It's a bumpy road for Jadon Dixon

Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer

TUMOURS, TUMOURS, tumours. They are in young Jadon's head, growing as if there were no tomorrow, choking him, threatening his very existence.

He was born seemingly a normal child. But at one month old, when his mother, Tracey-Ann Lothian of Spanish Town, St Catherine, felt little bumps at the back of his head, and sought attention, doctors told her they were perhaps lymph nodes. Yet, she realised they were not only growing, but clustering.

Subsequent MRI and CT-Scan examinations showed that the then three-month-old baby had multiple benign tumours caused by a condition known as neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder in which a gene which is supposed to stop certain cells in his head from growing is inactive.

Now, at two years and 11 months old, the tumours have propagated significantly giving his head a very odd shape, turning other people's heads. They are behind his ears, at the back of his head and neck, and are "very sensitive to the touch". One ear passage is totally blocked. And based on what Lothian was told, they will continue to proliferate.

There is no known cure for the disorder, which almost killed Jadon in April. Up until then he could breathe normally. Then, one night, he could not sleep because he was breathing laboriously. He was rushed to hospital, where he was given oxygen, which did not help. He became unconscious, and an immediate tracheotomy (the making of an incision through the neck into the windpipe) had to be done. His upper respiratory system was completely blocked by the tumours, preventing him from breathing normally.

Since then, Jadon has been breathing through his neck via a tube that goes straight into his lungs. As Lothian spoke with The Gleaner, Jadon scratched the area around the tube's mouth. It was itching him, making him miserable and restless. It wasn't hard to imagine the discomfort he was in. "It itches extensively, especially at night. Sometimes I am not able to sleep. Sometimes he can't sleep. I would be up with him rubbing it for like 45 minutes to an hour, and he cries a lot," Lothian said, "It's very stressing. Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed."

She is anxious for him to go to school when the time comes, but is very concerned about his safety as the trachea tube in his throat cannot be removed for more than two minutes. He has to be constantly supervised as any type of infection could portend trouble for him. A suction machine is required to remove the mucous which flows from the tube regularly. If the mucous dried and blocked the tube he could suffocate. He also has to avoid smoke and dust.

reconstructive surgery

Knowing fully well that Jadon's life is in danger with each passing day, Lothian is now trying to get financial assistance to take Jadon overseas to remove the tumours, some of which are delicately attached to nerve sheets. She has identified a "very experience" reconstructive surgeon, and will have to come up with US$70,000 for five days in hospital. This is just an estimated cost and doesn't include meals, travel expenses and accommodation for Lothian.

"I am appealing to the public, in whatever way you can, help Jadon to live a normal life ... Please ... He's a booming, sweet, little boy. He's intelligent, and they (the tumours) are the only thing that is stopping him right now ... If you out there have the power to help Jadon live a normal life, I am appealing to you to make a contribution. I would appreciate it very much," she said.

rural@gleanerjm.com