What Is It? What Does It Mean?

I will do my best to try and explain what Eosinophilic Esophagitis is, as I understand it, to this point. I am still researching, investigating and asking a lot of questions, to gain a better understanding, myself.

Eosinophils are a particular white blood cell of the immune system that "attack" "foreign bodies" within one's system. Apparently, an elevated count of them can be indicative of allergies.

Zachary had some blood work, for something, done at a visit to the pediatrician, back in Sept. Although it was not what was being tested for, the blood work came back with an elevated eosinophil count, which prompted the pediatrician to order an allergy panel - he was also having some increased problems w/ his asthma, and she thought the allergy panel might shed some light on why. The allergy test came back positive, for several things - some foods, grass, cats & dogs - but I was told that nothing was so severe that it has to be avoided....That was in mid October.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis is the result of, A) an excess number of eosinophils being produced by the immune system, and B) those excess cells attach themselves to the lining of the esophagus (the tube that carries food, after it's swallowed, to the stomach), causing inflammation, which causes the symptoms from which Zachary is suffering. It is a chronic disorder and must be managed, or it can become life-threatening (although the doctor didn't seem to think it was important enough to mention that fact until after he learned that I was trying diet, rather than drugs, to manage it (more on this in "Catalyst - part 3" - a coming attraction).

Most of the websites that I have gone to for information suggest, or outright say, that EED is a rare disorder. Some of the Drs. I have spoken to, however, say that it is a "newly recognized" disorder, that has just begun to be diagnosed, and is becoming more and more prevalent. I'm not sure it really matters, one way or the other... he has it, it effects our lives and we need to educate ourselves, arm ourselves (him) with the knowledge that we acquire and move forward.... the numbers are not significant in what is our present reality! Perhaps, in the future, my take on that will change.... because, after all, numbers mean increased awareness, and numbers mean research and research dollars, I am sure that there are many things that numbers mean; but to me, right now, at this juncture of our journey, 1 is the only number that matters to me... My 1 son, the sweet angle that G-d has entrusted me to protect, has this disorder. I will do everything within my power to learn what is necessary to keep him healthy and happy; and to teach him and provide him with the tools necessary for him to keep himself healthy and happy.


In the future, as I move forward on the path in front of me, I am sure the numbers will come to matter more. But, for now, I am at the bottom of the path/start of my journey. I have posted this picture because I believe it to be a good representation of my journey..... like the picture, I believe that the path, while an uphill climb will contain places of great "beauty" - if I take the time to stop and look around; I believe that it is likely, that along the way, I may stumble; perhaps even fall; I believe that if I do fall, the only way for me to reach the top, is to stand up and keep walking (even if I "wobble" for a while); I believe that while I can not see the top of the path, or know what it will look like when I get there, that it is a place of "light", not darkness"; and I believe that when I reach what I believed to be the top, there will be more paths for me to follow. Those are the things that I believe, the things that I know and have to remind myself of, while making the journey, are, that along the way it will be important for me to stop - sometimes frequently -to catch my breath; maybe even stop and rest for awhile, to regain my strength, so that I can continue on; but most importantly, what I know is that I can't "take" the next step until I am able to "conquer' the first step.