Jennifer and Eric Nachreiner’s life took an unexpected turn one morning when taking their son Nolan to a friend’s birthday party. Nolan was diagnosed with transverse myelitis after losing all sensory and motor function while on the car ride to the birthday party.
“Our son Nolan was acting a little funny when we put him in the car to go to a birthday party,” said Jennifer. “By the time we arrived, he had lost all motor and sensory function below the neck. In less than an hour, he went from completely normal to paralyzed.”
At two and a half years old, Nolan spent three months in the hospital. He arrived home just a week before his baby brother, Henry, was born.
Nolan seemed to be progressing while at a local hospital, but his parents believed he needed more intensive therapy. So in January 2017, Jennifer and Nolan moved from Pittsburgh to Kentucky so Nolan could start therapy at Frazier Rehab Institute, part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s NeuroRecovery Network. Eric stayed behind in Pittsburgh to take care of Henry.
Nolan’s skills improved greatly within just a four month period. His trunk control increased from 0 to 10 on a 20 point scale. He can now move his arms, wrists, and thumbs. Nolan can also sit for several minutes without arm supports. His therapists have seen movement in his legs, and he is able to spend more time outside due to increased sweating.
“Frazier believed Nolan could get better and they could give us the time and intensity we needed. No matter how crazy or stressful it is now, having hope is so much easier than when we were all together and couldn’t see progress.”
Jennifer says that one of her biggest fears was Nolan’s stubborn disposition which could have made it difficult for the therapists to work with him. However, Frazier has a high tech to kid ratio so Nolan associates therapy with ‘going to a friend’s house’.
“His progress is slow and steady. He can now play his iPad and tickle his brother. He is more willing to try things himself. He wants to stand up and do things on his own. Before he was willing to be a passive participant in life and now he wants to be more active.”
Frazier participates in research by using the patient’s experience in therapy to benefit others. Jennifer states, “We are happy to contribute to research and data to help other kids like Nolan. I know there are other kids out there with potential, they are just not being given the right tools.”
The family is working on transitioning Nolan back home. He will receive services at the new NeuroRecovery Network at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.