Revolutionary treatment delivers boy from life of eczema hell
Six-year-old Tyler Saunders has battled debilitating eczema for most of his life but a groundbreaking treatment has him, quite literally, dancing with joy.
Tyler was born with some signs of the condition but his mother Debbie said things got really tough for him from about eight months of age.
The family found new hope though when Debbie discovered a new treatment via Facebook. Shortly afterwards, Tyler's painful itching, which had sometimes kept him out of school and his mother out of work, finally began to subside.
Now the young boy from New South Wales' mid north coast has found a new lease on life and has re-embraced his love of dancing.
"[It was] very traumatic. It's a really underestimated condition," Debbie Maddalena-Saunders told Yahoo7 News.
"[I] can't imagine how he felt. Watching on was hard enough."
The itching was so bad Tyler had to wear socks on his hands on occasion so he wouldn't break through his skin
Sometimes he was covered from head to toe with itchy, inflamed skin and even had to be carried when the condition was so bad on his legs that he couldn't walk.
He would often lay awake at night in pain.
Tyler's parents even kept him from school as it was too difficult for him to be in public for long periods of time.
Debbie said it felt like they had tried every cream on the market but life is now looking brighter for the family after she found a new treatment by Dr Richard Aron via the Eczema Association of Australasia Facebook page.
"We sent in photos and a detailed history, and he wrote us a script," Debbie said.
"[It was] made for age, weight and severity of eczema and a doctor here would oversee it."
She said the cream was made especially for Tyler at a compounding pharmacy and appeared to be a great success after some minor adjustments.
The six-year-old has been using the treatment since September last year, and this year he has only been kept home once or twice from school.
The treatment is known as the Aron Regimen.
"The principles of my treatment are the use of readily obtainable products, viz. steroid, antibiotic and moisturising creams, advice in regard to diet, sport and exercise, bathing, clothing and sun protection to create a holistic treatment structure," Dr Aron's website states.
Tyler's mother said by November it was like they had a new child on their hands.
With Tyler's condition improved, his parents let him busk in Melbourne when they visited for the comedy festival.
"He was not unable to dance all the time but at times when his skin was bad he couldn't dance," Debbie said.
They got him a busking license in Melbourne and let him dance for seven or eight days for about 15 to 20 minutes.
"Watching him dance and seeing the joy in him after so much pain was overwhelming and would often bring tears to my eyes," Debbie said.
"He loved it.
"I feel like crying every time I see him (dancing) because he couldn't do it for such a long time."
Debbie said the experience has been difficult to explain to others.
"I've got a very supportive husband. I think if one of us was feeling a bit tired the other stepped up and we supported each other," she said.
And she says Tyler is a very strong young boy.
"Important to note how strong he's been through it all."
The young boy, now on the mend, wanted to give something back and help others who are suffering.
"He wanted to help other kids with eczema," Debbie said.
"He donated 10 per cent of everything he earned (from busking) to the Dr Aron fund."
Debbie also said she hoped by sharing Tyler's story, others suffering the condition would be aware of the treatment.
"I feel if it works for Tyler it can work for anyone, really."
The cost of the consultation fee was around $300 then, Debbie says, they pay for the cream which is compounded in a local pharmacy for a cost of $35 for about 500 grams.
The family was planning on travelling to France to a skin treatment centre but the new option has turned out much cheaper.
Debbie said the cost of seeing their son happy would prove priceless for the family.
