Help save Caiden

The doctors have cautioned us about the tough road ahead. We've been told that without advanced intervention, Caiden might lose his ability to walk and face even more severe consequences in the future. In the UK, resources and specialists in Caiden's condition are scarce. At 2 in a million you can imagine how scary that is for us . That's why we're turning to the global community for help.

We need to get our boy to Italy to get him into remission because without this he may not live to see 20 years old.

1 year ago, our brave then 9-year-old, Caiden, was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Since then, his diagnosis has expanded to Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, which has a very bad outcome should we not get him into remission. We have had so many challenges, more medications, and more hospital visits. Our hearts sank with each new finding, but Caiden's spirit has remained unbreakably strong.

Imagine at 10 year old having to take 10 tablets a day 2 lots of medication a day and that’s without pain relief then to top it off nicely injections in his thighs every week.

About Mixed connective tissue disease 

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) has signs and symptoms of a combination of disorders — primarily lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis

MCTD is a chronic relapsing-remitting disease. The overall 10-year survival rate of the disease is approximately 80% if proper treatment is not given.

About Myositis

Juvenile myositis (JM) affects children under 18. JM affects two to four out of every one million children. Girls are more likely to develop JM.

The most common type of JM is juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), which is characterized by muscle weakness and skin rash.

In addition to muscle weakness, JM may cause:

Visible reddish-purple rashes over the eyelids or joints

Fatigue

Fever

Stomach aches

Moodiness and irritability

Motor function issues, including climbing steps, getting up from a seated position, reaching overhead, and getting dressed

Trouble lifting the head

Swelling or redness in the skin around fingernails

Problems with swallowing

Voice hoarseness

Calcium lumps under skin

Joint and muscle pain

Gottron’s papules

Myositis literally means “muscle inflammation.” The term myositis also describes the group of conditions—called inflammatory myopathies that cause chronic muscle inflammation, damage, weakness, and pain.

Myositis-type inflammation is caused by lymphocytes, white blood cells that typically protect the body’s immune system. With myositis, lymphocytes and foreign substances invade healthy muscle fibers. Chronic (ongoing) inflammation, over time, destroys muscle fibers, causing muscle function loss, immobility, and fatigue.

Many inflammatory causes are autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks its own healthy tissues. Inflammatory causes are the most serious causes of myositis and require long-term treatment.

Caiden's Wish

"I'm looking forward to walking in the sea, and being able to go to a new place. And if we see a special doctor, then I might not have to take all my tablets and have all my injections and trips to the hospital, and I won't feel so tired, sore and achy all the time."

Caiden's words capture our mission perfectly. We're planning a life-changing journey to Italy, home to some of the world's leading experts in autoimmune diseases.

How You Can Help

Your support will cover the costs of our travel, including hiring a motorhome for the journey this is so caiden can take breaks when he needs to during the travel, medical consultations and hospitalisation in Italy, and ensuring Caiden can do this without pain and upset. Every donation, no matter the size, brings Caiden one step closer to a life with less pain and more adventure.

The 1st £8,000 is the 1st consultation and inital trip we anticapate this will take more than one trip we will update the goal as time goes on hench why we have put the go fund me at £25,000

Fuel for the Journey: To cover the travel expenses from the UK to Italy and back.

Medical Hospitalisation/Consultation: To afford the best possible advice and tests from autoimmune disease specialists.

A Home on Wheels: Renting a motorhome to accommodate him comfortably throughout the journey.

Join Us

We invite you to be part of Caiden's adventure to health and happiness. Every share, every word of encouragement, and every donation makes a difference. Together, we can give Caiden the world.

Humanitas University in Italy has opened the first Center of Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases, dedicated to advancing care and research in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This center brings together expertise from different medical fields for an integrated approach to patient care, focusing on precision and personalized medicine. They treat a variety of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Key professionals involved include Prof. Alberto Mantovani, Prof. Silvio Danese in gastroenterology, Prof. Giorgio Walter Canonica in Pulmonology and Allergology, Prof. Antonio Costanzo in dermatology, and Prof. Carlo Selmi in rheumatology. For more detailed information, you may visit Humanitas University's website.

HUMANITAS

Follow his journey on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1458310111783705/

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

The Wakerley's