Caitlin visited the zoo along with her parents last Thursday after being allowed from the hospital for an afternoon. Her disease very first surfaced as insect bites on her ankle last September. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JERICHO JOSE LUCAS/THE STRAITS TIMES
SINGAPORE — Doctors have actually identified the mystery disease that has actually gained a little Filipino girl critically ill for the past two months.
Three-year-old Caitlin Soleil Lucas arrived in Singapore two weeks ago in the chance of obtaining a clear diagnosis for a collection of life-threatening symptoms after doctors in the Philippines were unable to insight her.
READ: Filipina girl along with ‘mysterious’ disease in Singapore hospital for treatment
On Friday, experts at the National University Hospital (NUH) confirmed that she has actually juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a rare and significant condition that occurs in concerning 1.2 cases in a million. Mostly afflicting young children, it is caused by an overproduction of immature white blood cells in the bone marrow.
A group of doctors are currently in discussion along with the family on exactly how to manage Caitlin.
“Now that we finally have actually an answer, we understand just what we’re fighting against,” said her 34-year-old father and wedding photographer Jericho Jose Lucas.
About juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
It is a rare childhood cancer in which also numerous immature white blood cells are produced. Symptoms consist of skin rashes, bruising, higher white blood cell count, reduced red blood cell and platelet counts, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged liver and spleen.
However, the condition is frequently challenging to diagnose as it might share comparable features along with infectious diseases.
Due to the rarity of the condition, a consensus on its treatment remains unclear, though it might involve a bone marrow transplant or chemotherapy.
Medical studies have actually located that about half of those that undergo a bone marrow transplant obtain long term remission, though a substantial number might relapse within a couple of months.
‘Relieved’
“We’re relieved. It’s been a long wait for this due to the fact that Caitlin was very first hospitalized much more compared to two months ago.”
Her disease very first surfaced last September as insect bites on her ideal ankle, said her 30-year-old mother, fashion stylist Christine Del Feliz Lucas. They rapidly created in to skin lesions, which spread across her legs, arms and face.
Although the lesions eventually faded, an onslaught of others symptoms appeared, including significant abdominal pain, an enlarged spleen and liver, reduced platelet and red blood cell counts and chronic diarrhea.
Since she was very first hospitalized on Brand-new Year’s Day, Caitlin has actually undergone a collection of procedures – from bone marrow aspirations to blood examinations – as doctors worked to diagnose her illness.
On Feb 25, she had to be warded in NUH’s pediatric intensive care unit after doctors located a bacterial infection in her gut. She has actually due to the fact that been transferred spine to a routine ward, and is As a result of be discharged today when she has actually completed her 10-day antibiotics course.
Her parents are intending to remain below for Caitlin to be treated for JMML, which she will certainly have the ability to do as an outpatient. “due to the fact that coming to Singapore, she has actually been feeling much better each day. Her cravings is back, and she is alert and chatty. She additionally loves to paint, so she has actually been performing that a lot,” said Mr Lucas.
On Thursday, Caitlin was granted an afternoon away from the hospital. An pet dog lover, she asked her parents to take her to the Singapore Zoo.
Seeing the elephants and giraffes, two of her favored animals, gained her eyes light up, said her father.
“We had fond memories of our visit to the zoo last year while we were on a holiday in Singapore, so she was fairly excited to see the pets again,” he said.
“Now, we chance to take her to the aquarium since she prefers to see the fishes.”
