Jordan Kerr

JORDAN'S STORY

Jordan was born on the 23rd October 1991.

I was induced at 37 weeks after a pregnancy complicated by pregnancy induced hypertension. Jordan was our first born and a true miracle baby. He survived a curette, during his first weeks of life, after blood tests failed to diagnose my pregnancy.

After a 27-hour long labour and a very brief meeting with my baby, I awoke to every mother's worst fear. My baby had been taken to the Special Care Nursery. During the night, Jordan had a choking episode while the nurses were bottle feeding him. He was extremely lethargic and wouldn't wake fully. He stayed in the SCN for a week, firstly on tube feeds, gradually learning to suck. To add to our woes, Jordan had bi-lateral talipes and wore plasters until four months old.

I have vague memories of Jordan passing the meconium. I assume everything was okay as nothing in his notes suggests otherwise. However, my earliest recollections are that Jordan always passed hard pellet like stools. We tried diet, suppositories ect.. to help, but without much success. Of more immediate concern was the fact that Jordan was not reaching his milestones. By two years old, Jordan was diagnosed as Developmentally Delayed. The doctors response to my query about his constipation - 'he's developmentally delayed, it will take him longer, just watch his diet and keep the fluids up'.

Between ages two and four, we made many trips to the hospital. We were always given the run around, a few suppositories and sent home. When Jordan was four we moved and I found a new Paediatrician. He x-rayed Jordan and found him to be severely impacted. He had been backing up for four years. He required two adult strength bowel washes to clean him out. Again the Paed. cited his delay for his problems and refused to look any further.

Jordan underwent a full-thickness rectal biopsy aged 6.8 years. The procedure was performed by the only surgeon in town; a man who was unfamiliar with this type of biopsy. The results were inconclusive and sent to the children's hospital. Hirschsprungs was excluded. I have only recently obtained a copy of the initial findings of this biopsy and was surprised to read that the sample contained cell abnormalities and sections of no ganglion. The doctor never discussed this with me and never suggested follow up tests.

Jordan is now 8.7 years old and still suffers terribly from chronic constipation. He attends a regular state school with minimal aide time to assist him in case of leaks at school. His delay is considered mild. He attends speech and occupational therapy. Jordan takes paraffin liquid everyday and has done so for the last five years. He has also taken numerous suppositories and enemas and took Propulsid until adverse side-effects prevented him from taking it. He has had four hospital admissions for bowel washes and now has these at home every three to four months.

We are currently in the process of relocating from a small rural town back to the city. We are determined to find an answer for Jordan.