Yesterday, Ryder had a checkup with his endocrinologist. She had previously wanted to wait and watch his growth believing that he was a late bloomer and may not need growth hormones due to his renal disease. After a discussion with his pediatric orthopedic surgeon about the discovery that he has abnormal growth plates in both knees, she feels growth hormones are needed now. The abnormal growth plates could close at any time and inhibit normal growth. Ryder will begin the regimen mid June and means he will need an injection every day for the remainder of his growth period. As he is only 14 this could be years if they work and he grows normally. Like any drug there are a range of mild side effects and a few major ones. While they are rare we will have to watch out for headaches and blurry vision indicating an increase in spinal fluid creating pressure and would need a spinal tap to release, hip or knee pain which could mean his hip joint is coming out of the socket, sleep apnea, symptoms of diabetes, scoliosis, and cancer. None of this was easy to hear and Ryder needed time to process all of this which is why we are waiting a bit to start treatment. #Team Ryder