Local Family Seeks Help To Fight Son’s PANDAS/PANS Diagnosis
I am not a parent. You do not have to be one to have compassion for Jon and Amanda Tanner. Jon and Amanda are the parents of two beautiful children Gibson and Pearl. Recently their world was turned upside down when Gibson, 7, was diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS.
If you are asking what is PANDAS/PANS, trust me you are not alone. I was unfamiliar myself. According to the Panda Network website, PANDAS is:
PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is when an infectious trigger, environmental factors, and other possible triggers create a misdirected immune response results in inflammation on a child’s brain. In turn, the child quickly begins to exhibit life changing symptoms such as OCD, severe restrictive eating, anxiety, tics, personality changes, decline in math and handwriting abilities, sensory sensitivities, and more.
Overwhelming to say the least. Can you imagine? I know this family very well and I know they are dedicated to getting Gibson the help he needs. The goal now is to get the family to New Jersey to see a physician who is the best of the best in this field. As you can imagine treatment and follow up visits are going to be costly (to say the least).
Jon's cousin has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for travel expenses, doctors and everything that insurance will not cover. If you are able to donate, please know everything helps and is much appreciated by the family. Thank you.