The story of a Tennessee mother’s relentless quest to find the root of her son’s health issues after he rapidly went from a case of strep throat to erratic, destructive behavior and then a marijuana habit. While physicians diagnosed Elizabeth Harris’ child with a wide-ranging variety of illnesses, prescribing him with all kinds of pharmaceutical drugs, nothing seemed to help and the teenager ultimately wound up at a pricey rehabilitation center (which insurance would not cover). Elizabeth strongly believed there was an underlying medical condition and, turns out, she was right. A pediatric neurologist ultimately diagnosed her son with the auto-immune disease PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections).
Whether you are dealing with the illness of a loved one or your own illness, Elizabeth’s story is a cautionary tale about the importance of being proactive, listening to your gut and finding your own solutions when doctor advice and remedies aren’t working.
Elizabeth Harris is the author of What’s Wrong With My Child? For more, go to whatswrongwithmychild.com
