MISSOULA, Mont. (KECI) – Months after contracting COVID-19, a 13-year-old boy from Montana is considered a “long-distance operator” because he continues to experience symptoms of the disease, including heart problems, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing.
It has been painful for months for 13-year-old Hudson Beard, who contracted COVID-19 in November. He has not been to school since then and continues to develop symptoms, many of them severe, of the disease.
“It’s difficult,” said Hudson. “It’s really hard when doctors don’t have an answer, and they say, ‘Well, let’s see what happens, you might get better. We don’t know.’ ‘
In December, doctors at Hudson diagnosed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition that causes his heart rate to accelerate when he stands. He gets a dizziness-like vertigo every time he gets up or does basic tasks, such as reading or watching television.
Since then, his symptoms have only gotten worse, sending him to a hospital in Colorado for new problems discovered in his heart.
“My coronary arteries are dilated, both of them,” Hudson said.
“His heart, we haven’t understood that for two months,” said Lisa Beard, Hudson’s mother. “So now we are dealing with a coronary problem that we don’t know if it will be resolved.”
Hudson also has new breathing problems, persistent migraines, gastrointestinal problems and problems with the left side of his body, as if he had had a stroke.
“He has a lot of muscle weakness and there is a lot of atrophy all over his left side,” Beard said. “So rehab is the same as if he had a stroke.”
Hudson now has a dedicated team of doctors and specialists who support him and his family on their journey, but they are still desperate for answers and a cure.
“I was wondering why I have all these symptoms and a new one comes out every two weeks and why can’t doctors explain it,” Hudson said.
Hudson has a new pet tortoise that helps him pass the time during the days along with listening to audiobooks. Until more answers come, his days will remain of doctor’s appointments and tests while his parents do whatever they can think of to help him on the road to recovery.
“A lot of people really don’t understand how dramatic the effects of COVID on children are,” Beard said. “Often times we want to protect the most vulnerable, the little ones under 1 and the elderly, but Hudson was a thriving, very active 13-year-old and the rest of my family are recovering, and they haven’t.”
Doctors say there is a lot more heart involvement in people who have had COVID-19 than they initially thought. One study used cardiac MRIs in 100 patients who recovered from the virus, showing cardiac involvement in 78 of the patients and myocardial inflammation in 60 patients.
If you’ve had COVID-19 and feel chest pain or palpitations, it’s a good idea to call your doctor.
For children who have had COVID-19 even without serious symptoms, doctors recommend screening before resuming exercise or exercise.
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