Christopher's Story

Christopher
Age 12

Missouri
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center
Rare Brain Infection- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy


It started one day when Christopher experienced blurred vision and loss of depth perception. Christopher’s mom took him to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. Simple optical solutions seemed to be the cure until one month later when Christopher lost all peripheral mobility and nerve functions. A few months after that, Christopher woke up unable to walk.

A year of spinal taps, testing and hospital stays resulted in a diagnosis: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, an extremely rare disease of the brain that destroys protective coating around the nerves. Without this protective coating, nerve impulses slow or stop. At the time of his diagnosis, almost nothing was known about the disease. However, doctors at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center took on the challenge of finding a cure for Christopher.

Treatment has sometimes been trial and error. Christopher’s condition changes on a daily basis. Sometimes he finds himself needing a wheelchair or walker, while other times he can run and walk. Despite the uncertainty of his illness, Christopher lives his life determined to accomplish the things he needs to get done despite any obstacles he may have to overcome.