Regan's Story
Regan's Full Story
Regan was born in May 2008. She was a healthy
baby girl weighing 8lbs and 8oz and 20 inches in
length. I had an uneventful pregnancy while I was
carrying Regan. I did not smoke, drink, or use any
legal or illegal drugs. I breast-fed Regan for almost
14 months. As the months passed by she developed
appropriately and met milestones without delays.
We began introducing whole milk at 13 months- half
breast and half whole milk in bottles. Then at
approximately 14 months she was taking 100%
whole milk. We thought she was doing fine.
But in October 2009 we noticed that her eyes were
puffy when she woke up in the morning and from
naps.This eye lid swelling or peri-orbital edema
seemed to be getting worse as each day passed.
Therefore, we went to the pediatrician. This doctor
felt that it was related to seasonal allergies. The fall
of 2009 was extremely wet in central Illinois. So wet
that the farmers had trouble getting the crops out of
the fields and some were rotting and molding in the
fields. The pediatrician said it would most likely go
away after we had a good frost- which would have
been after Thanksgiving. It was October 10th, 2009.
After this appointment, he recommended that Regan
start taking Claritin. The pediatrician also mentioned
that if it didn't improve we could see a pediatric
ophthalmologist for a second opinion to make sure
there was nothing wrong with her eyes. Two days
passed and the swelling didn't improve. I was very
quick to get that second opinion. I just wasn't
convinced that it was allergies causing this facial
swelling. The pediatric ophthalmologist examined
Regan and said her eyes looked normal/perfect. I
was relieved, but still just not convinced that it was
seasonal allergies causing her eye lids to swell.
Another week passed and I called Regan's primary
pediatrician (Dr. C). Regan's primary pediatrician
was out of the office when we initially sought
medical treatment, so we saw one of her partners.
Therefore, I updated Dr. C with Regan's status. Dr.
C ordered a urinalysis (U/A) to make sure Regan
wasn't spilling protein in her urine which could
cause the peri-orbital edema. The U/A was negative
for protein. Dr. C then recommended that we
discontinue the Claritin and start Regan on
Benadryl and Zyrtec for 10 days and if still no
improvement add an antibiotic. There was no
improvement even after adding the antibiotic. I
noticed Regan was looking a little pale. She still had
a tremendous amount of energy. She would run
around the house and get into everything. She
didn't sleep excessively. She was just pale and
looked sick. I knew something was wrong and it
wasn't seasonal allergies. Regan saw Dr. C in the
office for her 18 month check up. This check up fell
about 1 week after she started her antibiotics. It was
a perfect time for Dr. C to assess Regan. At this
appointment Dr. C discovered that Regan had
developed a heart murmur. Dr. C ordered a stat
chest X ray. The chest X ray was normal. She then
ordered a CT of her head to be completed the
following morning. Dr C felt that this could be
related to a really bad ethmoid sinus infection. She
also ordered some labs to be drawn once Regan
was under the effects of anesthesia for her CT.
Regan did great during the CT. Her vital signs were
very stable and her CT results were normal.
However, her lab values were far from normal. Her
hemoglobin was 4.2g/dl. Her serum protein and
albumin levels were also very low- critically low.
From November 2009 to May 2010 Regan
underwent several medical procedures, lab draws
and had numerous doctor visits. And finally, Dr. K,
her pediatric gastroenterologist, determined that
Regan had been suffering from an undiagnosed
Milk and Soy allergy. From that point on Milk and
Soy was removed from her diet and her labs are
finally starting to normalize. This Milk and Soy free
diet has been very challenging. However, as of
August 2010, all of Regan's labs are almost
completely normal!
This is Regan's Site. This is her story.
Regan was born in May 2008. She was a healthy
baby girl weighing 8lbs and 8oz and 20 inches in
length. I had an uneventful pregnancy while I was
carrying Regan. I did not smoke, drink, or use any
legal or illegal drugs. I breast-fed Regan for almost
14 months. As the months passed by she developed
appropriately and met milestones without delays.
We began introducing whole milk at 13 months- half
breast and half whole milk in bottles. Then at
approximately 14 months she was taking 100%
whole milk. We thought she was doing fine.
But in October 2009 we noticed that her eyes were
puffy when she woke up in the morning and from
naps.This eye lid swelling or peri-orbital edema
seemed to be getting worse as each day passed.
Therefore, we went to the pediatrician. This doctor
felt that it was related to seasonal allergies. The fall
of 2009 was extremely wet in central Illinois. So wet
that the farmers had trouble getting the crops out of
the fields and some were rotting and molding in the
fields. The pediatrician said it would most likely go
away after we had a good frost- which would have
been after Thanksgiving. It was October 10th, 2009.
After this appointment, he recommended that Regan
start taking Claritin. The pediatrician also mentioned
that if it didn't improve we could see a pediatric
ophthalmologist for a second opinion to make sure
there was nothing wrong with her eyes. Two days
passed and the swelling didn't improve. I was very
quick to get that second opinion. I just wasn't
convinced that it was allergies causing this facial
swelling. The pediatric ophthalmologist examined
Regan and said her eyes looked normal/perfect. I
was relieved, but still just not convinced that it was
seasonal allergies causing her eye lids to swell.
Another week passed and I called Regan's primary
pediatrician (Dr. C). Regan's primary pediatrician
was out of the office when we initially sought
medical treatment, so we saw one of her partners.
Therefore, I updated Dr. C with Regan's status. Dr.
C ordered a urinalysis (U/A) to make sure Regan
wasn't spilling protein in her urine which could
cause the peri-orbital edema. The U/A was negative
for protein. Dr. C then recommended that we
discontinue the Claritin and start Regan on
Benadryl and Zyrtec for 10 days and if still no
improvement add an antibiotic. There was no
improvement even after adding the antibiotic. I
noticed Regan was looking a little pale. She still had
a tremendous amount of energy. She would run
around the house and get into everything. She
didn't sleep excessively. She was just pale and
looked sick. I knew something was wrong and it
wasn't seasonal allergies. Regan saw Dr. C in the
office for her 18 month check up. This check up fell
about 1 week after she started her antibiotics. It was
a perfect time for Dr. C to assess Regan. At this
appointment Dr. C discovered that Regan had
developed a heart murmur. Dr. C ordered a stat
chest X ray. The chest X ray was normal. She then
ordered a CT of her head to be completed the
following morning. Dr C felt that this could be
related to a really bad ethmoid sinus infection. She
also ordered some labs to be drawn once Regan
was under the effects of anesthesia for her CT.
Regan did great during the CT. Her vital signs were
very stable and her CT results were normal.
However, her lab values were far from normal. Her
hemoglobin was 4.2g/dl. Her serum protein and
albumin levels were also very low- critically low.
From November 2009 to May 2010 Regan
underwent several medical procedures, lab draws
and had numerous doctor visits. And finally, Dr. K,
her pediatric gastroenterologist, determined that
Regan had been suffering from an undiagnosed
Milk and Soy allergy. From that point on Milk and
Soy was removed from her diet and her labs are
finally starting to normalize. This Milk and Soy free
diet has been very challenging. However, as of
August 2010, all of Regan's labs are almost
completely normal!
This is Regan's Site. This is her story.
| Regan's newborn picture. |
May 2009. Regan is still drinking Breastmilk.
No whole milk yet.
No whole milk yet.
October 2009. Regan drinking a bottle of
whole milk.
whole milk.
One day before Regan's 18month check-up.
Regan's eyes are very swollen and she looks
very pale.
Regan's eyes are very swollen and she looks
very pale.
Christmas 2009. Regan received 2 units of
blood one month prior. Regan has a little
more color in her cheeks. Her medical
condition remains undiagnosed.
blood one month prior. Regan has a little
more color in her cheeks. Her medical
condition remains undiagnosed.
Regan was taking prednisone when this
picture was taken. She looks good. However,
the long tern effects of steroids is not good
for children.
picture was taken. She looks good. However,
the long tern effects of steroids is not good
for children.
Regan is helping mommy make milk and
soy free chocolate cup cakes. She looks
great! The milk and soy free diet is working!
Her body is finally starting to recover!!
soy free chocolate cup cakes. She looks
great! The milk and soy free diet is working!
Her body is finally starting to recover!!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Copyright 2010 Regan's Story. All rights reserved.