Catalyst (part 2)

Look at this sweet, happy, charming boy (I love this picture) with one of "his" Mower Girls (Meridith, at her wedding reception - Aug.'07 .... Hey Mer, like how I used "your" colors"?).

To look at him, one would never guess - or even suspect - that there was a "war" being waged inside that little body. A war, that we now know, he was loosing.... more and more every day. A war that we are gaining the "intelligence" and acquiring the "weaponry" to fight; but a battle he will have to be on guard to fight, for the rest of his life, if he wants to keep his "attackers" at bay.

I ended my last entry with our first visit to the GI. At the end of that visit the Dr. had scheduled an Upper GI, and told me that, more than likely, he would need to do an endoscopy, as well.

The Upper GI was performed the 1st week of Jan. - Zachary was a "champ"! The Radiology Tech & the Radiologist, were both amazed. They both commented that Zachary did better than most adults who have to have the procedure (sadly, it came as no surprise to me. He has been through so many procedures over the years, that he just takes them in stride). There were no significant findings, as a result of the UGI - no obstructions or abnormalities - so the endoscopy was scheduled.

Now, to be perfectly honest, I went into all of this (probably for the first time ever) thinking the Dr.'s were "waaaayyyy" over reacting! I kept thinking of all the times there was a lot wrong and I couldn't get anyone (i.e., his Dr.'s) to listen to me! Now, all the sudden, there is probably nothing wrong, and everyone is jumping through hoops to try and find a diagnosis.... I thought, 'how backward!'

So, you can only imagine how taken aback I was when the doctor came out and, not only told me that there was something (actually several "somethings") wrong, but that his conditions were quite severe. For weeks, every time I looked at the endoscopy pictures, I would get choked up (and sometimes, actually cry) because, to look at the visual of what was causing his pain and discomfort looked so painful that it actually made me hurt, physically. All I could think was, "My poor baby!"..... feelings that had, at one time, been as familiar as his name, or the touch of his infant skin when bathing/dressing him; but had long since become a distant memory......

Part of the diagnosis would require waiting a week for biopsy results; but what was known, immediately, was that he is definitely suffering from GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) - whether it is still, or again is not known; as a result of the GERD, he had about 2-3 dozen ulcers at the base of his esophagus; and he had extreme inflammation and abnormal looking tissue that ran the entire length of his esophagus.

The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis that the doctor suspected. Zachary was diagnosed with a chronic, auto-immune, digestive disorder -Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EED).

With this diagnosis came a few answers.... it was/is the EED that was causing his swallowing difficulties (which had become more frequent) and the episodes of severe stomach pain, that he was having (which, the first few times it happened, were so severe, and came on so suddenly, that his complaints seemed consistent with an appendicitis); but has opened the door to many questions......