Ryder has RAD

Since starting school, Ryder has been sick for four straight months. Tons of coughing, lots of runny nose gooeyness, lots of antibiotics, and fused nerve endings on my part. I've diagnosed him with everything from leukemia to cystic fibrosis. Yes, I'm way dramatic, but it's innate and I can't turn it off. Sorry.

We finally went to see a specialist for his lungs today. A special pulmonologist. We made the appointment two months ago. That's how hard it is to get in!! Hard core. A DC Children's Pulmonologist. The big guns. We're not goofing off here. She asked all of the usual questions, and some that I had never thought of. I had been so resistant to the diagnosis of asthma, like our primary care physician had suggested, and treated him for 2 months ago. My only thought was, "what does this doc know? He's only wheezed once, and never again!". The pulmonologist looked at me and bluntly said, "you don't have to wheeze to have reactive airway disease (RAD)".

OK, so now I'm confused. Isn't RAD and asthma the same thing?

Yes, and no.

The insurance companies treat them the same. They code them the same. But, they're different. With asthma, you are born with it. It's in the genetics. With RAD, there is something else going on that causes your lungs to constrict, and you acquire it. With asthma, you are likely to be treated for it for a lifetime. With RAD, you will most likely grow out of it. Since Ryder started school, it's likely that he started off with a nasty viral infection, and it just didn't get better because every week he kept getting exposed to it. Pretty soon, his lungs will develop RAD to fight the very thing that is making him weak. Only to make him weaker. It really is a wonder that he's still breathing.

So, my little boy will start taking a puffer once a day through the winter. JOY. It's an inhaled steroid, so it will only make him stronger. Superboy. And you know, it could be worse. I'm happy that we've come to a conclusion. Sometimes all it takes is someone to shake me so I'll listen. And, it also takes a walk through the halls of a DC Children's outpatient clinic to realize that what your son has, is small potatoes compared to the other specialities housed in the building. We walked past Neurology. Cardiology. Oncology. Gastroenterology. Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists. Oral-Maxillofacial surgery. Physical Therapy. It really could be worse.

And when we got home, he climbed up on his truck, and fell right off- slamming the back of his head on the hard wood. And instantly fell asleep. COMA! HEAD INJURY! DON'T LET HIM SLEEP! CHECK HIS PUPILS! He's sleeping now while I write this, and no doubt I will go in there and pinch him a little bit, just to make sure he responds. Jesus. Having a kid is tough.

So, now- I'd like to take a moment and thank all of Ryder's classmates:

They're sure lucky they're cute.