The call from Children's Hospital

I got a call from Children's Hospital yesterday. It was from the Neurology department nurse Kelly. She had to called to both check up on how Karter was doing and also to talk a bit about his EEG a week back. She did not have the actual report yet however the EEG department had called her and so she knew the gist of what had showed on the EEG. There was no hypsarhythmia on the scan, so for that we are most thankful. If you recall that is what shows up on EEG when Karter is having Infantile Spasms. Also in the hour that Karter had the EEG there were no seizures both seen and not seen to the naked eye. So as far as the EEG department was concerned this EEG showed improvement from the last. Of course Kelly had to be the conservative one and let us know that it was only one hour out of the day and just becasue we didn't see anything that doesn't mean it is not happening.

I asked what the next step was then. She said that we wait for the MRI appointment and see what the MRI shows. I asked again why we were doing the MRI. She said that they want to view his brain post surgery and look at the pathways that have been created etc. So it looks like sometime in September we will have an appointment for that.

The "surgery" word was floated again on the phone. Kelly felt that Dr.Conoly was leaning towards the option of more surgery as a possibility. If his seizures continue and his development doesn't have a major pick up, it looks like we could be facing that road again. This time however surgery is more invasive. Karter had a brain resection, which basically means they removed a portion of the brain that appeared to be abnormal, thus causing seizures. This time if they did surgery it looks like they would remove the entire front right lobe, they call it a hemispherectomy. Obviously, God created the brain whole for a purpose, so losing a portion of it will have its ramifications for Karter. The most major, some weakness on the left side seen in the hand and the leg. He would still walk, but could limp and he could still use his hand but it would be weaker and he may not have the same control as on the right side. Also the other implication for him would be some loss of periferal vision in the left eye. This is something that could effect his changes at a drivers license later in life.

Obviously, the idea of more sugery is more than I can even imagine. Also, the idea that we may have more losses in motor development and sight are pretty difficult. But I have to stand on the fact that God has it all figured out and He already knows that outcome for Karter, it is done as far as God is concerned. My job is to take it one day at a time and not waste time and energy worrying about the things that may be, but rather focus on what is.

We still pray and believe for Karter's healing. I know I serve a God that cannot only make the abnormal brain normal but also restore what has been lost thus far. That is my constant prayer, that Karter would be made whole and new. Please pray that we would not hear the negative when we speak with the doctors but rather let it roll off our back and remain able to see the best case scenario, trusting and believing that we are in the best hands of our Father. Also, pray that we see a significant pick up in Karter's development. I am thrilled with the progress this far but we need to see some major milestones met so that we don't have to face the decision of more surgery. Our God is able to do far beyond what we can see or ever imagine!