Before he was even born, MJ Strickland was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type IV Severe (OI), a disease causing symptoms such as easily broken bones.
Growing up with OI, MJ hasn’t always had the best experiences with doctors, nurses, etc. When he saw them, MJ was usually scared and in pain. When the Stricklands were trying to find quality orthopedic care for MJ with someone that is experienced with OI, they found Dr. Stall at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida.
When MJ began working with Dr. Stall and his team, everything changed. “MJ has a special place in his heart for his Nemours team,” say the Stricklands. “Obviously, Dr. Stall is his bestest buddy. I’ve never seen him be so chummy with any of his medical team like he is with him. You can tell that all of MJ’s caregivers at Nemours have a genuine interest and concern for him. They are all incredibly patient and kind. It feels more like going to see MJ’s Aunts and Uncles than going to a doctor’s appointment.”
Most of MJ’s treatments are based on managing and treating fractures as they occur. Because his breaks happen frequently, the Stricklands sometimes treat him at home with splinting and medication and other times trips are required to the ER and surgery. Dr. Stall has placed an expandible rod in both arms to protect them as he grows. He recently had his left femur repaired and will have his right femur rodded when he heals form his most recent surgery. These surgeries will help MJ walk and gain independence as he grows. MJ also receives Bisphosphonate infusions every 6 months to help improve his bone density and he has PT, OT, and Aqua therapy on a weekly basis.
“Every time MJ has a rod placed, he will get stronger,” says the Strickland family. “For him, it is like having an internal splint. He can still break easily, but the severity of the break can be significantly decreased. We are hoping when he receives his femur rods, he will become more confident and try walking independently.”
Since his treatments with Dr. Stall and his team at Nemours, MJ has been able to bounce back quickly from his injuries. “He is incredibly resilient and highly adaptable,” say the Stricklands. “When he breaks an arm, he uses his feet to play with toys, pick up things, or even hold his food. We’ve always said dynamite comes in small packages. MJ might be small, but his personality is bigger than life. We call him Master MJ, Mayor of Lake Nona. He rolls into Nemours and his two other favorite places, Publix and Sam’s Club, like he owns the place, waving and saying ‘hi’ to every person he meets. It takes us a really long time to grocery shop.”
When asked what advice the Stricklands would give to other families dealing with OI, they said, “Take one day at a time. OI is a complicated and highly variable condition. No two kids are the same. It is important to find your tribe and surround yourself with people that know or understand your situation.”
