Child Of The Month
By Nicole Sergent, Clinic Director
Santiago (Santi) C.T.
Santi was born in 2011, he lives in St Rosa de Lima with Mom and Dad. He had a normal birth and was a normal child until he was thirteen months old. Then he stopped walking, had convulsions, could not eat and did not talk or make noises anymore. The parents took him to Hospital Civil and after many tests he was diagnosed with OMS or Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome.
The symptoms are random and rapid eye movements in both horizontal and vertical directions, unsteady, brief, repeated, shock-like spasms of several muscles within the arms, legs, inability to speak and more.
In his case, the disorder has been designated “idiopathic” attributed to a viral infection.
He was also diagnosed with Encephalopathy which is also a viral infection of the brain. He cannot walk, talk, eat and he is limited to a wheelchair. He is undergoing speech, physical and swim therapies at Teleton on a weekly basis and is followed by his doctors at the Zooquipan Hospital in Zapopan.
He still has many seizures which stop him from getting better, he is on medication for the seizures and his doctors are hoping that he will stop having them long enough for him to regain cognitive functions.
We are paying for his medication, equinotherapy, special tests and transport to and from Guadalajara and for fittings and repairs to his wheelchair which was donated by Teleton. Since 2012 we have reimbursed the family a total of 168,000.00 pesos.
As Clinic Director for Ninos Incapacitados, I thank you once again for this opportunity to present one of our kids. I invite you to join our monthly meetings at the Real de Chapala in Ajijic on the second Thursday of the month at 10:00 am to meet our “Child of the month” and learn more about our organization.
We have three clinics: Jocotepec, Ajijic and Chapala. Should you want to visit a clinic please contact Barb Corol for Jocotepec (766-5452) or myself for Ajijic and Chapala (766-4375).
Please visit our website at: www.programaninos.com
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NICOLE SERGENT
Column: Child of the Month
Website:
Nicole and her husband Bob have lived in Ajiic since 2007. Nicole has lived in Canada, Japan, Portugal and Spain. She speaks French, English and Spanish. Since her arrival in Ajijic, she has been active in the community. She worked for the Red Cross for many years and has been involved with Ninos Incapacitados since 2009. “Working with the families is sometimes hard emotionally but it is so rewarding when we see the appreciation that the parents have for what we do.” Nicole and her husband appreciate the beauty of Mexico and the friendliness of its people.
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