I am so GLAD that he has a diagnosis that was done iwth the proper tests!!! It is a bit early to have a conclusive diagnosis, but the hospital he went to is one of the best. I would get copies of not just the reports of the tests but of the actual results - and this includes getting the MRI an ct scans either on cd or printed out (here the mri can be had on cd for about $2 and on film for $5 per film and the mri of my back would be about $50 but I was to take them to the dr and then the dr told me to just not take them back. This is IMPORTANT because the hospital will get rid of files after a certain number of years. We learned this after some pretty crucial films of my back were destroyed.
UNC Chapel Hill is an awesome hospital and they should have a free medical care clinic that will help Cory. Try to get them to look at his spinal stuff because that is probably also something they could help.
Crohn's is autoimmune and it doesn't always mena you can't eat dairy or wheat. Dairy is hard on the digestive system, but there are some things that might help. Cory will need medications to get it under control, and he may or may not always need them. If he doesn't have medicaid he would probably be eligible for it based on this diagnosis. They don't do those tests same day as the ER visit unless he is pretty sick.
Sweetie, PLEASE don't go on that "I ruined his life" kick again. EVER. You did the VERY BEST you could with the tools you had at the time. You did NOT let him go for years with no medical care. You did NOT ignore his health at ANY time. You took him to the doctors that were available and if they couldn't figure it out? Well, how would it be logical that you should be able to figure it out? How many years of medication school and internship and residency and study did YOU go through? Unless that number is pretty darn high, well, not figuring this out is NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT your fault. This is a FACT. It is NOT up for discussion.There is NO way you EVER medically neglected him. You just didn't.
You are NOT God, you are NOT omniscient, you are NOT a Board Certified Gastroenterologist or Immunologist or Rheumatologist, and you are NOT at fault. In the words of Dolly Parton's character in some movie where she gave radio advice, "Get down off the cross, honey. Somebody needs the wood!" You are a very special, wonderful, loving person, but you just don't have that kind of power. Cause if you DO? Cory would have been diagnosis'd on day 2 of his life. It would have taken until day 2 because labor is hard even for the omniscient all powerful people.
Now they can start to figure out what kinds of diet, medication and other changes will begin to let Cory live a more full life. He is still so very young and he will learn how to manage ths and now he will get a much fuller life than if Tony hadn't taken him to the UNC hospital today.
in my opinion today needs to be a day you celebrate (once the diagnosis is confirmed) because today is the beginning of Cory's being able to learn to manage this stuff and have a more full, interesting and productive life!!!!!
He can also now learn to advocate for himself and for McKenzie so that they BOTH get the help they need. How great that he now has some idea about what is going on AND he can have his child tested so that she is able to manage this at an earlier age.