Miracle Monday: CHOG supports family through rare genetic condition
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - One little boy is receiving care at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia after having a hard time opening his mouth.
Through multiple surgeries and therapy, he’s doing a lot better despite having a rare genetic condition.
We met with two-year-old Hudson and his mom, who says having this hospital right in their backyard is a blessing.
During pregnancy, Belinda King found out that her baby was growing slowly.
“The whole time I was pregnant, he was already slowing in growth the whole time, so I was just ready for him to be born a normal baby, and then when he was born, it was like okay, we’re doing more. He’s going to be my easiest, complicated child.”
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King’s son Hudson spent time in a local NICU before making his way to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
Doctors found that Hudson has a rare genetic condition.
“So I haven’t been given an actual diagnosis,” said King. “I’ve only been given a deletion inside of a chromosome, so it’s not the whole chromosome; it’s one tiny piece inside.”
The deletion of a chromosome can cause a range of health issues, including developmental delays and physical abnormalities.
As a baby, Hudson had a hard time opening his mouth completely to eat. Doctors found that Hudson had an overgrown jaw bone.
“So they actually had to trim the bones on each side in surgery and then because his muscles were never use to being stretched that far, we had to do botox surgeries and stretching after that to try to open his mouth to a normal point,” said King.
Boy seizure-free, thanks to Children’s Hospital
A local 4-year-old boy is seizure-free after receiving care at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. A place his parents are very familiar with after his dad had heart surgery there years ago.
King says it was difficult seeing her baby have to go through surgery.
“Terrifying,” she said. “I don’t trust anesthesia, so it’s hard for me, but everyone here is great.”
King says she’s thankful for this hospital and the support she’s received.
“To have the doctors, nurses, and therapists that we can all consider family and have normal conversations with and have them care so much about Hudson and his well-being means a lot,” said King.
King says that after genetic testing, it was found that her husband and two other kids have the same deletion but do not show any symptoms.
Hudson has some developmental delays and is currently in physical and occupational therapy, so he will continue receiving care at the children’s hospital.
If you would like to support kids like Hudson, you can visit the Wellstar Foundation’s website here.
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