Mom Says Son's Life Was Saved Because of Facebook

[Janice]

http://www.parentdish.com/2011/07/15/sons-life-saved-because-of-facebook/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk3|78055

Mom Says Son's Life Was Saved Because of Facebook[/B]

Deborah Copaken Kogan joined Facebook back in 2008, after her son was being bullied, and officials at his school suggested she monitor his page. But the social media site eventually became a sort of community for the New York mom -- and, she tells "Today," even saved her 4 -year-old son Leo's life.

"It was Mother's Day morning, Sunday morning, and Leo woke up with a rash," Copaken Kogan tells the news show. "I thought, oh, great, he got strep, we've got to go to the doctor. I'm waiting in the waiting room, feeling a little bored. I snapped the photo of my son -- and he was putting his blankie over his face -- and I said something like, 'Nothing says happy Mother's Day like a Sunday morning at the pediatrician."

The doctor agreed that it was likely strep -- the illness was going around his classroom, as well -- and gave her a prescription for amoxicillin.

"I thought great, we're done, he'll be better by tomorrow," she tells "Today."

When Leo hadn't got better by day three, Copaken Kogan posted another photo of her boy on Facebook.

"I said, I'm very concerned, you know, my kid looks very sick," she tells the news show. "Within the first hour of posting this photo, (I had) three friends telling me to go to the hospital, it could be Kawasaki disease. And once I got the strep culture and it came back negative, I just thought, that's it, I'm going. And I just called my doctor."

Copaken Kogan tells "Today" those Facebook messages were a catalyst.

"They said to me, here's the collective experience of 1,400 people, three of whom are telling me it could be Kawasaki disease, a very rare autoimmune disorder I had never heard (that) about effects 3,000 kids a year in the United States," she tells the show. "Many cases of Kawasaki disease don't actually get diagnosed until the fifth day, sixth day, because these symptoms mimic so many other illnesses."

Today, Leo is recovering, although his mom tells the news show his liver is still damaged and may take a year or so to regenerate. But she says he'll be fine.

"The fact that these friends on Facebook took a risk and said, 'sorry for butting in, but I think this could be Kawasaki,' was a miracle," Copaken Kogan tells "Today."

[Janice]

Can someone please make the link in the above story, "live". The video to this story is very interesting. It's the story and an interview with the boy's mother and Matt Lauer.

[robyrob]

this link ?

[Family Ties Forever!]

Wow, that is cool that people were able to help her save her son's life. It's ironic that she first went to Facebook because her son was being bullied and then the site turned out to be a life line for her.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by robyrob

this link ?

That's the one, and thank you. I wish I knew how to do that. It's been explained to me, but I just can't grasp it.

[Brad Russ]

Great story Janice, thanks for sharing. Like cell phones, the internet can be very helpful, and from what I just read, even life saving in various instances, if used correctly. It's examples like this that show that not only bad stuff comes off the internet. Many people's lives have been saved because of the internet, due to sharing symptoms that they had, and finding out that they had a deadly disease. I really enjoy great stories like this. Thanks again so much Janice, for sharing!

[old grouch]

This is an awesome story. Thanks, Janice.

[Mr. Television]

That's a wonderful story. Thanks for posting it.

[PZelda]

Originally Posted by Brad Russ

Great story Janice, thanks for sharing. Like cell phones, the internet can be very helpful, and from what I just read, even life saving in various instances, if used correctly. It's examples like this that show that not only bad stuff comes off the internet. Many people's lives have been saved because of the internet, due to sharing symptoms that they had, and finding out that they had a deadly disease. I really enjoy great stories like this. Thanks again so much Janice, for sharing!

I'm a fan of "Mystery Diagnosis" - used to be on Discovery Channel, but is now OWN channel. Been watching MD for years. That's a common theme on the show - people who have a mystery illness that baffle doctors often turn to the internet and diligently search for the mystery disease that most matches their symptoms. Oftentimes, they end up being correct on their guess when they return to the doc tto get an official diagnosis. The internet truly is a wonderful tool when you know how to use it correctly!