Michael and Autism

Michael Curtin was born in July of 1986. He was just 3 months old when he had his first head-to-toe hives reaction to the "safest" of foods-pears. It became obvious over time that Michael's body was hypersensitive not only to most foods, but many things in the environment like grass, trees, pollen, cat hair and blacktop. Changes in temperature, motion, sounds and even light can cause him distress and excruciatingly pain.

Michael was diagnosed with autism when he was a toddler. Through many therapies and sheer determination, Michael overcame many of the challenges of autism. He learned to speak to, and interact appropriately with people. He overcame the many sensory issues that made him a prisoner in his own mind. Michael fell in love with life and demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity and compassion for people. His unshakeable faith in God has touched the hearts of many people.

One challenge that was not so easily overcome was Michael's faulty immune system. As Michael entered adolescence, his body could not hold everything together. He became too exhausted to attend school and developed serious infections usually seen only in people who are severely immune compromised. These unusual infections, low platelet count and IgG subclasses led to a diagnosis of immune deficiency. At 16 Michael was hospitalized with weight loss and diarrhea following a viral illness. He has suffered since that time from Crohn's disease.

In May of 2007 Michael was confirmed to have lyme disease. Michael's body will no longer tolerate the medications that are the standard first line treatment for Crohn's disease. He has developed a chronic circulatory problem in his left leg, and a migrating arthritis that is attacking the knee in his right leg. He suffers from chronic anemia and has to have blood and iron transfusions frequently. The threat of receiving a virus in one of these blood transfusions is very high, and with his compromised immune system, Michael would be unable to fight the infection.

One method of treatment that has shown promise for Michael is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). HBOT is used to treat a wide range of conditions, with new applications being researched on a continual basis. There are currently fifteen conditions treatable with hyperbaric that are approved by the FDA in the US. As you might expect, these treatments are very expensive and are needed by Michael on a frequent basis. Due to the cost, Michael is currently unable to receive this treatment and as a result is not doing very well physically. I have had the opportunity, along with some members of Banded Brothers, to meet Michael and his mother , Jean Curtin.

Banded Brothers is currently doing some research and investigation on how we might provide some assistance to the Curtin family. One option is to organize a campaign to raise funds ( $20,000.00 ) to purchase a HBOT chamber that could be kept in the home and provide daily treatment for Michael. There is reason to believe with daily treatments that Michael may be able to lead a somewhat normal life after six months of daily treatments.