Meet the Care Team
Patient Stories
Hand surgery gives Aleah a new grasp on life
In December 2010, 4-year-old Aleah and her family were visiting her grandparents in Washington for the holidays when she started to feel sick. Aleah was lethargic, but her parents, Renee and Nathan, assumed she was just worn out from all the travel and festivities. But the next day, December 23rd, Aleah began having difficulties walking and was losing control of her other extremities.
Conditions We Treat
Pediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) in children
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in children
Transverse myelitis (TM) in children
Pediatric optic neuritis (ON)
Pediatric encephalopathy (encephalitis)
Pediatric anti-MOG antibody associated disorder (MOGAD)
Pediatric autoimmune encephalitis (AE)
Pediatric anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Pediatric acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)
Pediatric polyneuropathy cognitive disorders
More Details
The Demyelinating Disease Program delivers comprehensive care for diseases that impact the central nervous system. We specialize in treating children who
require both acute (sudden) and chronic (long-lasting) care and are one of only two transverse myelitis Centers of Excellence in the world. We have also been designated a Pediatric Comprehensive Care Center by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. You can be confident that your child will receive the most precise diagnosis and best care possible for their condition.
The Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA) is a not-for-profit international organization dedicated to the support of children, adolescents, and adults with a spectrum of rare neuroimmune disorders. The Centers of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders (CERND) designation recognizes medical centers that provide comprehensive care to treating people diagnosed with ADEM, AFM, MOGAD, NMOSD, ON, and TM.
In a demyelinating disease, the myelin sheath that protects the fibers in the central nervous system (brain, optic nerves and spinal cord) is damaged due to an attack on the immune system. When this happens, it causes the nerve impulses to slow down, impacting the body’s function, or even stop, leading to symptoms that include paralysis and sensory loss.