My heart goes out to you and especially your son!! I was diagnosed with
TM at T10 at the age of 18. I know what a struggle it is. Never give
up. He will have a wonderful life, I'm sure of it. I now walk with a
brace on my right leg and a cane and live a very happy life. I do still
have incontinence problems now 6 years later but accept it and move on.
I wish you both all the best!!
Stacy Firth
Bay City, Michigan, USA
safirth(AT)dow.com
>----------
>From: jsdj.lees(AT)zetnet.co.uk[SMTP:jsdj.lees(AT)zetnet.co.uk]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 1998 5:52 PM
>To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
>Subject: new member, child in U.K
>
>Hello,
>My name is Jane and my son Daniel was diagnosed with acute T.M. on
>16th August 1997, then aged 3 and 10 months. He was completely
>paralysed below T10, which meant that he couldn't even sit up, let
>alone move his legs. On 8th September he moved his toes very slightly
>for the first time and from then on have continued to improve. He can
>now walk unaided, however he falls constantly and relies on the
>muscles in the front of his legs and 'fixes' on his hips. He gets
>tired easily, but is extremely determined. The neurologist said that
>he thought his recovery was around 60 - 70%, when we saw him
>recently.His left side is considerably worse and he drags his left
>leg when he walks.He wears splints and special shoes with protective
>fronts, to ensure that they last more than a week! He is still
>doubly incontinent, although he does have some sensation. The
>recovery has now slowed down to the extent that improvements are hard
>to see. The consultant told us that by about 1 year we will know what
>he will be like, but I understand that people still continue to
>recovery over considerably longer periods. The consultant has also
>told us that he will now be unlikely to make a full recovery and will
>have motor problems,although for some, unexplained reason he is
>hopeful about his incontinence.
>
>We would like to hear from anyone who has experience with young
>children and TM, anyone in the U.K, especially near Yorkshire. Also
>suggestions around toilet training (or not) and whether to try to
>promote 'normal' walking or to let him get from a to b as fast as
>humanly possibly never mind the style, (which is what happens at the
>moment! Also, of course, anything that gives us some hope for his
>future.
>
>Thanks
>
>