My wife and I welcomed our second son, Kallum, into the world on 4 May 2005. As expected, the first six months were full of stress; there was plenty of sleep deprivation and short tempers between partners. As the months passed, we saw no let up in the transition of having the second born. The late nights continued, the short tempers got shorter and sleep remained a luxury.
I wish I could say that was the least of our concerns. At three months of age, our Kallum looked more like a newborn than a healthy baby. His weight gain was minimal and his health continued to deteriorate. We needed answers, so we reached out to a child gastroenterologist.
We felt relieved knowing we had someone who could provide solutions to our son’s problems. However, after extensive endoscopies and other tests were performed, nothing appeared abnormal. By this time our son was eight months old, and he continued to lose weight. Our nightmare as parents continued to grow. We were desperate to find a definitive answer and course of treatment.
Around this time I was introduced to EO. I was told of the organization’s stellar member benefits, one of which was the Healthnetwork Foundation. I assumed this was only a US privilege, and that it surely couldn’t work in Australia. I contacted Healthnetwork with much trepidation, and I was surprised by the responsiveness of the service! Within 24 hours I was contacted by a medical coordinator. I was informed in more detail of what services were offered and instantly found out where the best pediatric hospitals were located.
We immediately contacted our gastroenterologist and discussed our options. We then sat down with our doctor and built a strategy for a diagnosis. Encouraged by our own research and doctors, we felt we were close to discovering what was making Kallum sick. During this time, Healthnetwork also suggested their “Second Opinion” service through Johns Hopkins Hospital. We thought this the most appropriate choice, as it could work in tandem with our current doctor for a long-term treatment plan.
The rest, as they say, is history. We worked closely with all of our doctors and Healthnetwork on a rare diagnosis: Eosinophilic Esophagitis. This is primarily an allergic reaction to food. The trials aren’t over by a long shot, but with the coordination of Healthnetwork and our local doctors, we understand the condition and now it’s a matter of finding the solutions. Working closely with our doctors, a slow process of introducing certain foods will ensure a normal life for our son.
It’s been awhile since we called Healthnetwork, and our son is now four years old. Although he still takes elemental formula to gain the correct nutrients, he is eating five solid foods: chicken, rice, celery, lettuce and lamb. He is down to four medications (from eight), has put on weight, is above average in height and enjoys beating up his brother. His newest milestone goal is the day he can eat McDonald’s.
Everything is a baby step for us, but thanks to EO, we now have a way forward. We also have the security of knowing there is help and a second opinion just an e-mail away. All in all, I believe the services provided by Healthnetwork are a privilege, and I recommend it to anyone, anywhere.