Friday, June 6, 2014

Medical Update

This is the face of determination.   And courage.


I often find myself watching this child in amazement, as she meets every new challenge head on.

In the last nine months, Abby has seen many doctors...an orthopedic surgeon, a urologist, and a neurosurgeon, to name a few,   She has been fitted for an AFO, had physical therapy, endured a four hour sedated MRI, x rays, CT scans, urodynamics, ultrasounds, blood work, and lots of shots (which in her book, are the worst!).  She has faced every test with bravery that humbles me.  

The conclusion is that Abby was born with what is called Diastematomyelia.   This means that her spinal cord is split into 2 separate pieces with a bony spur in between.  The right piece is significantly smaller than the left, which is the cause of her weakness in her right hip and leg.  

On Wednesday, Abby will undergo a complicated spinal cord surgery at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham.   The neurosurgeon (Dr. Johnston) will remove the bony spur and detether her spinal cord.   The surgery is expected to take about four hours, after which Abby will have to lay flat for 2-3 days.  The doctor expects she will be in the hospital for five days.  Possible complications could be a CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) leak, worsening bladder function, or additional weakness in her legs.  

Without the surgery, she would almost certainly experience further neurological damage as she grows.  Even though she is not showing any symptoms right now, the surgery needs to be done to ensure that she does not develop additional problems in the future.  Unfortunately, there is no surgical way to correct the nerve damage and muscle weakness that affects her hip and leg.   This surgery is only to prevent further issues.  

As Abby faces this newest challenge, we covet your prayers.   We will leave for Birmingham Tuesday afternoon, spend the night, and arrive at the hospital at 5:30 am Wednesday morning.  We do not have a surgery time yet, although I am sure it will be first thing.   Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.....they mean so much to our family!

2 comments:

  1. I will be praying hard for sweet Abby. Sounds like you have found a top medical team and this is absolutely the treatment she needs. How wonderful for her that she made it to your family before she developed neurological problems. Best wishes for your trip and many prayers for a successful surgery and easy recovery.

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  2. Jennifer we are thinking about you both and pray for Abby as she makes her way through this. We love you all.

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