Powering Through Pompe – a Column by Keara Engle

Social media is right at our fingertips. Most adults, teenagers, and even preteens are equipped with cellphones or some other device that can access the internet. While the web can be used for many purposes, one of my favorites to date has been to browse social media for people who…

My 6-year-old son, Cayden, absolutely loves going to school. He’s doing exceptionally well in first grade. A few weeks ago, during routine testing, Cayden received the highest scores in the entire class. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t brag a little to friends and family about the high…

Amid the chaos of the holidays, our family experienced a little more than we bargained for. The day after Christmas, I woke up feeling unwell. My body ached, and as the day went on, I developed a fever with chills. I tried to push through, but by the next day,…

Living in Pennsylvania means having to deal with some pretty brutal winters. We do get to experience all four seasons, which is beautiful, but when the cold weather comes, it can be a bit tricky for some folks to handle. My 6-year-old son, Cayden, has always had a hard time…

My 6-year-old son, Cayden, has been using a feeding tube since he was a newborn. Although I feared the tube at first, I’ve learned to be thankful for its benefits. Cayden required a feeding tube as a result of symptoms related to his infantile-onset Pompe disease; in…

Weight gain is something my 6-year-old son, Cayden, has struggled with his whole life. He had difficulty eating as a newborn because of his weak sucking and swallowing muscles — a direct result of his infantile-onset Pompe disease. When he was a month old, his medical team decided it…

It’s no secret that the holiday season is a busy time for everyone, but imagine having to incorporate a 6.5-hour infusion therapy into the mix of it all. That’s the case for our family because my 6-year-old son, Cayden, has infantile-onset Pompe disease. While planning everything out can be…

My 6-year-old son, Cayden, has been seeing an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor since he was about 2 years old. His metabolic disease specialist, who manages everything related to Cayden’s infantile-onset Pompe disease, originally referred him to the ENT department because this type of Pompe is known to…

I recently attended a meeting for my 6-year-old son, Cayden, at his elementary school. So many people are working with Cayden at school, including his teacher, nurse, and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. Because of this, we felt it was important for all of us to sit down and…

It’s been over six years since my son Cayden was born with infantile-onset Pompe disease. Today, I consider myself to be an experienced parent when it comes to this disease. However, I’ll never forget what it felt like to hear the news of Cayden’s diagnosis. It’s almost an indescribable…