Wyatt Jones, 14, suffers from Tourette syndrome, but he spent years misdiagnosed as a young child. In 2015, his medication was changed, and his family sought out a neurologist near their home in Illinois for testing. When his mother, Mandi Carroll, learned the earliest appointment would be a six-month wait, Wyatt’s aunt, who works at a hospital in Memphis, recommended they reach out to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
As one of the top pediatric programs in the country, the Neuroscience Institute at Le Bonheur was well equipped to treat Wyatt’s Tourette syndrome – a condition that causes uncontrollable repetitive movements or unwanted sounds.
While Mandi knew that no hospital near them could match the specialists and level of expertise at Le Bonheur, she was concerned about traveling the five hours from their home in Illinois for regular visits. Thankfully, a nurse mentioned FedExFamilyHouse, and soon Wyatt, Mandi and her mother, Betty, made their first trip to Memphis.
On that visit to FedExFamilyHouse, Wyatt and Mandi were totally and completely amazed.
“The volunteers there are amazing, friendly, polite and knowledgeable. It doesn’t matter if we check in at 10:00 at night or 10:00 in the morning. Whatever we need, they’re there to help,” says Mandi.
Wyatt’s first visit to Le Bonheur required three days for testing and resulted in something they’d spent years searching for—an accurate diagnosis. Since that initial appointment, they’ve been back twice a year for the last three years. Soon, he’ll be visiting once a month, a feat they know they can manage thanks to the support at FedExFamilyHouse.
Once he finishes school, Wyatt hopes to be a fireman. FedExFamilyHouse and their volunteers made a dream come true by granting him a special visit to the Fire Museum of Memphis. Now he visits the museum each time he’s in Memphis, and he’s on a first-name basis with many of the firemen.
“The community support of the FedExFamilyHouse is overwhelming. People from all across town, like the Memphis Fire Department, have made a lasting impact on our family,” Mandi says.
Without FedExFamilyHouse, Mandi doesn’t know if they could have found the care and treatment Wyatt needed.
“I can’t even put into words what Le Bonheur has done for us. It’s a miracle. He went from failing school and regularly visiting the ER to getting As and Bs in school because of his medication and treatment. He’s independent and self-sufficient, and none of this would have been possible without FedExFamilyHouse,” shares Mandi.