Life for the Nassar family continued to unravel
over the last few years. Due to Ahmad’s growing irritability and seemingly
regressive development at 7 years old and continuing till his current age of 12,
his parents opted to take him back to the doctor for further evaluation. When
Ahmad turned 9, the doctors came to consider that his Lyme disease was not
appropriately treated when he was 4 years old, and that his condition may have
worsened and spread throughout his body over those 5 years. If Lyme disease is
not treated appropriately it can begin to affect the heart and nervous system (KidsHealth,
1995-2012). These individuals can experience “irregular heart rhythm, chest
pain, facial paralysis, and arthritic symptoms such as swelling or inflammation
of the joints” (KidsHealth, 1995-2012). These symptoms characterize a lot of
symptoms Ahmad’s experienced and complained about as a 7 year old. Ahmad’s
symptoms were not all physical; he also experienced emotional symptoms of
progressive Lyme disease. As a 12 year old, Ahmad is reaching his physically
typical developmental milestones, but he is still lacking in his emotional
development. Typical 12 to 13 year olds often socialize and interact with their
peers, and “become more independent with their own personality and interests” (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).
However, due to his condition Ahmad finds trouble relating to his peers and begins
feeling the effects of social isolation. His frustration with his peers of not
being able to understand the severity of his condition, led him to become
increasingly irritable and moody. His overall performance and behavior have declined to the point
that he was no longer able to remain at the local Montessori school and has
been attending public school for the past 4 years. Ahmad is now 12
years old but is one grade below his peers having been retained one year
due to frequent absences and the sudden drop in grades. Khalid is devastated
by this decline in academics which has shown in his dwindling attempts to make
sense and time for his son’s new personality and life.
He did not make
friends at his new school as easily as he once had at the Montessori School. Along with this change
and the normal hormone changes that are occurring coupled with the effects of
the Lyme disease have caused Ahmad to become rebellious and lose all interest
that he had left in school and school activities. He is difficult to
predict and experiences constant mood swings and personality
changes. Ahmad tires easily which has caused him little desire for
friends or social activities. Loneliness has also become a problem which
has led to depression and recent suicidal thoughts.
Ahmad’s parents noticed this change in their
son, and hoped to improve his quality of life by registering him in a sport he
once loved, soccer.
Although a thoughtful gesture, playing soccer
was too strenuous on Ahmad’s body. He often felt “fatigued, weakness, and joint
aches and pains” (Children’s Hospital Boston, 2005-2011). Ahmad as well as his parents felt discouraged
by his condition and situation, but they were also hopeful in discovering a
successful treatment plan. Ahmad was taken to the doctor again, but this time
doctors suggested that he might be suffering from “post-infectious disease
syndrome” (Children’s Hospital Boston, 2005-2011). The doctors suggested several treatment
options for Ahmad to try. Some of these options included: “maintaining a sleep
schedule, exercising, acupuncture, biofeedback, physical therapy, and
anti-inflammatory drugs to help with aches and pains” (Children’s
Hospital Boston, 2005-2011). Although
some of the treatments that Ahmad’s doctors suggested were expensive, Ahmad’s
parents had enough money saved to accommodate their son.
After a few months of treatment, Ahmad finally
began showing some improvement. To maintain his improvement another specific
behavior plan was established in his school, so Ahmad would have an outlet if
he became too overwhelmed with school or his peers.
Even with this slow improvement Khalid and Sasha’s
relationship has been strained and they are constantly arguing. Sasha, in
her desperation to make sense of all that has happened, has returned to her
Lutheran faith. The conflict has been exacerbated by Sasha’s anger and
guilt as she repeatedly questions herself on why she ever gave in to Khalid to
raise Ahmad as a Muslim.
References
