11-Year Old With Ehlers-Danlos Gets Off Medication and Becomes Fully Independent
Rachael lives in Perth , Australia , with her mother Judy. She is now an active 11 year old, full of life & laughter.
But it hasn’t always been this way….
Rachael’s story of pain and the complete deprivation of a normal childhood began at birth. Born five weeks premature, she had constant reflux. She was cold & jaundiced as a newborn baby. She spent the first few days of her life in a warmer. All her normal milestones were delayed.
From ages 2 – 7, it was obvious to her mother that Rachael was in constant pain in her joints & muscles. She had poor coordination. She bruised and bled more easily than was normal. She suffered fractures to both arms. Despite numerous consultations with General Practioners (MD’s), muscle and joint specialists, and physiotherapists, Rachael’s diagnosis ranged from childhood naughtiness, to growing pains. But the truth was, they couldn’t diagnose her, and they certainly didn’t have a real answers for her problems.
At the age of seven, Rachael was seen by a rheumatologist who immediately recognized her symptoms as a rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Here’s a quick description of Ehlers-Danlos:
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of rare genetic disorders affecting humans and domestic animals caused by a defect in collagen synthesis. Depending on the individual mutation, the severity of the disease can vary from mild to life-threatening. There is no known cure. Treatment is supportive.
The prognosis of the rheumatologist came to fruition, as Rachael continued to deteriorate over the next 4 years.
Up until a few weeks ago, Rachael required full-time care from her mother. That meant daily physical therapy, personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, and cleaning her teeth. Every night her mother comforted her several times by rocking her back off to sleep. The equipment required to care for Rachael was daunting. She needed wheelchairs, shower chair, rails in the bathroom and toilet, and a hydrotherapy pool. She also required daily physiotherapy and joint splinting, as well as regular speech and Bowen therapy.
Judy took Rachael for regular hospitalization visits – all were part of her daily life to prevent her joints from subluxing, to prevent injury & accommodate her poor coordination. As you might imagine, the financial costs to Rachael’s family were very high. Rachael was able to attend school only 2-3 days per week, in between hospitalizations.
In June 2008, everything began to change.
Rachael started drinking a whole food liquid nutritional supplement, recommended by a friend. She took two products. The first contained aloe vera & sea vegetables, the second was a liquid calcium/magnesium supplement.
Within seven days her pain began to be reduced.
By week 2, she was happier & able to attend school 3-4 days per week.
By week 3, her pain continued to decrease and she began reducing her use of medication. For the first time in her life she began to shower, dress & feed herself!
By week 4, she was off all medication. And as if that wasn’t enough, the next thing she did shocked everyone:
because of her serious challenges with balance and coordination, Rachael had never been able to ride a bike. But 4 weeks after starting on these products, she rode her bike for the first time without falling!! We were overjoyed.
By week 5, Rachael reports no joint or muscle pain (except when she overdoes it with all her new found activities!). She is playing sports at school, riding her bike and enjoying the activities taken for granted by the typical 11 yr old. She is medication free. Her attitude changed dramatically, due to the absence of pain. Her laughter rings through the house.
By week 9, Rachael is now fully independent. She continually tests her limitations, extending them daily. Any residual pain is relieved within 10 minutes of extra supplement. She enjoys traveling to school on the bus with her friends – something that was totally out of the question before.
The cost of maintaining Rachael’s health is now less than $100/week.
Life is great!
She thanks God daily for her pain free life and the introduction of these wonderful supplements (liquid, whole food aloe vera & sea vegetables plus liquid calcium/magnesium).
Rachael takes both supplements every single day….