Christopher Armstrong, Age 10

Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center

At the age of 3 ½, Christopher began experiencing issues with his eyesight one day while in daycare.  A trip to the pediatrician and an ophthalmologist did little more than deepen the mystery about his eyesight.  Finally, batteries of tests led doctors to the conclusion that Christopher had Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP. Christopher is only one of nine children to be known to have this disease.  The condition is one that affects the nervous system where the protective coating surrounding the cells called the myelin sheath is being slowly destroyed.  The myelin serves as an insulator that helps speed the conduction of nerve impulses.  Without it, those impulses slow or stop. 

As Christopher has grown older, he’s experiencing further complications with his nervous system.  Many times he requires the help of his family with the simplest of tasks such as dressing, going to the bathroom and getting into bed.  He also has weakness in the muscles of his arms and legs and sometimes requires the use of a wheelchair.  Christopher continues to receive treatment at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center on a regular basis for CIDP.