Thursday, May 16, 2013

I AM ON A MISSION!!!



Please pass this on to any families that you may know that would benefit from this information. I have some great news!! I spoke with Dr. Michaud last night about my son's Syndrome SYNGAP1. He has ask me to help him find families of children who have been identified. He is working on defining the condition to continue his research. He is the doctor who created the test for SYNGAP1. This syndrome has children who have characteristics of developmental delays, severe language delay and many other symptoms that are mistaken for other things. Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms and possible seizures can be seen in some of these children, ...but not all. Mostly this syndrome causes Intellectual Disability. He has ask me to invite ...families who have this diagnosis to contact him to help him define conditions caused by SYNGAP1. He has told me that once they have an official definition has been made, research can continue to the next step of starting more ...
studies in humans, since they have mouse model data. Please share this with parents you may know who have autism or unexplained symptoms to push their doctors to get genetic testing. This is huge, because most people settle for the autism diagnosis and stop there and don't push for testing. The more people out there who are identified, the more money for research, then research for possible treatments can be done. So..needless to say...I'm on a MISSION now;)

Please watch the video on SYNGAP1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NE7FgFBO_o

 Jacques L. Michaud, MD
Head, Division of Medical Genetics, CHU Sainte-Justine
Professor of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, Université de Montréal

CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center
3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine
Montréal (Québec)
Canada H3T 1C5
Phone: 514-345-4931, ext: 6900
Fax: 514-345-4766

jacques.michaud@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca
 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Not Just Any Mother's Day

I am truly blessed.  I can't believe this is my 21st year to be a mom.  I have had many ups and downs, as many of us all do.  But through it all I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. As I look back over the last 5 years I have learned the most about myself than at any other time in my life.  I actually thought the biggest test in my life was getting through an abusive 1st marriage. I was so wrong. God had other plans for me. I am also sure the learning curve will continue during this life of mine.
In the last month we have been trying to find the right ADHD medicines for Beckett.  We had him on 5 mg of Focaline for one week.  It turned Beckett into an aggressive, irritated and unsettled little boy, on top of totally eliminating his appetite.  We now have changed it to Adderall XR, but I haven't been able to get his prescription yet for it. I am hoping to begin it next week. 
This week has been an amazing week for me.  I received two emails from doctors who know more about SYNGAP1 than anyone I have found in the world.  I wrote an email to Dr. Gavin Rumbaugh from Scripts Labs in Florida 6 months ago.  I was so glad to hear from him.  He then gave me the name of Jacques L. Michaud, MD.  He is the doctor who developed to test for SYNGAP1.  He is now trying to make an accurate descriptive definition for SYNGAP1.  To my surprise, he emailed me back within about 10 minutes and ask me to have a phone conversation about Beckett.  I am so excited that I have been able to get the attention of a published scientist who is interested in my sons condition.  I am beginning to see doors open and hoping to be a part of something that will bring hope to others and my son.