Infusion #2 Week

This is Abby...

This is also the face of Juvenile Fibromyalgia (full diagnosis is Amplified Pain Syndrome, or AMPS), Osteoporosis, Chronic Migraines, Raynauds Syndrome, ADHD, Generalize Anxiety Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and more... This is also the face of a proudly queer kid who is unconditionally loved by their family and friends.

When it comes to health issues, Abby has what you could call, "Invisible Disabilities" which means you can't physically look at them and tell that their body is fighting against them making simple tasks hard - all day, every day. 

Talk about perfect timing though.. I wasn't even aware of it until just now, but this week is:

If you looked at Abby, had a conversation with them, or even hung out with them for a week, I’m not sure you would guess even half of what is going on inside that little 12-year-old body. My sweet Abbycakes was a spunky, high energy toddler who became a multi-sport athlete - playing three in one evening sometimes - in grade school. Now, and for the past two years, Abby's pain has taken over and they fight a daily battle against a body that is fighting back just as hard.

Tomorrow Abby goes in for infusion #2. I hate having to put them through it and worry that I’m creating lasting PTSD, since we’re not really giving them a say in their healthcare and what is being done to their body right now. But our options are pretty limited. 

Abby's osteoporosis was found after their 5th broken bone just a couple of week before they started middle school (6th grade). The treatment is biophosphinates through infusion. It’s supposed to help slow the bone loss and improve bone mass so Abby can finish out the growth stage as best as possible and maintain mass for years to come. 

Problem is, the meds make Abby hurt so badly the days following treatment that any slight movement feels like their whole body is breaking. I hate putting them through it. It kills me to see them hurt so bad. 

Abby is my high-anxiety kid to begin with, but this week has them ramped up to top-level anxiety and nervousness. They are afraid of needles and will get poked almost everyday for a week starting tomorow, plus get an IV for the infusion. They will miss a few days of school, which is no big deal, but they just missed a bunch for another medical treatment. The kid just can’t catch a break  

So, please keep Abby in your thoughts. This kid has been through so much the past few years. I hate it for them. But I keep praying it will get better, and they will experience pain-free days again.