My 6-Year-Old Couldn't Bear Clothes on Her Skin—Then Her Eyes Went Dark
For six years, Alexis Sestito's daughter had the happiest childhood. Then the symptoms began and her mom fought for answers.
My six-year-old daughter, Seramina, once adored wearing clothes and singing to the world. However, when she turned six, she started pulling at her clothing and protesting how it felt on her skin. This behavior escalated, leading to mood swings and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) diagnosis from her pediatrician. The situation worsened, with school refusal and darkened eyes indicating a severe decline.
Despite her previous easy-going nature, Seramina could no longer articulate her struggles, only repeatedly asking for help. The medical community, including her pediatrician, dismissed her condition as psychiatric, dismissing PANS/PANDAS, a neuroimmune condition caused by immune system dysregulation. Frustrated by misdiagnoses and unhelpful advice, I pursued alternative avenues, ultimately discovering ASPIRE PANS, a research study on cerebral folate deficiency in PANS patients.
Seramina tested positive for cerebral folate deficiency, which was addressed with folinic acid. This treatment significantly improved her PANS symptoms, allowing her to return to her activities and regain her previous demeanor.
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