A New Brunswick mother was shocked to hear her two-year-old son’s diagnosis: Juvenile Parkinson’s disease with dystonia.
“I’ve heard of Parkinson’s, but never in a child,” said Cortney Mclellan of Fredericton.
Cortney Mclellan was surprised by her toddler's diagnosis with Parkinson's.
Little Keegan’s hands shake when he tries to concentrate on tasks and his legs jiggle when he tries to stand still.
Grandmother Angie Mclellan called the diagnosis "scary," but said Keegan is already learning to deal with frustrations like shaky forks or stubbing his toes.
“He’s getting to the point now where he just wipes away the tears and keeps going,” she said.
Keegan is on medication that helps, but his mother is hoping that a trip to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto will provide more answers.
Local charity Sound for Change is helping raise money to cover the costs of the trip. There is also a GoFundMe page set up where strangers can contribute.
Parkinson’s in people under the age of 20 is so rare that its prevalence is unknown, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the U.K.
As with adult Parkinson’s, the juvenile form of the disease progresses at different speeds in different people.
Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that can lead to rigidity or stiffness, tremors, difficulties initiating movements, depression, difficulty swallowing, bladder problems and constipation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
With a report from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown
http://ctv.news/mfczZSJ
To see Video:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/n-b-toddler-diagnosed-with-parkinson-s-disease-1.2993761