Our kids are often stronger than we ever give them credit for and their journeys are so unique and worthy of sharing. Our Journey with Carter and JDM
In November 2021, our son Carter, who is five, was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis or JDM. JDM is a very rare autoimmune disorder that causes his immune system to attack his skin, muscles and tissues throughout his body. This disorder has caused Carter to experience muscle fatigue, skin rashes and pain.
During this time, Carter went through many tests and blood draws, and was prescribed an aggressive treatment plan to control his symptoms. This required many trips to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Having a newly diagnosed medical child, dealing with appointments, and finding childcare for our other children was very overwhelming.
Fortunately, our friends and family had suggested we contact Hope 4 MVC Kids to unload some of the burden. Reaching out to tell someone, anyone about what was happening to our son and our family has been difficult, but we are so thankful we did. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of Hope 4 MVC Kids and with the amount of support they have offered our family. We encourage anyone with a child going through a medical journey to contact them.
Carter has continued to improve, and his treatments have been reduced to once a month at the Children’s Hospital. He has gone from having pain walking up stairs, to winning a Heart & Hustle award in his first hockey tournament.
We are so incredibly thankful for all the support from family, friends, community members, and of course Hope 4 MVC Kids. The French Family from Olds.