Soon after talking to the Director of the school Rey Salamon about Eduardo, we got ready to accompany a 4 year old patient and his family to see a neurologist. But in our taxi ride to the neurologist clinic to meet them, we received a phone call from Heysi's mom. She was crying and frantic telling us that Heysi was very pale and having trouble breathing.
For those of you who do not already know, Heysi is a 16 year old girl with cancer in her thigh bone. Her road has been more than challenging. Dr. Karla and I decided to split up. Dr. Karla went to the hospital to see Heysi and I stayed to take note and advocate at the neurologist appointment.
The little 4 year old boy, Isamuel, started complaining of his ankles hurting a few months ago, and the his knees, and then one day about week ago he couldn't walk anymore. The mother said he has lost a lot of weight and is very worried about what is happening with her son. He is weak all over and can hardly move his arms and neck too. The mother has already visited an orthopedic doctor and taken him a hospital to be reviewed. The problem is she still does not know what is wrong and every doctor is ordering different tests. No one has explained anything to the mother only ordered more test. This neurologist is going to review the patient for half price and is also very good about including the family in his treatment plans.
We waited for only 30 minutes and then went into his office for the appointment. After talking with the mother and father, and a physical exam, the neurologist decided that the problem did not appear to be neurological. He said that Isamuel's reflexes are great, but there is a mass that is either his liver enlarged or a tumor. The neurologist narrowed down the tests of the other doctor's to one plan of action and then sent us on our way.
The mother expressed how worried she is and talked about how she never saw this coming. Isamuel just sat there motionless without any expression. I could imagine how lively he must have been and how much it must hurt to be lost in the uncertainty of not knowing why her only child could not walk/move.
They then drove back home without a definite answer but with direction and support. Dr. Karla and I are arranging for the tests to be done outside of the public system and will support this family as much as we can.
After saying good-bye to Isamuel and his family, I hopped in a taxi to meet Dr. Karla and Heysi at the hospital....and as if the day wasn't depressing/hard enough already, this is where Part 3 of Terrible Thursday begins...
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