I knew something was wrong with Anna shortly after her birth- within the first 24 hours. Her skin felt "bumpy" and even looked that way.

About three days later, the "bumps" erupted into blisters filled with honey-colored fluid. I took her to the doctor and he thought it was possibly a strep infection as I was strep B positive during pregnancy, even though I received 9 hours of IV antibiotics during labor. The doctor prescribed a round of antibiotics and requested to see her again in 5 days. I took her back and it was not gone or diminished in appreance- I thought it was much worse!! He then prescribed Silvedene cream, to no avail of course.

Anna has been a very fussy baby since birth, always needing to be held constantly. She is the best nurser. It is her "comfort", along with her pacifier, to this day.

When she was 1 week old, I had to take her to the doctor for an unrelated issue. The ER doctor told me what Anna had was "Erythema Toxicum" and basically told me I was crazy for thinking it was anything else. To trust him, he saw this everyday. I was astonished to be treated like that, for him to call my doctor a liar and to assume I was an idiot of sorts. He told me to wait 10 - 14 days and it would go away. It did not.

Her Pediatrician was totally stumped and recommended Anna see a dermatologist. I took her to a dermatologist that has been practicing since 1964, if anyone had to know, he would right? He was not sure what this was and prescribed another round of antibiotics and said if it was no better in three days to bring her back in. Which I did. It was no better. It would get better and come back. We were stumped and he told me to take her to Children's Hospital, downtown Detroit. Which I did.

I took her to the ER, she was 4 weeks old by this time now. They called the University next door, the dermatology department and they wanted to see her IMMEDIATELY. I was scared to death. There must have been 12 doctors that saw her in the ER at Children's Hospital, they all look so frightened because they did not know what this was. The doctors at the UHC dermatology department, Dr. P., Dr. M,& Dr. M. took one look at this, discussed it in the hallway without me present. After Dr. P & Dr. M(s) looked in a medical book, they came and talked to me & my Mother-In-Law (biggest supporter, thanks Mom!).

They all came in and said "Looks like a classic case of IP, doesn't it?" Then they started to explain it to me, not too much information. They performed a skin biopsy to confirm it. While they were doing the biosy, I went in the hallway and began to cry. I looked on the Nurse's desk and saw the medical book open to this condition and read the 500 word paragragh, BRIEFLY explaining this. I was, naturally, very scared for her.

Two weeks later, she is 6 weeks old now, I take her back to the dermatology department and they confirmed the diagnoses. Took tons of pictures of her, digital and film. Begged me to bring her Grand Rounds downtown at the VA Center. A doctor, Dr. S. from Columbia University in New York was going to be there. I was totally amazed that this was happenening. I took her down there for the student doctors and very prominent Professor of Dermatology to see my baby's condition.

I took Anna to the Opthalmologist in June of 2001. He checked her out and said her eyes were completely normal for a baby her age. Asked to follow up in 6 months. She goes back in January.

Anna began having small "staring" spells. I took her to see the Neurologist in September 2001. Dr. M. evaluated her and so did her N.P. They found her to be slightly developmentally delayed 1 - 2 months. Since then she has been seeing Early On (a program to help kids who are delayed) weekly. She loves Carol, her lady.

On November 14, she had her EEG at Children's Hospital. On November 19, she will have her MRI at Children's Hospital. She has yet to see the dentist, she has no teeth yet. She is now 6 1/2 months old. Today is November 16.

This was Anna on Halloween, October 31, 2001!!!