My Next WHY: The Most Important One Yet

Let’s take a journey back to 2017. I began noticing troubling patterns with one of my sons. While my other kids would recover quickly from common illnesses, he seemed to linger in sickness for weeks. His tonsils were frequently enlarged, he snored heavily at night, and I even observed sleep apnea. Out of the blue, at just three years old, he started bedwetting—despite being potty trained for over a year. Additionally, he faced speech difficulties that raised further concerns.

Searching for answers, I came across a mention of tongue ties in an online group, connecting it to some of his symptoms. This led us to a holistic dentist who confirmed he had a tongue tie. A simple laser procedure reversed it, and within a few weeks, the bedwetting and sleep apnea stopped. He no longer got sick so easily. I thought his difficulties were over—but I was wrong.

The Storm Intensifies

Between 2018 and 2019, while we were traveling out west, my son’s health took another drastic turn. He began exhibiting extreme behaviors. It was as if a switch flipped, turning my sweet boy into someone unrecognizable. He would experience intense rage, destroying anything in his path, and the smallest triggers would send him into violent episodes lasting from a few minutes to half an hour. Then, just as suddenly, he’d return to his usual self. It was like living in a real-life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story.

During these episodes, he displayed obsessive-compulsive tendencies, repetitive behaviors, and tics. Communicating with him felt impossible; it was as though “no one was home.” He became highly sensitive to textures, complained of things “crawling” on his skin, frequently scratched his bottom, and experienced leg pain. His weight dropped, he developed dark circles under his eyes, and his pupils dilated during episodes. Learning, once effortless, became a struggle, and I felt like we were regressing.

This period was exhausting. I was navigating my own health challenges, yet I refused to give up. I researched tirelessly, determined to find the root cause of his suffering.

Unraveling the Mystery

Many of his symptoms pointed to parasites, particularly as his symptoms worsened around full moons. This suspicion was confirmed when a significant number of pinworms were discovered in his stool, I still have a video of it-Yikes! Despite trying various cleanses, nothing seemed to work until a friend recommended a specific brand. Finally, success! The full-moon irritability, itching, crawling sensations disappeared, and worms were no longer visible in his stool.

However, we weren’t out of the woods. The rage episodes persisted, alongside dilated pupils and dark circles. Diving deeper into functional medicine, I stumbled upon PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). These conditions—described as “Brain On Fire”—perfectly matched his symptoms. Frequent illnesses in his early years suddenly made sense.

Testing revealed multiple gut pathogen overgrowths, including Candida, Strep, and Pseudomonas. He had poor pancreatic enzyme function, making digestion difficult, and his symptoms worsened with sugar or high-carb foods. Genetic testing highlighted methylation issues and challenges with carbohydrate metabolism. Further tests confirmed high antibodies to Strep, food sensitivities, and mycotoxins in his system. It was a perfect storm.

Building a Path to Healing

Our first step was cutting out all sugar and most grains. He could tolerate small amounts of gluten-free sprouted grains, and stevia was the only sweetener that didn’t trigger a reaction. We started him on an antimicrobial protocol, and soon, the rage episodes decreased. Eventually his dark circles vanished, and most of his symptoms subsided. Most recently the dark circles came back but I then realized it was due to an ingredient in a food product he was eating as I learned dark circles under the eyes usually indicate some sort of allergy, most freq food.

This journey has been long and layered, spanning years of trial and error. Today, my son is thriving. Besides one accidental flare-up at the start of the school year, he has been episode-free for nearly two years. We’ve learned to be cautious—he still can’t tolerate sugar or artificial dyes, and his immune system remains sensitive. But now we have tools to stop inflammation in its tracks before it escalates.

A Mission Born from Experience

This journey—as grueling as it’s been—has shaped my purpose. I’ve realized that the number of children and even young adults suffering from “brain on fire” conditions is growing. My mission is clear: to help as many parents and children as possible uncover solutions and address root causes.

Through education, functional medicine, and perseverance, healing is possible. My son’s story is proof of that. And it’s why I’m committed to making a difference, one family at a time.

If you haven’t watched the 2016 film Brain on Fire, then I highly suggest it! Its a powerful and eye-opening experience. This movie takes you on an emotional journey into the life of one suffering from a mysterious illnesses, trapped within their own mind, desperate for someone to uncover the root cause and help them heal. It’s a testament to the importance of digging deeper—something functional medicine excels at. By addressing the underlying causes rather than just treating symptoms, functional medicine offers hope and real solutions for those facing these life-altering conditions. Watching this film will not only move you but also open your eyes to the potential of holistic approaches to healing.