Paige’s Story
Paige’s Story
My husband and I have 2 children, Paige 11 and Seth 4. Paige was diagnosed as a classic galactosemic at 7 days. Her drama started before she left the hospital. She simply wouldn’t drink from a bottle, she would gag everytime the bottle was put in her mouth so she had a feeding tube inserted. Once she ate 2oz from a bottle, 4 days, she was released from the hospital. Paige was only slightly jaundice. Her galactose levels continue to be a battle of ours (she is on a strict diet) but she is healthy and developing. We have had 3 “accidents” with lactose foods, once at 2, 4 and 7. All resulted in strong severe pains, high fever and being lethargic. Speech therapy was administered first at age 3 and she continues to go but it is less. She went into occupational therapy at age 7 for penmanship which she completed at age 10. Paige is now in 5th grade in a regular setting but is taken to a class for Math, Reading, Spelling and Social Studies for more of a one-on-one approach. Our school district has been great at recognizing her struggles and have (for the most part) been the one to initiate the help and to adjust the content for her.