RI boy diagnosed with polio-like illness making progress in rehab

November 28, 2018 4:42 pm

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — The little boy from Rhode Island diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, a rare condition with polio-like symptoms, is now making strides in rehab. But the number of cases nationwide doubled in the last month.

Isaiah Hazard is still the 1 case of this mystery illness here in Rhode Island. They still don’t know how or why he got it, but he is making incredible progress. Tuesday, Isaiah took his first assisted steps at the rehab center in Boston.

There’s no breaking Isaiah Hazard’s spirit.

“At 5 years old the strength and determination that little boy has is incredible,” says his mom Erika Thompson.

The North Kingstown boy diagnosed with AFM in October and left paralyzed from the neck down is relentless in his recovery.

“He’s very hopeful, he’s very positive and he’s come a long way in the month we’ve been in rehab,” says Thompson.

He’s moving his arm and legs and is able to breathe on his own for 6 hours at a time. Just this week, he took his first steps assisted by his trainer.

“At the beginning of this they told us prepare for him to never walk again so the fact that he can, it’s a blessing,” says Thompson.

This is his mom Erika’s first time away from the rehab center in Boston. It’s taking a huge toll on her family and she says she’s blown away their nightmare scenario is now playing out for 115 other families all over the country.

“It’s kind of tough to take in because they still don’t know where it comes from and how kids get it,” she says.

But Isaiah’s not giving up. Their goal is the same as it was when he was first diagnosed.

“He says to me everyday mommy I want to walk again, I want to go back to school, i want to run around with my brother and that is the goal. I will do whatever I can to get him there,” says Thompson.

Their stay in rehab will be a couple months longer so Isaiah won’t be home for the holidays. Once again the community is stepping up to support the family. The “Crazy Christmas Wagon” in Warwick is collecting gifts for them. They will be posting a list of items they need in the coming days on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyChristmasWagon/?epa=SEARCH_BOX