RHOC Star's Emotional Revelation About Son's Rare Illness
Emily Simpson, known for her role on The Real Housewives of Orange County, has emotionally disclosed that her 10-year-old son Luke will undergo pioneering laser treatment on his brain. The procedure aims to combat a rare condition called PANDAS that has dramatically affected the young boy's health and behaviour.
The Shocking Diagnosis Journey
Throughout the latest season of the reality show, viewers witnessed Emily and her husband Shane grappling with their son's sudden behavioural changes. Luke developed OCD, ADHD and the eating disorder AFRID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), leaving his parents deeply concerned about his wellbeing.
As the family's struggles played out on television, an unexpected source provided crucial guidance. Fans who recognised the symptoms began contacting Emily, advising her to have Luke tested for PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections).
According to medical experts at the Cleveland Clinic, PANDAS describes a group of symptoms, including tics and obsessive-compulsive behaviour, thought to affect certain children who've had strep infections.
Armed with this viewer advice, Emily and Shane pursued testing and discovered their son indeed suffered from PANDAS following a severe bout of strep throat at the beginning of this year.
The Pioneering Treatment Plan
During the reunion special of her reality show, Emily announced the groundbreaking treatment plan. "Luke is going to have a laser treatment on his brain to reduce the swelling," she revealed emotionally.
The concerned mother explained that her son understands the procedure awaiting him. "He asked if the laser would hurt, and I said: 'No, it won't hurt,'" Emily shared. She detailed the treatment schedule, noting Luke "has to go five days in a row for like three hours, and it's supposed to reduce the swelling."
A Family Under Strain
The health crisis has profoundly impacted the entire family. Emily and Shane, who have been married since Valentine's Day 2009, also parent Luke's twin brother Keller and their 12-year-old daughter Annabelle.
The situation created significant marital strain, with Emily feeling her husband showed insufficient sensitivity towards their son's condition. She described the heartbreaking transformation in Luke's behaviour, saying: "He went from a happy fourth grader that no teacher had ever said, like, there's issues. He was gifted. And all of a sudden, my child just completely changed."
Emily recalled how Luke "started talking like a baby, acting out, and I was so confused" about the dramatic regression.
Gratitude and Community Support
The reality star expressed deep appreciation for the viewers who reached out during the season's broadcast. "I would've never known to have my child tested for PANDAS if it wasn't for these moms that watch and reached out to me and told me," she acknowledged gratefully.
Emily described the experience as "an amazing community of sharing information and learning" that meant a great deal to her. However, she also confronted negative comments from critics questioning her parenting abilities.
Addressing accusations that she didn't know her son couldn't read, Emily clarified: "Well, it's not that I didn't know he couldn't read, he's a totally different child... I'm not a terrible mom, I'm dealing with symptoms that are completely different."
Following one episode, Emily took to Instagram to provide further clarification about Luke's reading abilities, explaining he could read but struggled with comprehension and had recently received a dyslexia diagnosis.
Understanding PANDAS and Its Effects
During the reunion special, Emily discussed the connection between Luke's January strep throat infection and his current health challenges. "The bacteria remains and then it affects the brain. And the brain swells. So all of these symptoms are associated with strep throat," she explained.
Emily noted the higher risk for children on the autism spectrum and highlighted Luke's additional diagnosis of ARFID, observing that "all roads kind of lead back to being on the spectrum."
The family's journey continues as they prepare for Luke's pioneering laser treatment, hoping it will bring relief from the debilitating symptoms of this rare condition.
