14-Year-Old Steps Up As Primary Caregiver For Mom With MS & They Make A ‘Great Team'

May 04, 2023 by apost team

Alison Lopez used to work as a paramedic prior to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018. Following the earth-shattering news, however, the hardworking single mother from Albuquerque, New Mexico, had to quit her job and now relies on her 14-year-old son, Tylor Lopez, as her primary caregiver. 

Once a busy mother, Alison, then 40 years old, started noticing significant changes in her body that gave her reasons to be concerned and worried. She was losing her abilities with her hands, and she also developed cognitive impairment that did not make any sense. She also had heat intolerance and problems with her vision, per the Cleveland Clinic. 

Treatments from local doctors did not alleviate her symptoms. Prompted by her mother, Alison decided to get checked at the Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. There, Dr. Carrie Hersh saw lesions in Alison's brain and spinal cord, and then she was told she had multiple sclerosis. 

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic condition, is the "most common disabling neurological disease" that attacks the myelin in the brain. This is a layer or sheath that covers and protects the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. Damaged myelin weakens the immune system cells and increases the person's disabilities in due time. According to the National MS Society, nearly one million adults in the U.S. are living with MS, but many remain undiagnosed.  

The news of her condition has been life-changing for both mom and son, especially when Alison’s MS progressed. Tylor, however, has been her most important support for her day-to-day needs. 

Alison told Valencia County News-Bulletin that she thought her "life was over" when doctors confirmed her condition. Her mother reminded her not to be consumed by negativity because she still had Tylor to raise. 

“She told me this is just the beginning of my new life, like my second birthday, and that this is not an end," Alison said. "She was absolutely right." 

The mother and son had to make some changes in their life so they could navigate this disease together. Alison had to homeschool Tylor so he could look after her. 

"We’ve always been a great team, but this has made us even stronger," Alison told Fox News. 

Instead of resenting this decision, Tylor embraced his role as his mother's caregiver quite well. The 14-year-old has been to all of his mother's appointments with her doctors. He doesn't hesitate to ask questions to ensure that she has the best care. Dr. Hersh also arranged for Tylor to discuss customized intervention methods with his mother's occupational therapists because she recognizes the unusual circumstances of having a teenager as a caregiver. 

"Every night, when I lay my head on the pillow, I think there’s no better reward than knowing that I took care of my loved one today and I made a change," the 14-year-old said. 

Caregiving, however, is not without its challenges, but Tylor has a healthy outlook on the struggles they deal with. He understands that it's OK to have bad days, and they take the challenges day by day. Caregiving is also his way of paying back his mother, who made sure he would survive after he was born at 25 weeks. 

“I want to help give her the amazing life she's given me,” Tylor said. 

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Caregiving is such a heavy responsibility, but this teenager is determined to take care of his mother with MS. How amazing is Tylor Lopez? What can you say about the dynamics between mother and son? Pass this story along to someone who has been in the same situation!