This page was created by the family and friends of a Peruvian child, who suffers a strange disease call Adrenoleukodystrophy. It is linked to chromosome X (X-ALD).
Mateo Gabriel Gonzales was born on February 02, 2002 in Lima Peru, only son of David Gonzales Cadillo and Melisa Rodriguez Ramirez. During his first 7 years of life, he was a normal child, his development and restlessnesses were normal. He liked animals, paintings, play videos and play with his cousins. As every child, he has had many falls a cause of the never ending plays. But he cried a moment after that he continue playing. He was a dedicated, tidy, slightly stubborn child in school but definitely an excellent boy.
In 2008 Mateo began to fell rare symptoms, now her mother remembered that Mateo groaned of tingling in his legs between the months July and August .Then his worried mother taken him to the pediatrician who transferred to a specialist in this case to an Orthopedic surgeon, his diagnosis was: “His bones are normal It is a part of the growth”. On November, 2008 his motor function stars to decrease for example he exceeded the edge of his drawings and the quality of his drawings were different. To draw and to colour was a skill that Mateo had acquired from very small.
On February, 2009, after his seventh birthday, Mateo began to complain about pains in the eyes, his mother realized that his left eye was turning aside occasionally and she decides to take him to the pediatrician who transfers to the oculist. And this time the diagnosis was: “His vision is of 20 on 20 ".
On Mach 2009, he started to have some difficulties to talk, he did it as he was 2 years old .At school, his marks got lower, worried teachers talked with his mother about the changes Mateo had been having at school, for instance lack of concentration, poor school performance, and excessive stubborn; even they asked her if there were any problems at home, the answer was always no. So, they recommended taking him to a psychologist, whose diagnostic was: spoiled for been an only child at home, some sessions and workshops were necessary to improve his lack of concentration and talking. So, Mateo started to attend to some therapies with the psychology.
In April 2009, he started to change his character with his family as well with his pets, for example while trying to write, and as he couldn’t make it, he got frustrated and yelled ,demanding to let him alone; apparently to concentrate.
At the beginning of May 2009, his mother started to realize that Mateo walked with some difficulty, even while trying to walk he fell down or stagger, and taking care while taking the stairs. When asking the psychologist, she gave a non convincing diagnosis saying that maybe it happened because his shoes were too big. On May 10th, his mother was alarmed by Mateo’s changes. She talked with another trusted pediatrician, who after listening about Mateo’s changes recommended taking him to a neurologist. On May 13th Mateo was taken to a child neurologist at Clínica del Niño , where serial analyses were done such as asking him to touch his nose with his a left or right finger, Mateo had some difficulties in the different tests. This is when the doctor asked to make Mateo a Magnetic Resonance, the results were given immediately, the next day May 14th 2009, it said: “… he suffers from a demyelination which involves the white matter… findings suggest Adrenoleukodystrophy.”
Mateo’s terrible situation starts like this, none of his parents, grandparents, cousins or friends has overcome it yet. At present, we are incessantly looking for any kind of solution, using all known resources, but all of them give the same unfortunate diagnosis, there is no cure or treatment known by traditional medicine.
This is the reason; we have published the website, so people like you can help, looking for information, and institutes in different places or countries where they might be found. We know there is no treatment or cure, but there must be something we can make, we can’t give up. Unfortunately, in Peru these cases are rare, there is no an Adrenoleukodystrophy specialist who can suggest what to do. Urgent support is needed, because Mateo is suffering from more frequent changes, we are fighting against time, and we need your help. There is no unimportant information, or any unwanted praying. Encouraging words are all Mateo needs”.