Derek Steele

A tribute to my son, who survived a year of hell and back.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• blastomycosis
• survivor

[oxyking]

I searched the web and I think your from winnipeg.. I'm also a winnipeger.. st vital region. I think I got it from on of my school trips though.. took about a year for symtom to show.. and then a year later to finally get the diagnosis... so I'm guessing from start to now is 2 years.. hope your son well

[tgrrrl3]

my boy got it on a school trip to Kenora. He wasn't correctly diagnosed for 7 months and neared death.

He is well now, but with permanent damages.

[photobiker66]

I'm glad to see that Derek is doing better. I was diagnosed with blastomycosis in May, after being sick all winter. My dermatologist made the correct diagnosis after I developed a large growth on my face.

[tgrrrl3]

Glad to hear you are on the mend from this devious infection. Hope all is well. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Bezee1209]

My family was not as fortunate as your,s. My daughter passed away August 27 2007 from blasto. She was 3 months preg. when she developed headaches. blasto tumor was found after baby was born, removed in nov.06. Headaches continued, drs said she had migraines even after blasto diagnos. Said she was pill seeking and a addict. This went on for six months.many er visits, nothing. August 22 admitted to 1 hosp insurance wont pay,sent to 2nd,3rd hospital in one week, Brain death at 21. Toledo Ohio

[tgrrrl3]

The Dr.s initially also told me my 12 year old was doing drugs. I am very sorry to hear of your loss and your daughter's needless suffering. Her case sounds as unique as my son's as it seems to have attacked the brain tissue. This is a very rare condition. It is frustrating to deal with amedical system that just won't take it seriously. My heart goes out to your family. Thank you for sharing.

[ksritter]

i'm a med student studying for boards & had no idea blasto caused skin lesions. in school, we spend so much time learning how this fungus looks under the microscope (any med student can recite the "broad based budding blasto" chant blindfolded) but no one tells us how blasto patients will present. it's a frustrating system. tks for your educational video. glad your son is better.  all the best.

[oxyking]

I think I got off lucky then, thank god. Doctor asked if I've been to kenora as well. Not really sure if I have :S

[oxyking]

2 xrays. 2 ct scans, 2 lung surgries to determine I had this.. I feel for you. Unlucky your son had pain.. my only symtom is coughing blood.. but after my doctors reaction to my second ct scan.. I think it's pretty serious

[oxyking]

I was just diagnosed for this.. after a year of coughing blood.

Grrr

[MYCELTICDREAMS]

I was diagnosed with Blastomycosis in May after a surgery on my shin. They removed a golfball size section on my right shin! That was a Tues! By Wed Afternoon they already knew what it was and sent me to Madison! I was 7 months pregnant at the time and by that Fri they had attempted to put me on Amphotericin B ( They a gave me a form of it called Abisome) I had a severe allergic reation to it and almost died.

[photobiker66]

It's great to see that your son is doing better. I was diagnosed with blastomycosis in May of this year, after nearly 3 months of misdiagnosis. Do you know of any support groups for people with blasto? I live in north west Wisconsin. Thank you.