Arizona boy, 11, diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease after experiencing back pains

An 11-year-old Arizona boy has been diagnosed with an extremely rare disease after suddenly experiencing back and chest pains.

Giovanni Cruz from Tucson was rushed to Banner Diamond Children’s Medical Center after taking a turn for the worst in June.

His mother Patricia revealed he had been “dancing, smiling and playing baseball” when he started suffering from pains across his chest and began sweating.

After being transferred to Tucson Medical Center and undergoing a series of tests, doctors diagnosed him with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease.

The extremely rare illness impacts just three Americans per every million each, with it attacking the victims’ lymph nodes and enlarging them across the body.

It causes the immune system to go into overdrive, leading to widespread inflammation that can damage the body’s organs.

Patricia said she was picking him up from his sister’s home in June when he began screaming and complaining of chest and back pain.

She told Arizona Family 3 TV: “He was saying, ‘Mom my chest hurts, my chest hurts’ and I was like, ‘What’s wrong?’ and he was just complaining.”

Patricia said his condition quickly worsened. She continued, “From one minute to the next, he was screaming, sweating in pain, he was complaining about his back. Right away I rushed him to TMC.”

Gio underwent tests at Tucson Medical Center but was sent home without a diagnosis after spending about a week there, and his condition continued to deteriorate.

Patricia continued: “All he wanted to do was sleep, and I was like this isn’t good. Then he started throwing up profusely, and then his cheeks, if you saw the pictures, they would just come out red.”

Gio was taken back to Tucson Medical Center and was later transferred to Banner, where specialists diagnosed him with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease.

His mom continued: “His is multicentric, so it’s all of his lymph nodes. There’s a Castlemans to where if it’s one lymph node they can surgically remove it, but his is multicentric to where it’s all over his body.”

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up for the family, Gio has undergone multiple surgeries and procedures, including three biopsies, the removal of three lymph nodes for an excisional biopsy, MRIs, CT scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds, X-rays and numerous blood tests.

The fundraiser says Gio has also experienced fluid buildup around his abdomen, lungs and heart, making it difficult for him to breathe and requiring supplemental oxygen.

He has also suffered kidney complications and persistent fevers. Gio is currently receiving IL-6-directed therapy, high-dose IV steroids and dialysis.

According to the fundraiser, doctors expect his treatment and close monitoring to last about six to eight weeks. Chemotherapy could be considered if he does not respond to his current treatment.

The cause of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease is unknown. The disease can affect organs including the liver, kidneys and bone marrow.

It remains unclear how long Gio will remain hospitalized or how well he will respond to treatment.

The fundraiser said Patricia has remained at her son’s side throughout his hospitalization and has missed more than a month of work.

Before becoming sick, Gio was looking forward to starting sixth grade and middle school in Sahuarita. An avid baseball player, he plays first and third base and also pitches.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters