Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s 10-year-old son Beau finally leaves hospital after battling rare condition for over a month
Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s 10-year-old son Beau has finally left the hospital after spending over a month battling Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
In an emotional video, Beau can be seen walking out of the hospital, surrounded by cheering family, friends, and staff members. The young boy, who was diagnosed with ADEM, was seen skipping and dancing along the corridor, showing off his remarkable physical recovery.
Sigler, who battles Multiple Sclerosis, expressed her gratitude to the hospital staff, saying, “Thank you to the INCREDIBLE staff at Dell Children’s Hospital. The way you take care of your patients and guide their families through the process, I just don’t have enough words.”
ADEM is a rare condition that involves a brief but intense attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, damaging the brain’s myelin. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, ADEM often occurs after a child has an infection, such as a cold, and can affect anyone at any age, although children are more likely to develop it.
Sigler, who shares Beau with her husband Cutter Dykstra, also revealed that her younger son Jack, 6, had become a great caretaker for his big brother during his illness. While Beau has made significant progress physically, Sigler revealed on her podcast that he still has more healing to do.
The emotional video was met with an outpouring of support from friends and fans, including actress Marla Sokoloff, baseball star Nick Swisher, and actress Jenna Dewan, who all left heartfelt comments and congratulations on the post.
**What is ADEM?**
ADEM stands for Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. It involves a brief but intense attack of inflammation (swelling) in the brain and spinal cord that damages the brain’s myelin, according to Boston Children’s Hospital. Myelin is the protective covering of nerve fibers and is also called white matter due to its color.
ADEM is an autoimmune condition that often occurs after a child has an infection, such as a cold. The immune system protects the body from invaders, like bacteria and viruses, but in autoimmune diseases, it attacks healthy cells and tissues.
In approximately 80 percent of children, ADEM occurs only once. In some patients, it can reoccur. When it does, symptoms can be identical to the child’s initial episode, but they can also be different.
It is not known why children develop ADEM with certain infections at certain times. If you notice symptoms during an infection that you think are unusual, such as confusion, changes in vision, weakness, numbness, or imbalance, it is important to notify your child’s doctor immediately.