Calvin ’s gift: Second opinion provides answers and hope

It’s not often that parents breathe a sigh of relief when their child is diagnosed with a chronic, potentially debilitating condition. But that sense of peace is just what Paula and Scott Hurd felt when they were told that their son, Calvin, had a rare movement disorder. “We were so happy to finally understand what was happening,” says Paula. Slipping away The search for answers had begun several years earlier, when Calvin started limping. At first, his family thought he had simply tripped over something and injured himself. But when he didn’t improve, they took him to the doctor. A series of appointments with specialists culminated in a surprising diagnosis: cerebral palsy. Although the little boy — then in kindergarten — didn’t have any other symptoms of the condition, “there seemed to be no other explanation,” says Paula. “We accepted it and focused on getting Calvin physical therapy.” But physical therapy couldn’t help his energy levels, which dipped in the late afternoon. By second grade, Calvin’s teachers reported that he was having balance difficulties at school. Where he had once run out of steam around 4 p.m., he was now exhausted by 11 a.m. When he and his twin sister got off the school bus at the end of the day, their parents had to help Calvin up the long driveway to their home in Central Massachusetts. “He was so weak and tired that he didn’t want to do anything anymore,” recalls Paula. “I saw him slipping into a depression and ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories cerebral palsy Cerebral Palsy Program Dr. Benjamin Shore Dr. David Coulter dystonia Second opinion Source Type: news