Powering Through Pompe
— Keara Engle

Being the parent of a special needs child can be difficult in many ways. One challenge is the effect it has on mental health, which makes self-care essential for parents of special needs children. But it also can take a physical toll on the body. One way parents can…

I’ve previously discussed how doctors and nurses can help in difficult times of health crises. But family and friends can be a big help, too. My 3-year-old son, Cayden, has been hospitalized in recent weeks, so I’ve pondered some of the ways that my family and friends have…

Getting a toddler to understand things is a hard enough task by itself. However, trying to get my 3-year-old son, Cayden, to understand the things he has to go through due to his Pompe disease is even more challenging. Because of Pompe disease, he has been through more hardships than…

Dealing with stressful situations can be hard for anyone, but I’m especially struggling because my 3-year-old son, Cayden, has been hospitalized since Aug. 5. In my previous column, I mentioned that he had to be intubated due to pneumonia. This has been very hard on me mentally. And because…

As a rare disease parent, I’ve dealt with many situations. Some are happy, and some are scary. The past week has been one of the hardest by far. It started with a common cold. Usually, my 3-year-old son, Cayden, who has infantile-onset Pompe disease, can deal with a cold…

Once a week, my 3-year-old son, Cayden, receives a six-and-a-half-hour infusion for his infantile-onset Pompe disease. I’ve previously shared a look inside his home infusions. However, some people wonder how we can keep my son entertained and content for such a long period of time. As Cayden has…

When my son, Cayden, was diagnosed with infantile-onset Pompe disease, I experienced a multitude of different emotions. One of the biggest things I struggled with was the guilt that came along with his diagnosis. Because Pompe is a genetic disease, I know I am part of the reason my son…

All milestones that children reach are important. However, when my son, Cayden, reaches a milestone, it excites me in ways I can’t even explain. When Cayden was diagnosed with infantile-onset Pompe disease at the age of 1 month, I had no clue what to expect. It didn’t help…

One of the symptoms of Pompe disease is muscle weakness. Due to this, many children who have been diagnosed with infantile-onset Pompe disease will be required to wear some type of orthotic braces that are specially designed by an orthotist. When my son, Cayden, was about 15 months old,…

On Feb. 27, 2018 at 5 a.m., my son, Cayden, entered the world. I had a fairly normal pregnancy, so nothing could prepare me for the events that occurred once he was born. While some of it is a blur, I can still remember the chaos in the room at…

There’s a first time for everything, and this past week was a big first for my family. We loaded up the car and took my son, Cayden, to an amusement park for the first time. While it sure was a lot of fun, there were also some challenges. The first…

As special needs caregivers, we have many responsibilities. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until the time our heads hit the pillow at night, our primary focus is caring for our child and their needs. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it can be…