Only on ABC-7: Teen diagnosed with rare disease manages everyday life

Austin Farmer was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with Vasculitis, but it took months for doctors to figure out the rare disease.

“It started with joint pain and something wasn’t right because it wouldn’t go away after they said it was a virus,” said Austin who is now 16 years old and wrapping up his junior year at Chapin High School.

Doctors told him it was a virus.

Vascultis is described as an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself. The body creates antibodies against the vessels or the small arteries of the body.

Many times, vasculitis targets main organs like the kidneys, lung, skin or brain. Vasculitis is not contagious, but some cases have resulted in death.

In Austin’s case, his body attacked the small and medium blood vessels of the arteries causing improper blood flow to his kidneys.

Dr. Jorge Humberto Serna, a nephrology specialist, is one of the doctors that diagnosed Austin, he credits the teen’s mother, Dede Farmer for being so persistent in finding a diagnosis.

“In a three to four week span he lost thirty pounds. He was like a 90-year-old man that couldn’t walk,” said Farmer.

Austin had to stop playing football and all other contact sports because his ones were too brittle, another effect of vasculitis.

“It doesn’t really stop me physically as much compared to when I first got sick, but I can’t do certain thing that my friends do,” said Austin.

Austin took up swimming to remain active and his a member of the swim team at Chapin High School.

“They (doctors) told me it was a disease that I’ll have the rest of my life. I just don’t really let it affect me,” he said.

Dr. Serna said there are about ten types of vasculitis, all that require a range of treatments. Austin is required to take several medications a day.

Most patients walk in to the doctor’s office with cold-like symptoms or bronchitis said Dr. Serna. He recommends patients to request further blood work if symptoms don’t go away after several visits to the doctor. A biopsy can also help with diagnosis.

Austin’s case is one of the few Dr. Serna has seen here in El Paso. Dr. Serna said there are about 25 new cases in the city every year.

While there is research being done on the disease, there are still a lot of unknown factors.

Factors that include the genetic makeup of a person’s body, the environment and chemicals that enter the body.

“There isn’t something in particular to prevent the disease, we can not change our genetic makeup, so basically good hygiene is always important and a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Serna.

Austin Farmer’s mother created a support group area patients dealing with Vasculitis.

For more information about the group, you can conatact Dede Farmer at robertanddede@gmail.com.

To learn more about Vasculitis, visit the Vasculitis Foundation website. http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/