Eddie is 20 years old and 18 years post bone marrow transplant for Hurler's Syndrome. He was about the 20th to have a bmt in the U.S. and that is why he is alive today. Throughout all of his trials and tribulations, he inspires us with his happiness and joy for life.
Favorite Hobbies:
Listening to music, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, going to the Community Center to play with and help babysit the kids, having friends over to the house to visit and eat.
Proudest Accomplishment:
Surviving his bone marrow transplant--six months in the hospital with lots of complications.
MPS Heroes:
Dr. Chet Whitley at the University of Minnesota Hospital is our hero. Dr. Whitley guided us through bone marrow transplant and has always been there for us with a friendly smile and wonderful attitude.
Words of Wisdom:
1) Eddie likes to laugh and say, " What am I gonna do with you?!"
2) Eddie will say "Bless You" if you sneeze, cough, clear your throat, etc. and then bring you a tissue if he can find one.
3) Eddie always says Thank You" even for the little things you do for him.
4) Eddie tells those in his life "I love you" on a very regular basis. He makes sure we all know he loves us .
Personal Diagnosis Experience:
When Eddie was 15 months old, we took him to an allergy specialist because his nose ran constantly. An xray was taken to check on congestion, and thick bone structure was noticed. Because a geneticist from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit had recently spoken locally to our doctors at Midland Hospital about the MPS disorders, they recognized symptoms and did further testing. Hurler's was then confirmed. Several months later, we were told the University of Minnesota had just started doing bone marrow transplants as treatment/cure for Hurler's. We found out not from all the specialists we had seen but from a parent named Sue Teer who was a member of the MPS Society and whose daughter died waiting to find a match for a bone marrow transplant. June 8, 1989 is Eddie's second birthday. It was the day we were given Eddie's life back. Eddie is such a happy little guy who enjoys his life so much. We thank God for him every day. Eddie has taught us so much about life that we would not have learned otherwise. Some people get it, others don't.
