Gavin’s Story

Gavin is a 16 year-old boy from California who has been experiencing PANS/PANDAS for over seven years. While he still experiences the same symptoms that he did when he was younger, receiving proper treatment has allowed him to break through his OCD and anxiety. He aims to major in business at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and become a clothing designer in the future.

How old were you when you first began experiencing symptoms of PANDAS or PANS, and which disorder do you have?

“I was around 8-9 when I first started experiencing symptoms and my issue was that I had a [severe] case of OCD.”

What symptoms did you have, and which ones do you continue to experience?

“The symptoms I had mostly was anxiety and OCD which really affected my day-to-day living making it hard to even do simple tasks. Today, I still experience the exact same symptoms, just in a less severe way that is much more bearable.”

What is your dream job and vision for your future?

“My dream job and vision for the future is to start my own business in clothing and design many types of different shirts and jeans. Before I do this, I want to go to USCB and major in business there.”

How do you handle setbacks in your recovery or moments when symptoms flare up again?

“To handle my symptoms when they flare up again, I change dosage on my remedy from homeopathy and I do dietary changes which usually significantly help to improve my symptoms from PANS/PANDAS.”

Do you have a favorite book, movie, or TV show that helps you escape or relax?

“My favorite Move that helps me escape or relax is [Return of the Jedi] in the Star Wars series because it shows many different aspects of things like leadership and perseverance.”

Do you have a favorite music artist or song that helps you get through tough moments?

“My favorite music artist is The Smiths because their music is very calm and soothing and allows me to relax in [tough] moments.”

Gavin, from all of us at the NPYA, thank you for sharing your story and continuing to live a fulfilling life in the face of PANS/PANDAS. We love you 💚