PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep and it hit our family hard in October 2016. Our son, Bennett, was 5 years old at the time and after becoming ill with a sinus infection and strep throat, he received a flu vaccine. Four days later, he was not the same kid. Severe anxiety, fear, emotional lability, verbal and motor tics, and OCD consumed him, and we were left to figure out why. I've never felt so helpless in my entire life. Our pediatrician mentioned PANDAS but then quickly assured me that it was "extremely rare" and that there was no way that we could be dealing with this and told us to just watch it and give it some time. I knew enough to know better. A normal, healthy, bright 5-year-old doesn't just snap overnight and become a different child. Luckily a friend at work had heard of PANDAS and knew someone who had a son affected. She put us in contact with each other and from there things fell into place. We then started seeing the only treating physician in AL (3 hours from our home). Bennett started treatment within 10 days of symptom onset and I truly believe that this is what has kept his case mild.

Most PANDAS kids are not this lucky in regard to prompt diagnosis and treatment. Many go years and years without treatment and become severely affected. SEPPA is working to change that. The money raised here will go towards educating healthcare providers in the Southeast, as well as pushing legislators to mandate insurance coverage for PANS and PANDAS. Both of these things are so desperately needed. Please consider helping!