Three years ago, Patrick Bruce was a shy and quiet 13-year-old who, in a matter of days, inexpicably lost his ability to utter a word.
A saxophone player in the Augusta, Kan. high school band, Patrick’s plight came to the attention of Renee Berggren, a speech therapist for Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital who also serves as the band’s color guard instructor.
Patrick was eventually diagnosed with a latent strep infection, a possible indicator of a pediatric autoimmune disease associated with strep, or PANDAS.
Read more of Patrick’s story and how he got his joy and voice back.
