Lindane

Prescribed by the doctor for my son, sent home from school with lice Just shampoo his hair then comb it So I listened to his advice.

Within a week my son complained his eyes hurt and were red, Well it wasn’t just conjuntivitis that the doctor seemed to think, a corneal abrasion was making my son blink.

Another call to the doctor, something is very wrong, Matt’s eyes are not only blinking , they’re rolling all around.

So back to the eye doctor who says his eyes are not the problem The pediatrician is amiss There's something going on with Matt’s brain, he must see a neurologist.

During this time headlice was still rampant in the school So again had to use lindane As I was told to do.

One day I happened to be watching Channel six an important health segment about a headlice treatment that has made people sick.

It told of seizures, other health effects and even death And when they said it was lindane I couldn’t catch my breath.

For then I knew what had happened to my previously healthy son, It wasn’t conjunctivitis or allergies or anything the doctor had said, It was from lindane and something had to be done.

The first neurologist refused bloodwork, said its childhood tics and to keep away from food dyes, She refused to consider Matt’s health problems  were from a pesticide.

Well her suggestions didn’t work, Matthew continued to get worse Now his arms were moving in different directions, flailing from side to side, A second neurologist said these will go away in time.

Well that was eight years ago and were they ever wrong,  Many EEG’s have shown seizure activity, brain dysfunction and the list goes on

He is diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome and associated stuff, Like OCD and anxiety which makes going to school tough.

With being allergic to many meds, and a bad reaction to the measles shot, the doctor assured me Matt’s recent tetanus shot would be safe, the other happened as a tot.

Well the day after the shot this August, didn’t Matt develop a rash around his neck that lasted for days it didn’t spread and finally went away.

But along with the rash Matthew’s ticcing increased and new obsessions were added, everything got worse

So another trip to the doctor, who thought bloodwork would be ordered, but no instead a positive strep test Matthew has another disorder.

The doctor says PANDA which I know little about,  he put Matt on Keflex and said I hope he’ll be ok Cause Matt’s allergic to amoxicillin and they are in the same class, Just keep a close eye, any problems call me right back.

I know deep inside where the lindane dare not touch is the soul of my son who loved life so much

There was football, and tee ball and a constant smile Where school was so easy and not constantly a trial.

He was to play on the Dallas Cowboys team,  though not much of a possibility it was his dream. But lindane took away all of his plans And that is why everyday I pray for a ban.

The good news is many are now aware of lindane’s toxic effects  And are working so hard and trying their best to educate parents, doctors and more to ban lindane forever before:

Another child loses their ability to dream And is uncapable of being the best they can be

The assembly, the senate, the governor too, have it in their power to do what is right Ban lindane now, for our children are our life.

I have written this for Matthew, who is such a great son, I love him with all my heart, I admire his courage, and I love the way he can make me smile through tough times.

I have tried to help him, but he has helped me in so many ways. He knows how hard I have tried to work to get the lindane bill passed in NY, and with my MS its been tough.

But I look at Matt, and see what he has gone though, and I find strength deep inside. All of my children and family’s love get us through so much, and I thank them.

And to the NPA, who has been there these eight years.