10/10/2026
October is known for pink ribbons, but today, October 9th, I am bringing in a green ribbon for PANS and PANDAS Awareness Day.
An estimated 1 in 200 children suffer from sudden brain inflammation triggered by infection or environmental stress, leaving families searching for answers.
Watching our sweet boy navigate sudden shifts this past year has rocked us. Things always felt harder than they should have been, but when your child struggles, you realize how much happens beneath the surface. His poor little brain has literally been on fire.
Flaring can cause intense hyperactivity, OCD, anxiety, anger, rage, and major sleep disturbances. Heat, chlorine, or over excitement can trigger it. But we know deep down that is not who he is. When his system is calm, he is himself.
Brian and I work hard to regulate our own nervous systems through the hard days and grief, staying grounded to be a safe, calm anchor for Cameron. It takes a huge physical toll, but nothing matters more than supporting our little guy.
Putting a name to this did not feel like a label. It gave us a map. It helped us stop chasing symptoms, address root triggers like mold in our old home that prompted our move to Texas, and fight for his healing without letting a diagnosis define him.
In public, so many of these kiddos master masking. To the outside world, you would never know what is happening, making it a lonely place for parents when people brush it off as normal behavior or gaslight your intuition.
By focusing on root cause healing, Cameron is living a mostly normal life, thriving at a school he loves, and making progress daily.
I hesitated to share this because putting your heart on display is hard. But God is writing our story and we are not alone. If our journey brings comfort or answers to even one family, it is worth every word.
Holding space for all families advocating for their littles today. You are not alone, and there is always hope. 💚