Indiana Girl Among Those Battling Rare Polio-Like Illness

CHESTERTON, IN — An Indiana girl and one girl from Illinois have been diagnosed and hospitalized with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), an incredibly rare disease that has been popping up in the United States roughly every two years. One of the girls, Julia Rose Payne, of Batavia, Ill., is in the fight of her life against the rare polio-like illness that affects roughly 1 in a million people.

Payne came down with the same cold her two sisters had, but woke up the next day having difficulty moving and struggling to breathe, and was diagnosed with AFM.

Since she as diagnosed with AFM and admitted to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago on Sept. 13, the vibrant, red-headed 2-year-old has undergone a tracheotomy and plasmapheresis, a treatment that cleanses blood plasma. In addition to Payne, an 8-year-old girl from Chesterton, Indiana is also being treated for the illness, according to ABC Chicago. A total of 38 AFM confirmed cases have been confirmed in 16 states, according to the CDC.

Payne's parents are among dozens of other parents throughout Minnesota, Indiana, and Illinois who are helping their children fight through with this hard-to-understand illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AFM affects the gray matter of the spinal cord and can lead to respiratory failure, paralysis, and even death. Doctors are still struggling to understand the rare illness, which first appeared in the U.S. in 2014. Between August 2014 through August 2018, the CDC has confirmed 362 cases of AFM across the country.

Symptoms of AFM can resemble the flu at first, with patients experiencing leg and arm weakness and difficulty moving their eyes. Later symptoms are similar to polio, including facial drooping and difficulty speaking and swallowing.

According to the CDC, some causes of AFM may include West Nile virus and poliovirus, but they're still searching for more answers. Genetic disorders and "environmental toxins" may also trigger AFM, but for some patients a cause is never determined, CDC says.

In a GoFundMe campaign, Julia's parents wrote that she is currently stable. They say they are "excited to talk about the next weeks and months instead of hours and days.

A spokesperson for Lurie Children's Hospital said in an email that Julia will be discharged Wednesday and transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she will work to regain strength and movement.

Julia's family says they are thankful to the doctors and nurses at Lurie, along with friends, family members, and strangers who have shown their support. They wrote, "Your love is truly beyond measure." Click the link to donate to Julia Payne's GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $14,000 to help her family with ongoing medical expenses.

Visit the Lurie Children's Hospital website for more information on acute flaccid myelitis.

Lisa Marie Farver, Patch Staff contributed to this story

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