Ohio child who had four surgeries in a week gets life saved by a West Virginia nurse after she discovered something deeper needed to be addressed

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — For Wheeling’s golfers, the Kalkreuth Amateur Golf Championship is a day to get on the green and practice their swing.

But for the pediatric patients at Easterseals, the money it raises means a chance for their young lives to blossom.

Six months ago, a child now bouncing on a ball and grabbing numbers off the floor had trouble with his balance.

Noxx Yager is a typical 4-year-old in his love of dinosaurs and slides.

But for most of his life, his playtime came with pain many of his young friends couldn’t understand.

He had trouble with stumbling and falling.
He showed weakness in his lower extremities.
And even for a young child—he had difficulty focusing.

It turned out to be a worsening spinal condition called a tethered cord—and it took just one nurse practitioner at one rehabilitation center to put the puzzle together.

“It’s kind of like likening it to your Christmas lights when you put it away at the end of the year and you go to get him out and they’re all clumped together. So it has nowhere to move within the spinal column.”

Jennifer Diserio, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Easterseals

But no one knew his condition until he stepped into Easterseals on Wheeling’s National Road.

After going through physical and occupational therapy at school, he was referred there for possible ADHD and sensory processing…but Diserio knew there was something else going on.

An MRI at UPMC in Pittsburgh did not find any spinal cord issues.

But a second opinion at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown found Noxx’s tethered cord, which doctors said was one of the worst they had ever seen.

They even discovered an entirely separate condition that could have severely impacted his sight and ability to walk.

“He had four surgeries in a week, the last being a VP shunt in the brain. And we found out through this that he likely was born with hydrocephalus.”

Tara Yager, Noxx’s mom

And now in his mom’s words, he’s a different kid.

His progression with walking has improved along with his behavior, and he’s even become a preschool swimmer.

Tara says her heart breaks for him when she thinks of the hardship of the beginning of his life, but swells to think of how Easterseals and Diserio helped him to love it.

“Jennifer saved Noxx’s life and I will say that every day.”

Tara Yager, Noxx’s mom

Now Noxx is picking up the pieces of his young life—thanks to Easterseals showing him how they go back together.

Noxx and his family will represent Easterseals at the fundraising dinner on July 25th for the Kalkreuth Golf Championship.

You still have time to get tickets here to help kids enjoy the most carefree years of their lives.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.