Ear Infection Turns Deadly: Scotch Plains Boy Triumphs Over Paralysis

Scotch Plains, NJ -- What began as an ear infection in the middle of the night for a Scotch Plains boy has changed his and his family’s lives forever.

Jude Siperstein, who was four at the time, woke up on Sept. 29, 2014 complaining of ear pain. He was taken to a pediatrician in the morning and diagnosed with an ear infection. Amy Boright, Jude’s mother, took him to the pediatrician the next morning.

“Over the next three days he started developing other symptoms,” Amy Boright, Jude’s mother told Patch. “He is a left-handed kid and he stopped using his left arm.”

Boright took him to the emergency room, where he was told it was still just an ear infection.

“I knew it was something bigger,” Boright said.

Jude was taken back to the hospital the next day. He became more and more lethargic and eventually stopped moving.

“He felt wobbly and by morning he couldn’t move at all and was like a noodle,” Boright said.

He was rushed to the emergency room and doctors finally took his condition seriously. But by that time, his ear infection had spread into his brain and triggered an autoimmune disease called Transverse Myelitis. As a result, his spinal cord was inflamed and was temporarily paralyzed.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions,” Boright said. “I went from having a sick kid to doctor’s telling me to be prepared to lose him to he will probably never move again.”

At the time, Boright recalls Jude wanting to be close to her.

“Jude said, ‘Mom I want to hug you.’ I said, ‘Yea you can have a hug. And he couldn’t lift his arms to hug me and it was so painful to see,” Boright said.

He was transferred to the Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment and therapy.

“He had to learn to do everything all over again,” Boright said. “He couldn’t hold his head up, couldn’t walk, sit, he had to relearn to do everything again.”

Jude stayed at the hospital for three months and learned to regain his motor functions. During his stay, he was nicknamed the “Mayor” of the hospital.

“He has always been a super, super social kid,” Boright said. “He walks up to people and introduces himself. His personality took over with the other kids.”

Jude is now functioning a lot better and continues with outpatient therapy at the Children’s Hospital in Mountainside -- where he too is the "Mayor."

“He is rocking and rolling,” Boright said. “He is still weaker on his left side but that doesn’t stop him at all.”

Knowing his struggle and seeing his progress, Jude has been chosen as New Jersey’s Champion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH).

This honor is given to only one child each year. Jude and his family will serve as spokespeople for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and Children’s Specialized Hospital. He will travel to DC and Disney world and meet other Champions from around the country.

“It’s a privilege to represent the Children’s Network and Hospital and share what happened to Jude that can happen to anyone,” Boright said. “He was healthy and then had an ear infection and then he was paralyzed. It’s really important to share the great work they do at Children’s Network and let people know we have a great resource like this in New Jersey.”

Jude’s family is raising $8,000 to represent the 80 days he was in the hospital to give back to the network. The money will be raised as part of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s 10th Annual Walk N' Roll on Saturday, May 21, which includes a 1 mile or 5K course through Johnson Park in Piscataway. For more information on the walk CLICK HERE.

Also May is the official “Miracle” month and many of CMNH and CSH partners are having fundraising campaigns. You can purchase special items from Chicos, White House Black Market and Soma. You can also “buy” a CMNH balloon at the register of Wal-Mart, Costco etc. to make a donation.

“Last year, with the help of our partners, programs and families, we raised $2.4 million,” said Nicole Fulmino, director, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Children’s Specialized Hospital. “We are so grateful our partners have embraced “May is for Miracles” and are hosting multiple cause marketing campaigns throughout the month across New Jersey – there are many ways everyone can support kids like Jude and help us reach our 2016 fundraising goal of $2.6 million.”

For more information on the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and Children’s Specialized Hospital visit www.childrens-specialized.org

Watch Jude's story:

(Photos, provided)