Isaiah's Story

Let me tell you about my best buddy Isaiah. He lives in Asparta, N.C. and loves nothing better than hanging out all day with his “Pa Pa”. His best friends are his dogs Chico and Jo Jo. I fell in love with this kid the first time I met him at Duke. His bright blue eyes pull you in and before you know it, he has you wrapped around his finger. Candice, his mother, says he has been like that since birth. Michael, his dad, says he gets his good looks from him. Rita, grandma, says that she is Isaiah’s favorite. I think Isaiah knows he has enough love for everyone. Love and support for each other has helped this family through some of the toughest times a family could ever face.

Isaiah is two years old and has been diagnosed with SCIDS. Severe Combined Immunodeficiency is a disease that affects the way the body has the inability to produce an adequate immune response to fight off diseases. The body’s main defenses, red and white blood cells, are weakened, allowing infections and diseases to grow. Candice and Michael noticed that something was not right with Isaiah on Christmas Eve 2005. He started turning blue and was rushed to the local hospital. After many test and evaluations, Isaiah was sent to Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, N.C. In January of 2006, he was diagnosed with SCIDS and transferred to Duke Children’s Hospital.

Candace said it took a while for her to come to terms with Isaiah’s illness. Then, she said she thought…“Well, at least it is not cancer“… Unfortunately, the doctors told her that in some ways SCIDS is worse than cancer because there has been very little research done on the disease. Michael and Candice said they realize they had to get themselves together for Isaiah. Candice said she turned his recovery over to God and now, they take things one day at a time.

Isaiah is presently being treated at Duke Children’s Hospital by Dr. Buckley. She is known nationally and internationally for SCIDS research. Isaiah has had two Bone Marrow Transplants, the most recent in October 2007. Since he was diagnosed in 2006, the family has spent most of their time in Durham. Grandma and Pa Pa make the three and a half hour trip as much as possible. Pa Pa says home is not home without Isaiah. Mom and dad stay with Isaiah around the clock.

Thankfully, Isaiah and his family were able to go back to Asparta in late November. I am hoping they can stay at home through the holidays. When I visit with Isaiah, he always wants to play with Elmo and Bob the Builder. I love it. Even when he is not feeling his best, Isaiah smiles and wants to play. Every time he smiles at me, I know I catch a glimpse of what Heaven is really like! You can learn more about Isaiah by visiting www.caringbridge.org/visit/isaiahbarker.