Tyson Buttus is back playing his beloved game of lacrosse

“I just want to be normal again.”

That’s what 8-year old Tyson Buttus told his mother Lindsay and father Manny as he fought to overcome a painful and persistent disease that came out of nowhere last September. Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is not a rare disease but also not all that common and not what the family expected. They thought Tyson had come down with the flu during hockey season. He wasn’t feeling well after a game and was sick that night. He had already been battling an asthmatic condition since he was very young.

In addition to the flu-like symptoms, Tyson had developed a rash on his legs that spread up his body. He developed kidney damage and painful bowels.

“It was one of the worst cases of the disease the Orillia hospital had ever seen,” said Lindsay. “He had to be put on morphine and prednisone for the pain. He was in and out of hospital for two weeks. He had pain in his joints and couldn’t walk for four days. He had no strength and we had to carry him back and fourth to the bathroom. He couldn’t go to school and couldn’t play hockey.

“Even when he did go back after six weeks he had a couple of episodes when his kidneys spiked. He had blood in his urine, so we had to take it down a notch.

“Now it looks like his body is going to repair itself but it’s an on going battle. In most kids it’s short lived but it can recur for years. He needs to drink a lot of water. He gets frustrated and there is is no rhyme nor reason why it comes and goes. It just does.”

Tyson was determined to get back on the floor and play lacrosse. He attended the four weeks of tryouts but then had to step back when the problems returned and he needed a kidney biopsy. After assessing the findings doctors gave Tyson the go ahead to play lacrosse and he is back.

Tyson is again doing what he likes best and that’s playing lacrosse. He was a member of last year’s Tyke C championship team and is playing with the Huntsville Novice Rep team this year wearing sweater number 18.

Tyson (third from right behind the goalies) and his Novice Rep teammates.

He can’t wait to compete and refuses to shy away from the rough play despite his recovery. For now all is going well.

His coach Steve Perentesis and staff are well aware of his situation and know what to look for.

We are always cautious about when he comes off the bench, and we’ve told him he needs to let us know if he is tired, thirsty or dizzy. We love him. He’s a quick witted reliable kid with a sense of humor. He’s a cross between Dennis the Menace and Andrew Dice Clay, a New York comedian with a Brooklyn accent. He’s positive, positive, positive and a hard worker.
Coach Steve Perentesis

“They ask how I’m feeling,” says Tyson. “I think I’m over it. I’ve been hitting guys on the floor and it hasn’t bugged me.”

“They do have his back,” echoed his father Manny, “They are a tight group.”

For now, Tyson’s just glad to be normal again.

Photo credits: Heather Douglas Photography

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