After traveling across the pond for pioneering treatment in the United States, a young boy with a crippling condition dubbed the “suicide disease” took his first steps in almost a year.
Dillon Wilford was in so much pain due to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) that he begged his mother Melanie to amputate his leg.
However, after their family spent nearly $20,000 to travel from the United Kingdom for specialized treatment, the 11-year-old experienced pain relief for the first time in months.
Doctors in Houston, Texas, used a VECTTOR machine to treat Dillon, which delivers electro-stimulation to nerves to reduce pain.
Melanie, who was overjoyed with the news, stated that it has reduced his pain level to a zero the majority of the time, as opposed to an eight or nine, which he would normally rate it.
“Honestly it’s just unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable, and all of that was in the space of a couple of days.
“The first night in the States, he said it was the comfiest night’s sleep he has ever had. He laid on his side, which he couldn’t do (before); he had long pajamas on, which he couldn’t do; and he had the covers over him, which he couldn’t do—so, it’s just amazing.”
Dillon first started showing symptoms almost a year ago in November 2021, when he woke up with a limp and by the evening he was left debilitated by pain.
He was diagnosed with CPRS in January after months of trying to figure out what was causing his pain, which had medical professionals baffled. The pain was so excruciating that even the slightest touch to the affected area caused excruciating pain.
Dillon and his family had hoped to raise £100,000 in order to send him to America for a 16-week treatment course that included light therapy and oxygen treatment. But then they came across the VECTTOR machine.
After just three days of treatment, he was able to wear socks for the first time in a year and on day four of treatment, he was able to wear shoes for the first time.
“Now he’s smiling, again,” said the joyous mom. “He’s not smiled like this for months and months.”