Boy, 7, left paralyzed from the waist down after the flu virus attacked his ...

A little boy was left paralyzed and on life support for 20 days after a flu virus attacked his spinal cord.

In March 2013, Megan and John Crawford, from Orlando, Florida, noticed that their nine-month-old son, also called John, was weak and being fussier than usual, so they rushed him to the hospital.  

Doctors diagnosed John with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis, and told his parents that he would be paralyzed from the neck down.

John eventually regained movement in his hands, arms and toes, but the damage to his neurological system was so severe that he cannot walk and uses a wheelchair to get around.

The Crawfords want to help raise awareness of John's condition to prove that even with physical disabilities, their son, now seven, can have a fulfilling life. 

John Crawford, seven, from Orlando, Florida, was rushed to the hospital in March 2013 after being fussy and weak. Pictured: John at nine months old in the hospital

Doctors diagnosed John with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis. Pictured: John in the hospital at date unknown

John Crawford, seven, from Orlando, Florida, was rushed to the hospital in March 2013 after being fussy and weak. Doctors diagnosed John with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis. Pictured: John at nine months old in the hospital, left, and in the hospital at date unknown, right

Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of a section of the spinal cord that often results in paralysis. Pictured: John in his wheelchair at the park

Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of a section of the spinal cord that often results in paralysis. Pictured: John in his wheelchair at the park 

'To say we were scared would be an understatement,' John's mother, Megan, said. 'We knew the symptoms were not normal and had no idea what was wrong.'

Doctors performed blood tests, CT scans, MRIs and a spinal tap. After several hours, John was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis.    

Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of a section of the spinal cord.

It damages the myelin sheath, an insulating barrier of fatty protein that protects the nerve, and interrupts messages sent by spinal cord nerves.

This results in pain, weakness, paralysis, abnormal sensations and problems of the bladder and bowel. 

Transverse myelitis can be caused by several conditions including infections like influenza and immune system disorders.

'Though no signs of the flu virus at the initial onset, he did test positive for influenza 24 hours after being admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit,' Megan said.

'The flu virus had attacked

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