are exceptions. Now being from the United States, I know that most women want to enjoy the experience of being a mom when they grow up. I knew that in certain parts of the world, like down under in Australia and in the United Kingdom, that moms are referred to as mums. However, I did not know that in other places, like Ireland, Wales, and parts of Northern England that mothers are referred to as mams. More to Life  Proud parents. Louis makes his entrance. I think that my readers know where I am going from here. Gail had found success in her work life but there was more that she wanted for herself. She had the desire to be a mam to children of her own and this desire only increased as she met the man that she desired to spend her life with. As a couple, Matthew and Gail wanted children together and that would soon become a reality. Both Matthew and Gail were so pleased when they received the news that Gail was expecting their first child. Just as they would hope for, Gail’s pregnancy would progress without major incident as the time would approach. It was also at that time that things were beginning to change with her work. Gail had been with her company for ten years when as a business her employer began to struggle, and changes began to take place. A reduction in force was coming and this left Gail with some options. What is often called a lay-off here in American is referred to as a redundancy in the UK and Gail would be offered the option of taking part in that. She would take this option instead of going on maternity leave because the timing was perfect for her to begin the next chapter. That of being a mam and raising a family! Gail’s co-workers recommended that she leave work a couple of weeks before she was due to deliver her baby and she agreed that would be a good idea. Gail had planned on having some down time before the day arrived but her baby boy had other plans. That's right! Their baby, who Matthew and Gail would name Louis, was a boy. He decided that it was time to make his entrance into his parent’s lives a couple of days after Gail left work. Louis arrived on September the 2nd, of 2010. He had all of his fingers and toes and he was the most beautiful thing that his parents had even seen. Babies are by nature beautiful, are they not? Gail explained what she was feeling as she held baby Louis for the first time. I have also included some of what she was feeling after Louis was brought home. Here is what she would say, “... for the first time in my life, I felt I had found my place. I was meant to be a Mam! I remember a few days after bringing him home, we had family around and he was in his crib in the living room. We all sat around looking at him and I burst into tears and said ‘I just don’t want anything to ever happen to him, I want to keep him safe forever.’ It was the most real feeling of protection and I will never forgot that.” Louis was the picture of perfection and purity and he belonged to Matthew and Gail. Was Louis a little hockey player in the making? Well, whatever the case might be, he was adored by his family and still is to this day. His parents loved watching Louis grow and develop into a little man. Watching his childlike ways filled them inside like nothing else could. In all honesty, Louis was not the first baby of the house. That would be Matthew and Gail’s pet Beagle which they name Archie. The couple had researched and found that Beagles were good with children. Archie came to them about three weeks before the couple found out that Gail was pregnant. They, no doubt, loved watching Louis and Archie interact with each other!  Baby Nicole and happy mam of two! Being parents to Louis was an amazing experience for Matthew and Gail. This, just as you would expect it to be. Some people are content with one child and some are intent on keeping things that way. That was not the case with this young couple. They wanted to experience the joy of bringing another little bundle into the world. They again wanted to experience the wonder of seeing those little hands and feet wiggle for the very first time. Gail would receive the news that she was expecting in the summer of 2011 and both she and Matthew were excited about it. They were going to become parents for the 2nd time. Things would go generally well for the first six months as Gail carried baby number two however, a concern would soon arise. It seems that Louis’ brother or sister to be was not growing as a baby would be expected to. For this reason, Gail was in and out of additional appointments because of the concern this created. It would be decided that it was best to deliver the baby by inducing labor three weeks early. Thirty-seven weeks of pregnancy was the goal that was hoped to be reached and that would be accomplished. It was time to bring the new bundle into the world and this would take place at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. It would be on March the 1st of 2012 that Gail would give birth to a tiny, yet beautiful, baby girl. The name given to this precious little person was Nicole Thomasena Rich. Her given middle name was that of Matthew’s Nana. She weighed a slight four pounds and eight ounces but even so, baby Nicole was flawlessly beautiful. She had all of her fingers and toes and she was covered in brand new baby skin! The infatuation between tiny Nicole and her mam was so strong and it took place the instant she was handed to Gail. There is a special bond between a mother and her newborn child. It begins to develop even before the baby is delivered. The quality of relationship between a mother and her newborn daughter is perhaps greater than can be explained. Here is what Gail had to say about the experience, “That was it, I was instantly and completed besotted!! There is nothing more precious in this world than having your baby placed on your chest for the first time and you feel their tiny heartbeat and know they are yours. You have made this little person. Instant protection, overwhelming love. We could not have been happier.” Nicole would have to stay in the Special Care unit for a couple of nights due to her small size. The medical staff wanted to make sure that she was feeding well. Everything proved to be okay with their precious little newborn and the Rich family was now a family of four. The midwife that had delivered Nicole came to see everyone the very next day. She was so relieved that Nicole was doing well with as small as she was at birth. She was small but very strong and amazing to everyone who set their gaze on her. Gail describes what people were seeing in Nicole as they looked at their newborn daughter, “When we had visitors, they would look at Nicole and say ‘she’s been here before!’ She never had that glazed baby gaze they sometimes have, she was always looking around intently. She fed well, she was such a healthy baby and for as little as she was, she was strong as an Ox! Little did we know this would serve her well in this little life.” Bringing Nicole home for the first time was, no doubt, a special event. According to Gail, Matthew had described Nicole's homecoming as an “explosion of pink” and I have no doubt that this was absolutely true. Why not celebrate the fact that there was a new little princess in the house? Princess’ and pink just go together. The Mammy of the house had her baby girl and everyone was happy to know this. Gail was now well established as a stay at home mam and this was a role that brought her a lot of fulfillment. Now, the enjoyment that she received as a mam would be multiplied by two. It had to seem so perfect, at that time. She had this beautiful little girl to compliment the son that was so adored by her and Matthew. Just as it had been with Louis, they now had the opportunity to watch little Nicole grow and thrive in the household environment. She would bring so much joy to her family as the days and months passed by. There would be nothing out of the ordinary that would stand out to Gail as she watched Nicole grow. By that I mean in the way that she reached her developmental milestones. It is normal for children to advance in different areas of their development at their own pace. Louis had been quick to reach his milestones and he was a very talkative young fellow but Nicole was coming right along with things as she continued to grow. She crawled and then walked not that long after, advancing to the point of being given the title of “daredevil”. Nicole loved the outdoors and all of the things that went with it. Running, climbing, and going down slides. She was adorable and so fun to watch. Not Yet Complete  Precious pic - Don't you think! The timing of the reduction in force at the banking institute that Gail had worked for had been perfect! There was no maternity leave to return from, so there was no decision to be made as far as what to do. Gail had been afforded the opportunity to stay at home full time and this was very much welcomed. Especially because there were no grandparents nearby to help with the children. Gail was available to take children to every baby group and play group that there was. She was able to get to know the other mammies from these groups and play areas and this helped her to develop friendships with many of them. This was not to mention the fact that she was able to give her children her own undivided attention while they were young. Matthew and Gail had talked about her going back to work at some point but Gail knew she didn’t want to return to banking. She had a deep desire to work for herself one day and in fact, she had something in mind. I will let Gail explain in her own words, “My dream was to have a coffee shop/tea room and bakery (as I love baking!) and it was going to be called Barndoor Bakery. I have always loved baking and have always made our children’s birthday cakes, made family christening cakes etc. So I thought I might go into cake making – I made our wedding cake and then made two of my friends' wedding cakes too! No pressure there!” Matthew and Gail knew that Gail would have to return to work someday but the children were young and they wanted to afford them the opportunity to have their mammy around for as long as they could have Gail home. There was something else that would shape their future as a family and that was the feeling that they were not yet complete in the size of family that they wanted. To some, having a girl and a boy seemed so perfect. Why not just call things good and move towards the next stages of family life? Gail explains her feelings in this way, “When we had Louis and then Nicole, a lot of people assumed that was us, one of each, but we didn’t feel like that at all. We were blessed beyond anything we could imagine but I still had a sense deep inside, that I wanted another child. As much as I adored and loved Louis and Nicole more than anything in the world, I just had this feeling that I was not complete.” It was just a fact that for this couple, there was more yet to be experienced. Both Matthew and Gail were people that had shown that they could achieve the things that they had set out to do. They had plans for a life together and the future was still largely in front of them. Things looked bright for them even if their circumstances had changed. Both being intelligent people, they could work together and focus on what their future would look like. Even with this, they were not quite ready to stop increasing the size of their family. Gail explains, “I adore having children, to care and protect them, to feel their love, to have their tiny arms wrapped around your neck. There is nothing more precious or that brings you more joy than the love of your family.” There was more yet to come and much more that would be experienced.  Matthew's bride was stunning! Matthew and Gail’s life would, one day, be redirected by the circumstances that they would find themselves in. At the time, they had no idea what lay in front of them. Most always, we cannot see all that the future holds for us and sometimes, things take place that seem overwhelming at the time. Whatever the case might be, the Matthew and Gail would face life together. They had been joined together in their hearts from the beginning of things and it was always their intent to be committed to one another. Those intentions would really start to take shape as Matthew proposed to Gail in February of 2013. The very sweet thing about the way that things were done was that everything now included the children. The event began to take place as Matthew enlisted the help of his own mam in Glasgow on a secret mission to get the engagement ring resized to fit Gail’s ring finger. There was a bit of clever deception that took place as Matthew claimed that he had left his wallet there in Glasgow after they had visited. He needed to meet his mam halfway in order to get the wallet back (every man needs his wallet) but in actuality, it was the ring that had been resized that he was after. He returned home with it in his pocket, and with Gail being “completely oblivious!” Gail explained what would follow, “He proposed that night and it couldn’t have been more beautiful. It was nearly Nicole’s bedtime so he asked me to get her ready for bed. I started to get her ready and I saw a pink ribbon round Nicole’s tiny tummy with a ring tied to it! I couldn’t believe it! It was a total surprise and such a perfect way to involve our babies. Louis came in with Matthew and got down on one knee and proposed!” It would be one year later that this mam and dad of two would become man and wife. The date for the big event had been set and it would take place on the 1st of February in 2014 at a place named Matfen Hall. As Gail would put it to me, Matfen Hall is “a stunning and stately home in the beautiful Northumberland countryside.” To look at the pictures would tell everyone that this is, in fact, the truth. The estate is beautiful even from a great distance away and that is where this family affair would happen. Louis was set to be the page boy and the “bestest man” as Matthew’s brother would serve as the official best man alongside Louis. Nicole would serve as the flower girl and you can only imagine that watching Louis and Nicole doing their part was a reason for people to smile. Gail would explain that Louis was dressed in an adorable little kilt and a sporran. The sporran would be filled with his favorite drumstick lollies and other sweets. Little Nicole was dressed beautifully, having a special floral tiara and a wand made just for her. The entire experience would be captured in order to provide precious memories that could be viewed at a later date. Gail talks about the video as she gives some detail about that special time together, “We had contemplated having the wedding videotaped and at the last minute we decided to go ahead. Thank goodness we did, because we now have the most precious, precious memories of that very special day. Nicole running along the front of the guests squealing, excited as we were just about to say our vows! When Louis gave us the wedding ring on a tartan cushion with the ribbon tied around it to hold the ring .… he then says to Daddy ‘look, it’s a present daddy’…. and indeed it was.” Matthew had used the same ribbon that had originally held the engagement ring onto Nicole’s tummy for a special purpose. It was used to have Gail’s wedding bouquet tied together. What a great symbol of thoughtful intent and commitment that would turn out to be. Everything that was done, was done thoughtfully. This would be an event where the newlyweds would be surrounded by friends and family on what would be an extremely special day. A life spent with each other had really come together. Life as a family of four would continue and it would continue to be a beautiful story in the making. It would only get better as the next big event would take place. This would be the announcement that Gail was expecting child number three. The Rich family would soon be increasing in size as Gail would be expecting once again. There would be several false alarms along the way and the news would come a little later than it had before. Both her and Matthew were ecstatic with the news that Gail was expecting again. She had, in fact, been convinced that they would have another little boy this time around. Gail explains, “I was drawn to boy’s names, and to boy’s clothes. I was playing out scenarios of how Nicole would be protected by two brothers! Ha ha!” Gail would be monitored more closely during her pregnancy than she had been previously. This was because they wanted to ensure that the baby had been growing as expected. All had turned out well with baby Nicole, however, her growth in the womb was not what one would hope for. Things would go well with this pregnancy and the day would arrive. The Perfect Number  Awestruck! Jessica is making her mam feel complete! Just like it had been with her big sister (that’s right, the baby was a girl after all!) the new addition to the Rich family would be born at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The new princess would be born on the 18th of September in 2015 at 5:45 pm. This baby girl came to her family weighing in at six pounds and one and a half ounces. Just like her big sister had been when she was born, this little girl was flawless and she was flawlessly beautiful. Yes, that’s right! She had all of her fingers and toes and she was covered in brand new baby skin. Gail describes the big event and how her life was impacted by that day, “...our darling second daughter came into the world and the second she was placed on my chest I felt complete. There is no other word to describe it. The longing I had felt in my heart for a third child had gone. I had been blessed beyond belief and my life as a mammy of three was a dream come true.” Matthew and Gail had chosen the names Harper or Belle for if the baby was a girl. When they looked at their newborn daughter neither name fit for one reason or another. Their daughter would actually be named “baby no name” upon leaving the hospital because they couldn’t decide on what her name should be. They had thought about the name Jessica at one point in the pregnancy but had forgotten about it. Matthew’s mam would remind them by asking, “What about Jessica?” The young couple looked down at their beautiful little baby and thought, “that’s it, Jessica is perfect!” And so, she was named Jessica Annie Rich. She received her middle name after Gail’s Nana who was named Annie. Before that would take place however, they would leave the infirmary a family of five, ready to take on what life would bring their way. Still at this time there existed the fact that Matthew was the only one working and this would allow Gail to stay home with the children for an extended period of time. There was no end to a maternity leave that had to be dealt with. She was there for everything like all of the baby groups, school drop-offs and pick-ups. Gail was there to see her kids grow and to reach new milestones and she was there for Matthew when he arrived home from his day. Gail figured that this was time that they would never get back. This was hers and Matthew’s thinking, even with not knowing what lay ahead for them. There were so many life events that they looked forward to as they thought about what the future may hold. There were thoughts of children and their schooling as they graduated and moved onto all of the levels of education. Would these three attend college, or would they work in a vocation of their choosing? Would they work in the family business that Gail had dreamed of having? Perhaps Louis would be an athlete like his father. There could be family gatherings of all kinds and time spent together throughout the years. Christmas’ and weddings, these were some of the possibilities for what could take place. Being a family could also bring hardships. There are often difficulties that can come along as time passes. Part of being a family is dealing with situations as they arise. Scrapes and bruises or a broken bone are the kinds of things that one may expect as children are growing up. Some children are born with special needs and others require greater attention in school.  Those huge brown eyes! Matthew is a wonderful daddy! Going through life together and dealing with life’s difficulties is part of what being a family is all about. There are things that just don’t come to a parent’s mind under normal circumstances. There are so many unknowns that can take us by surprise. That is also part of living on this planet. Something like a rare disease is one of those unknowns that can appear out of nowhere and there was no way that Matthew and Gail could know. There was something in their future as a family that would change life for them forever. Everything had gone so well with young Louis as he progressed and developed. Things would be different for beautiful Nicole during her early development. It would soon be clear to her family that they had a special set of circumstances with her. One thing would be noticed as early as two years of age and that was that Nicole was behind in the development of her speech. It would be at her two year check-up that it was noted, Nicole was not saying any words yet. As a result, language therapists would be called in to intervene. Even with this, Matthew and Gail would not be overly concerned at this point. After all, Nicole was understanding what was being said to her and she was following instructions. They just thought that her language skills would come with time. Little Nicole would receive over one hundred therapy sessions using methods such as visual timetables and pictures cards. It would seem that she would begin to get the hang of things but would lose interest. Time would continue on and more people would take notice in regards to Nicole’s lack of skills in the area of her speech. Both the teaching staff, as well as her speech therapist, were concerned as Nicole entered the pre-school environment. Nicole was just not progressing, in spite of all of the added attention that she was receiving. It must have been so disheartening for people to look at that darling little face and to know that Nicole was struggling the way that she was. The concern that Matthew and Gail had over Nicole had to be increasing as the days passed by. There had been an additional concern that had been noted while this had all been taking place. That was the fact that Nicole was having an issue with a lack of concentration. Nicole had not yet spoken a word as she turned three years of age and at this point, her situation was alarming. It was time to seek medical attention in order to try to find an answer and the first place to start was with the pediatrician. It is a challenge anytime one of multiple siblings in the house requires extra attention and I know that this would be a challenge as things continued to develop. Little Nicole would undergo a series of cognitive and behavioral tests to try to determine what was taking place. As the testing was completed, a result would be given showing the diagnosis of Global Developmental Delay. GDD is really just a blanket term that is applied to children that show significant delays in their cognitive and physical development. This would certainly fit with what the family was seeing in Nicole. She was delayed in almost all of the areas of her development. How difficult this must have been at this point. Nicole was, at three years of age, displaying the behaviors and characteristics of a child that is 18-20 months old. She had been first seen as a child that would catch up at her own pace, but now, that was no longer a possibility. The subtle regression of her skills was now, much more obvious. As Gail had stated in a piece that she had written for BDFA of the UK, “We had been watching our baby girl deteriorate in front of our eyes completely oblivious to the reason.” Developmental delay is something that a family can live with in a child. It does take an adjustment in a person's psyche. A parent will learn that they have a special case on their hands and they will come to terms with the fact that their child may need their help over an extended period of time. It could be caused by something that happened at the time that the child was carried in the womb, or it could be something that is out of order genetically. People with special needs have a special place in society and especially, in their families. In Nicoles case, there was more that was taking place. Much more! It would be just days after the diagnosis of developmental delay that Nicole would have her first seizure. There are not many things that are more frightening for a parent to see happen. This little porcelain doll of a child was seen to experience something so terrifying to her parents. Journey Unexpected  Two dolls, one picture! There was no history of epilepsy in the family and Nicole’s parents had no idea what was going on as the initial seizure was taking place. Gail described that first event with the following, “It started with a twitch that traveled up her little body. She then went lifeless, turned blue, and then stopped breathing.” Can you imagine how terrifying that would be for a parent to witness such a thing happening with their child? Matthew and Gail truly thought that they might lose their tiny princess at the time that the seizure was taking place. Like most any set of parents would, the Riches made sure that Nicole was seen at a hospital, and afterwards, an EEG would be performed. The result would be that she was given the diagnosis of focal epilepsy. Focal epilepsy is simply a condition that involves recurring seizures that can affect any one portion of the brain. The doctors would come to believe that there was an underlying syndrome involved in Nicole’s case but they did not know what it was. They were not immediately able to piece together all of the symptoms that they were seeing in Nicole. What would transpire was a search for answers that would take place over a more than two year period. All the while, this sweet little girl continued to regress. The Rich family would experience an attitude of love and concern on behalf of the medical professionals as they tried to help. Gail would use words like “amazing” to describe the care that they would receive but the answers that they sought after would not come quickly. Nicole would, of course, be under the care of a neurologist and the Riches would return there frequently looking for help. This was in addition to visits with Nicole’s pediatrician. The problem was that her issues were related to a rare condition that was escaping those who were trying to help. You can only imagine that medical professionals would look at someone like Nicole and would want to give her their very best care. She is someone who would melt most anyone’s heart. Just look at her! Gail speaks about what she witnessed during this very confusing time, “They really wanted to help us and bonded very quickly with Nicole. Our pediatrician used to call Nicole ‘poppet’, it was so sweet. Nicole would walk into the room and everyone would instantly connect with her. She was just, and still is, adorable! Because she was so small, she looked even cuter and as she was mischievous, it just added to her infectious and loveable character.” It would be at the time that Nicole’s mobility started to become affected that her parents really became concerned. This had to be more than just simple epilepsy. Nicole would begin to fall frequently, stumbling and never really having control as she walked. Yes, it had to be a syndrome that was yet unknown and there needed to be a conclusion to the search for an answer. Matthew and Gail urged the doctors to continue testing until that answer was found. This family knew that something wasn’t right! People reading this story will already be aware. The Rich family had begun a journey that involved a diagnosis for a rare disease named Batten, known clinically as ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal. The problem is that Batten disease is one of 7,000 rare diseases that affect children.  Love teddy bears at our house. Batten families even more. The disease has seen an increase in awareness in recent years but that is not the case in every place throughout the world. More doctors have knowledge concerning Batten disease but not in every place. It is also true that many of its symptoms are shared with other diseases. For the most part, it can only be confirmed through genetic testing and that happens when you have an idea what to look for. The majority of the medical professionals that Matthew and Gail had come in contact with had never heard of Batten disease. Even when it came to Nicole’s neurologist, he had only seen one case of it in twenty years of practicing medicine. The insistence of Riches would eventually pay off even if the result would be completely disheartening. Eventually, doctors would think to have blood drawn to check for a metabolic disorder and to have it sent to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for testing. The results of the testing would eventually come back and the Riches would be contacted. The doctor wanted Matthew and Gail to come in to get the results. They wanted them to come in by themselves and without the children. On the way there, the couple thought about what they would possibly encounter with the news. Would their daughter be wheelchair bound for the course of her entire life? Would she remain in her parents' care for many years to come? There were so many things that were unknown to them in that moment and the news would be worse than anything that they could imagine. Once arriving at the hospital, the Riches would be met by a team that included the pediatrician, a nurse, and a neurologist. Once there in the room with the medical staff, Matthew and Gail would be given the news that their beautiful little girl had CLN2 Batten disease. These are dates that one may never forget although a person may wish that they could. September the 16th of the year 2016 is the day that they first learned that such a thing as Batten disease existed. They would learn the details of what would take place with little Nicole. They would learn that there is not a cure and that the disease is fatal. There usually are not words that can fully describe what a parent is feeling at a time such as this, however, Gail fully explained the experience with these words, “Nothing can ever prepare you to hear those words. It felt like we were looking in on someone else being told. Like it wasn’t real. We kept saying “ You can’t be talking about Nicole, you must be wrong.”…. It was a physical pain, like our hearts were actually breaking. It was the worst moment of our lives.” For a long time, doctors were incapable of doing anything other than to tell the parents of a child with CLN2 Batten …. “Go home and make your child’s life as amazing as possible” Gail would share hers and Matthew’s initial thoughts. Were they just meant to go home and watch their innocent beautiful Nicole deteriorate and die? There was hope for a course of action but in those moments, there was only despair and grief that was unbearable. So many different things would take place in the weeks and months that followed Nicole’s diagnosis. The Riches would learn much more about the disease and they would connect with the Batten Disease Family Association (BDFA) in the UK. Matthew and Gail would learn that they were far from being alone in this journey. This was very much welcomed, even if knowing this could not take away the pain that they felt. One thing was apparent as they learned that this was a genetic disorder. That was that it was possible for their other children to be affected. Louis was past the normal age of onset and he had shown no symptoms, but what about baby Jessica? The only thing that could make the news concerning Nicole worse than it was, would be if they would learn that Jessica was also affected. They of course, would have Jessica tested genetically and the outcome would not be good. The grief that they now carried would be multiplied by two as their hearts were broken for a 2nd time. This would also take place in 2016, three months later in December. Jessica’s test results had shown that she also had CLN2 Batten disease. The news couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Riches were beginning their travels with Nicole to a Starlight Lapland wish trip that is hosted by the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Jessica, who was only fifteen months old at the time, was staying with Matthew’s parents in Glasgow. Grief Multiplied  Beautiful little warriors. Melt me inside. It was difficult but necessary to leave Jessica as this time was meant for focusing their attention on Nicole while also making memories. They had “cuddled'' Jessica and said that they would see her in a few days. Matthew and Gail would leave, not knowing the utter despair and pain that would follow. How could this be happening to both of these innocent little faces? Being a mam to these children had brought Gail to the place that she had longed to be. Matthew had to have been beaming with pride over this beautiful family that was his responsibility. Now however, he was met with concern that was overwhelming. Again, what was being felt would be more than most could describe, however Gail paints the picture perfectly with these words, “I still don’t know how we were able to get through and how we managed to hold it together as well as we did. I remember wailing and screaming, I felt like the life had been sucked from me, I have never felt so helpless or so weak. It was definitely a physical pain, but my mind was in pure turmoil.” It would be early after Nicole’s diagnosis that the Riches would learn about a life changing treatment that had recently become available. Through BDFA they would learn about Enzyme Replacement Therapy. A child that has CLN2 Batten disease is missing an important enzyme that is responsible for cleaning wastes from cells in the body. In particular, this has a big impact on the cells in a child’s brain as they are not able to rid themselves of the waste. Enzyme Replacement is a pioneering procedure that uses a solution that takes the place of the missing enzyme. The solution is administered directly through a device which sits inside the skull. Nicole would gain entrance into the program on a compassionate use basis and she would begin therapy in January of 2017 at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children. How difficult would that have been to deal with the realization, back on that day in December. Jessica also had Batten disease. She was only a baby. A time meant to honor Nicole and to further process their feelings had turned into an even larger nightmare. Gail explains the feelings of desperation and the resolve that would follow, “I remember pacing the corridor outside our hotel room, hysterically phoning our social worker, asking her ‘what are we going to do?’. We spoke to Harriet at the BDFA from the airport, as I was desperate for someone to start looking at how we could get Jessica on treatment like Nicole. Through the devastation, we jumped into practical mode and wanted as many people looking into it as we could.” Little Jessica was so young that it was well before the time that she would start showing symptoms of the disease. In a very real sense, Nicole would become a hero to her baby sister, even if they were both unaware of that fact. Why would I say something like this? Two things were in Jessica’s favor. One was that she would be diagnosed before symptoms appeared. The other was that Jessica could potentially begin to receive enzyme replacement before any damage could be done. The goal would be to get Jessica started as soon as possible. It had taken over two years to determine the cause of Nicole’s symptoms and there had been a progression into the disease. Nicole had paved the way for early intervention towards her little sister.  A way of life - These families! Beautiful Nicole would be given one of the final places within the compassionate use program for enzyme replacement. Little Jessica was another story all together. A child had to be at least 3 years of age to begin the trial and Jessica was only 15 months old. Besides this, all of the places in the program that Nicole was in had been taken. There was no place that Jessica would fit into but this would not stop her parents from working on getting her what she needed. They would begin a desperate search to get Jessica accepted into a program. In the course of time, Matthew and Gail would learn that there were sibling programs in Ohio of the USA and in Hamburg, Germany. Both of these options would each present a different challenge. That is if they could even get Jessica into one of these programs. There are however, not too many challenges that these families will not accept on behalf of their children. Even with this in mind, an exception would have to be made for Jessica to be accepted into a program. The best option would, of course, be the trial that was taking place in Hamburg. This even though the travel time by air, all total, would be around eight hours. The Riches began calling the BDFA and BioMarin, which is the company responsible for the clinical trial. They also called the doctors in Hamburg that were involved with the program. It would not be easy. Nicole was already getting her treatments done in London every two weeks at GOSH. That, in itself, would be enough with traveling there from Newcastle every other week. It didn’t matter how difficult the circumstances though, the Riches pressed on because they had no other choice. Gail explains the outcome with the following, “It was a difficult time for us because we knew that time was of the essence and Jessica didn’t fit anywhere. So, after many emails and phone calls, Biomarin agreed to amend the protocol and reduce the age limit to allow Jessica to join the trial….”. Jessica would begin to receive Enzyme Replacement Therapy at only 21 months of age. This would take place before any symptoms whatsoever began to appear and that was so important. Jessica would “pave the way” for other children to receive enzyme replacement safely at a younger age. Just like her big sister had, Jessica would need to undergo the surgery. This was to implant the port that is needed to accept the fluid for enzyme replacement. There on the operating table would be this tiny child who had shown no symptoms of Batten disease. Gail stated that for Matthew, signing the consent was the hardest thing that he would ever have to do. She was still a baby and still perfectly healthy but it had to be done. It was the best thing for her. Something that was even more challenging was the fact that the Riches would have had two children receiving enzyme replacement in two different countries. Can you imagine having to travel a distance with one child that is three hours one way and then, also having to travel to Germany with the other child? Of course, the hope would be that Jessica could one day have her treatments done at the same location as her sister. That would not take place right away or even soon however. Jessica would travel with one or both of her parents to Hamburg for ten months before a sibling program would open up at GOSH in London. At first, both Matthew and Gail would travel with Jessica but that would prove to be too much. Germany one week and London the next. We haven’t mentioned Louis too much yet. We haven’t talked about the effect all of this would have on him. So much time would be taken to deal with the issues that surrounded his two sisters. There is always a challenge for the siblings that are unaffected and making sure that they are not neglected is important. For this reason, Matthew and Gail would make the decision that only one of them would fly to Germany with Jessica. That responsibility would be taken up by Matthew as he traveled with Jessica every other week to her infusions. This would ensure that Louis had more time with his mam and less time of being left in someone else's care. They would also make sure that both girls were receiving their treatments in the same week so that they had more time together at home as a family. Gail stated that at the beginning, the girls were receiving the same treatment on the same day, only in different countries. Matthew, in looking at the number of flights that had been taken in that ten month period, placed it at around 300 flights. There were no direct flights available from Newcastle to Hamburg and the locations of the connecting flights are too numerous to list here. You do get the idea though. Life was very hectic and this family would have to warrior on. A Family Together  What a handsome young chap you are Louis! The commitment on the part of Matthew should make it obvious to everyone that he is an outstanding father who loves his family! Obviously, I have personally, never been to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. I have read about it and I have read comments made by people that have been there. It is a very outstanding hospital with a rich history of caring for children. It is a very special place and they would open up a siblings program, just as was stated earlier. Ten months after Jessica began her treatments, she would begin to get her infusions at the same time that her big sister would receive them. At the same hospital! There were no more flights to jump on every other week and less separation time as a family. Gail said that Jessica “transferred smoothly and without any apprehension”. She would also refer to her as being “one adaptable little lady” and I might add a darling little lady as well. So often, I use words like “special” and “amazing” to describe these children who endure more in their young lives than most adults will see in a lifetime. Their innocent little ways remain, even as they go through everything that they encounter. There truly is something special about them. Gail describes what she sees in both of her little girls with this, “Both girls are so tolerant, so resilient and super brave. We are in awe of everything they endure, always with a smile on their faces. We get our strength from them.” Gail said that they are currently talking to their local hospital, hoping that the girls will soon be able to receive their treatment there. What a difference that would make as the travel time would be reduced to a mere fifteen minutes. That would be a great reward for all that they have had to endure. From Germany, to London, and then to treatments at home in Newcastle. This would be best for everyone and that includes Louis who has had to hang in there. He has been such a trooper! So often, the siblings of children that have special needs have to take a back seat to the kids that battle. The attention that is required often robs them of the attention that is due to them. Both Matthew and Gail are intelligent people who understand that this can be a real issue. They take the necessary measures to make sure that Louis knows how special he is. Here is just a little of what Gail had to say about her son, “Louis is 10 years old now, and we cannot put into words how much we love him and how proud we are of him. He is a sensitive, thoughtful boy, who has had his struggles watching his sisters go through what they have. Surgery, testing, regular hospital visits, we always make sure we make time just for Louis.” The Riches make it a priority to spend time with Louis as the regimen of a Batten family’s life continues on. It began four years ago and continues to this day. With all of the feedings for Nicole and all of the special medical needs, they make sure that Louis is not forgotten about. Louis loves playing chess with his father and going on bike rides with his mam and dad. He is a rugby player on a local team and is involved in the Cubs. He also enjoys time spent with his mam and dad during family movie night. Louis loves going to school and being with his classmates.  Making a difference in such a special community! Matthew and Gail get the affirmation that they are doing a good job with Louis through the comments that they receive from others. Louis is considered to be polite, well mannered, and considerate. This is the kind of thing that takes place as parents take the time to show a child that he or she is loved. Louis, of course, knows what Batten disease is and he knows what it does to children. He has watched the effects of the disease take their course with Nicole. Louis has watched as his sister has gone from running and playing to losing her skills and becoming dependent on others. Gail stated that it is difficult and heartbreaking to see how he is affected by this. She went on to say that Louis would often remark about how he would send fighter jets into Nicole’s brain if he could. This, to blast the disease with something that it hates in order to destroy it. In his youthful way of thinking, he tries to think of ways to battle Batten disease. Louis is inquisitive and asks a lot of questions. Matthew and Gail have always done their best to answer his questions in an age appropriate manner. What do you do when a child asks you if his little sister is going to die? How do you deal with something like that? This is just another kind of challenge that is faced by Batten families. Gail said that hearing a question like this was like an arrow had been placed in their hearts. Louis has grown in his understanding of Batten disease over time and the Riches have helped him in that way. He is a young man that most any parent would be proud to have for a son. Obviously, he is a special big brother as well. As Matthew and Gail began this journey, they had found a lot of support within the medical community for what they were going through. People wanted to help in every place from Nicole’s school to the various doctor’s offices. There was however, not a lot of knowledge when it came to Batten disease. Being only one of thousands of rare diseases that affect children made a difference. The disease does not always come to mind when doctors are looking at symptoms. What they see is most often misdiagnosed as being something else as the search for answers continues. The BDFA (Batten Disease Family Association) is trying to change this. For the Riches part, they formed a non-profit foundation named the Nicole and Jessica Rich Foundation in January of 2017. They wanted the work that they do to be a legacy on behalf of their two beautiful daughters as they attempt to have a positive impact. This, on the lives of those who battle Batten as they raise awareness and funding. They want to do things to support research, the BDFA, and to help with their daughters' needs. Like with many of the other non-profits there in the UK, the Rich family, through their foundation, has organized some impressive events to raise funds. From holding the world’s largest half marathon to having a climb to the top of the highest peak in the UK. From something as difficult as an event involving an assault course to something as simple as a Christmas coffee morning, they do a few fundraising events each year. Like it has been this year for every non-profit, their’s has been impacted by Covid-19. This has obviously not dampened Gail’s spirit. You can see that as she talks about her favorite event and the impact that the events have on them as a family. In her words, “The most special event to us is our fundraising ball which we have hosted for the past three years, ‘The Sweetheart Ball’ named after our sweethearts! 2020 would have been our fourth event, but due to Covid-19, it couldn’t go ahead so we are committed to make the 2021 Sweetheart Ball the best yet!!! We put our hearts and souls into organising and planning the event so it means the world to us to see the amount of support there is for our little girls and our family on that night, it is truly humbling.” They are proud of what the foundation has been able to do and so appreciative of all of the wonderful support they have received. I can only imagine that people look at those two little faces, and knowing the plight of these girls, they only want to help. Gail continues with these words about the support that they are receiving, “We have been blown away by the level of support we have been shown, people are always thinking of us and how they can help. It really makes you feel like you are not alone and there are so many people who want to help you make a difference. We are so thankful for every penny.” The funds that have been raised has assisted in the Riches being able to afford specialized equipment. Things like a bath seat and a car seat for Nicole. In addition to lending support monetarily to the BDFA, they donated a sum of money to a research team at UCL London in 2018. This funding went to a gene therapy research project meant for saving children’s eyesight. The Nicole and Jessica Rich Foundation will continue to give to projects that appear to be worthwhile as they are able, and will continue to aid families that have children that battle Batten. Fundraising and raising awareness are two things that they will never stop doing as the foundation seeks to make a difference. We never know what life will bring our way and the Riches are making the best of what life has brought to them. They have fought battles for kids that battle Batten alongside other families within the UK. The most notable battle was the fight to secure the funding of Brineuera (enzyme replacement) through the NHS (National Health Service). The fight to have this treatment funded was exhausting for all of the families that were involved. The reasons why this was so important should be obvious. That being the little faces with trusting eyes that look up to their parents for help. This pursuit was worth every bit of energy that it took on behalf of the Rich family as they joined with others in this cause. Those that battle Batten alongside their children are a special bunch of people. Only they can truly know what it is like to go through what is referred to as a journey through Batten disease. I’ve been told that in many ways, the road that these families travel is a lonely one. The loneliness that is sometimes felt is lessened by knowing that there are others that know what it is like and who are willing to come alongside. It also helps to know that there are people who try their best to be empathetic and helpful. Working Together  What a stunning young family they are! Important to the Rich family are the people that they have connected with through this hardship. Matthew and Gail are two people that just wanted to have a family together. They have been asked, however, to deal with something that most will never know about. I liked what Gail had to say as she shared her thoughts. Here it is in her own words, “Ours is a difficult road but we are never alone. We have each other, we have our friends and family. We also have the wonderful Batten Disease community, who have become like family. There are few people in the world who know what it is like, then even less who know how it feels to have the diagnosis twice. Through devastating circumstances, we have connected with some truly wonderful, caring and inspiring people, who we would never have known had it not been for our daughters illness.” Like most of the families, the Riches had never heard of Batten disease before they were given the news concerning Nicole. Their grief was then multiplied by two. There is no telling what their lives would have been like if Batten had not reared it’s monstrous self into their existence. They were at first, “carefree and spontaneous” but now, their lives are regimented. It revolves around feedings and the giving of medications, this not to mention the trips for the infusions. It is not what they thought that it would be but again, they are making the most of the situation that they have been given. There are reasons to rejoice and embrace the life that they have, but daily, there are also struggles. Matthew and Gail would be the first to tell you that they have their good days and their bad days. You will never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice! Gail shared the most difficult part of their journey to date with this, “The hardest part of our lives has been to watch our beautiful Nicole lose her abilities. Then see her little sister doing all of the things she once did. We are in the heart breaking situation of being able to compare our daughters who are both at very different stages of the disease. This is why we feel so passionately about early diagnosis because we see the difference it makes to our daughters every single day. It is hard on our emotions because we are rejoicing for Jessica and all she is achieving, but we feel heartbroken for Nicole that those moments were taken away from her because of Batten Disease.” Gail would go on to talk about the fact that in spite of what the disease has taken from Nicole, she remains bright and beautiful. That is so easy to see, even from this great distance away. She is still, very much so a porcelain doll with her big brown eyes that speak love to those who come in contact with her. As I alluded to at the beginning of this story, there has, in a certain way, been a reversal of roles in the relationship between the two sisters. You will frequently see Jessica hovering around her big sister, ready to help her in whatever way she can. The bond between these two sisters is strong and very special. For Nicole’s part, she is the heroine to her little sister. This is because she led the way and allowed Jessica to enjoy a quality of life that she herself has missed out on. Every time I have chatted with Gail, or have listened to her voice messages, I see or hear a person who is trying her very best to keep things on the positive. Life is not what they would have expected it to be but they are making every day count through teamwork and an emphasis on family. I have found her to be a remarkable person who has made the most of a difficult situation. Matthew and Gail are truly a team. With the following, she explains a little bit more about the adjustment they have had to make, “Getting a diagnosis like Batten Disease quickly makes you re-evaluate your priorities and you soon know what is important in life and what is not. It is not the life we planned or envisioned when we had a family, but as we had to learn, you are forced to accept your life will never be the same. You try your hardest not to look back and instead, try your very best to make every day count. The happiness of our children is all that matters. We can’t control the disease, but we control how we respond.” As a general rule, Batten families do not look too far into the future. Rather, they make each day count. Some deal with the challenges by pouring themselves into working as advocates for the community that they are a part of. Gail puts it like this, “We live each day with hope in our hearts and we will never stop doing everything we can to find a cure for this horrendous disease.” The Riches feel like it is a waste of energy to worry about what might happen. They stay focused and handle things in the most practical way that they can.  No words are adequate... It all began as a simple outing in a public place that brought two people together. They had likes and interests in common and they fell in love. Finding a life together, they both loved the idea of having children and being a family. Wow! It is sometimes staggering to think about how quickly our lives can change. A chain of events can be set off by a single occurrence and then, we are changed forever. Gail had found her place. Being a mam to three beautiful children had brought her more fulfillment than anything else in life could. There was much that they would look forward to but more would come their way than Matthew and Gail could have ever expected. The love that they have for these three children is stronger than words can describe. Again, Gail does an able job of sharing her feelings with us with the following, “My gorgeous girls, my world….along with their big brother. One of my favourite sayings is ‘the most precious jewels you can have around your neck are the arms of your children’, and this is so true. I cherish every day, every smile, every cuddle, every bedtime, every single part of being a mother is a blessing. Hearing the words ‘Love you Mammy’ is the best thing in the world.” Even though Nicole has never been able to say those words, you can just see the love that she has for her family in her eyes. I can see it too, even from such a great distance away. She is just so beautiful.
The Riches are grateful for every day that they are given with these three beautiful little souls. Watching the bond that exists between the three of them brings so much joy and strength for another day. There is nothing that this couple will not do for their children and they will be there for them, every step of the way. One moment at a time, taking each day as it comes their way. Life for all of us is so short and we can't waste time worrying about what we cannot change. Undying love and a bond that cannot be broken. There I go again. These kids do change people. I know that telling these stories has changed me. There is sadness along the way. There are difficulties and very trying circumstances associated with having children that battle a rare disease like Batten. It would be so easy to make that the entire focus of these stories, however doing so would not paint a complete picture. Beautiful are the details that reveal the depth of feeling that surrounds these children. The depth of love that exists between the kids that battle Batten and those that care for them is something that is beautiful. The life of both Nicole and Jessica is a beautiful story. This is because both of their lives embody all of the beautiful details that we have talked about. Life is not what Matthew and Gail expected that it would be. They, along with their children, are on a journey that they once were unaware of. The circumstances that they find themselves in has, in part, changed who they are as people and the direction that they are going in. Never, could they have thought about being rare disease advocates. In all likelihood, the thought had never entered their minds. Who knows what number of people they will affect by sharing the details of their journey. How will their lives be affected by being involved in the lives of others? Life is a lot better when you look beyond yourself and try to have a positive impact on other people. The Rich family is doing exactly that, even in the midst of some very trying circumstances. I am thankful for the researchers that have brought about the treatment that Nicole and Jessica receive. It is making lives better, one family at a time but we do need a cure so badly. For the families, that can’t come soon enough. Speaking of families, this is a very special one in yet, another special place. I am grateful for every opportunity I am given to be involved in a community that I care deeply about. Thanks for taking the time to read this story. Thanks Gail for helping me to tell it. All my best to you, Matthew, and those three very special children of yours! ~Greg Lopez~ Blogger and Advocate |
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