They say you never know what's coming next in life, and that certaninly was the case when Natalie and Tim Rogers from Alamosa, Colorado adopted Jaiden Rogers when he was 2 years old. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome and neglected as a child, he was rescued by the Rogers family; a family that had already adopted two children 20 years ago who are now adults.
About 2 1/2 years ago however their lives suddenly changed when Jaiden began having mysterious hard areas on his skin. The first area appeared on his thigh, with the skin being hard and painful. His mother Natalie decided to bring him to the doctor who eventually did a biopsy, and it was discovered that he had a very rare condition called Stiff Skin Disease, and was the 41st person to have it.
Characterized by the muscles directly beneath the skin becoming calcified, doctors have no idea what causes this condition and there is no cure; only palliative treatments to slow the condition and therapies to help keep his limbs as limber as possible. Chemotherapy is used to break up and slow the calcification, while routine physical therapy is required several times a week.
When Jaiden was first diagnosed, his mobility was good, but the progression of the disease has unfortunately been stronger than most cases. Many people with Stiff Skin syndrome are able to remain ambulatory until adulthood, but Jaiden now must use a wheelchair regularly. He will have good days and can still walk short distances, but overall a wheelchair is required for him to get around.
This of course has posed a problem for him accessing things like school and going out. Despite the ADA, not every school district is blessed with a bus with a lift or the money to purchase one, and Jaiden has subsequently been home schooled. No 8-year-old boy however should be stranded at home from school. Previously an outgoing kid, Jaiden has become introverted as his condition has gotten worse. Not going to school certainly hasn't helped.
That is why one of the most tear-inducing stories you'll hear all month needed to happen. On Wednesday, after being alerted to Jaiden's story by the Chive Charities (a nonprofit that helps raise money for families in need), The Doctors TV show along with Ride-Away (one of the largest retailers of adaptive and some East Coast), pooled together their funds to donate an adapted minivan to the Rogers family, with the adapted minivan coming from the BraunAbility.
The Chive Charities also helped raise $80,000 for the family to help them build a badly needed at-home physical therapy spa (hot water is one of the best things that helps the pain naturally), which included a heated covered pool with specialized heating and a wheelchair ramp encased in a separate building on the family's property. Check out Jaiden's brand new therapy pool
The episode with the family receiving the van aired this past Wednesday, and boy were they surprised. Check out the episode. A typically $50,000 and upwards purchase, an adapted van can change lives but for many the cost is just too great and they learn to go without, and that is what Natalie and Roger had been doing. This adapted van couldn't have gone to a better family.
Now because of his new van, Jaiden can start going back to school a few times a week, and hopefully begin to feel like a regular student just like everyone else soon. And let's hope doctors can find a treatment for Stiff Skin disease sometime in Jaiden's lifetime. It's heartbreaking seeing a child's body rebel against them before reaching adulthood.
Learn more: Stiff Skin Syndrome
Do you know anyone with Stiff Skin syndrome?