Jude and Max Moody

Jude was born with Down syndrome. When he was born he had two holes in his heart and was followed by a pediatric cardiologist until he was around age 4 and the holes closed on their own. At birth it was also discovered he had conductive hearing loss and he began wearing hearing aids at 3 months old. He also began physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy at CHOA in Fayetteville at 3 months old and continued for several years. At 9 months old he was hospitalized at Scottish Rite with rhino virus which developed into pneumonia. He spent a couple of weeks in the hospital and came home with oxygen support. Since then he has spent almost yearly many weeks in the hospital battling lung infections. A few years ago it was determined that his lung disease mimics Cystic Fibrosis and he began receiving similar treatments to help his lung functioning (shake vest treatments, in hospital antibiotic treatments via a picc line, bipap machine while sleeping, medication, etc). Jude has many specialists based out of CHOA that see to his medical needs. We are so fortunate to live so close to wonderful doctors and medical care. Each hospital stay deepens our appreciation for nurses who take such good care of both patients and their families. Scottish Rite has become an all too familiar second home to us. But the level of care makes stressful and hard times more bearable. Most hospital stays Jude is on isolation protocol and unable to leave his room. But the stays where he is able to get out and explore he loves to participate in the different activities sponsored by local community groups from painting pumpkins to dance parties.