Gavin Update

Well, this is Gavin as of 10:00a.m. this morning! His top 4 teeth have been flapping in the breeze since the "fiasco" at the Christmas party. This morning, Gavin had his MRI up at Primary Childrens Hospital. Everything went really well, especially because we drove up yesterday and spent the night at my friend, Chrissy's house (THANK YOU!!!). Well, the anesthesiologist had to pull G's teeth to make sure the breathing tube didn't knock them down his throat...or some explanation like that. In any case, he woke up to no front teeth and not feeling very well. Poor kid! But, the tooth fairy will come tonight, and Grandma Trudy is giving him one dollar for each tooth and one dollar for each Beetle Bop (Volkswagen Bug) that he saw on the freeway last night! He will get $8 out of this trip to the hospital! Not too shabby.

We did get a call from our Dr. right after we got home. She said Gavin has a Chiari Malformation. Here is a description right off the Internet...

Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. Normally the cerebellum and parts of the brainstem sit in an indented space at the lower rear of the skull, above the foramen magnum (a funnel-like opening to the spinal canal). When part of the cerebellum is located below the foramen magnum, it is called a Chiari malformation.

Here are some of the symptoms (tell me this is not what we have been saying about G for a LONG time!)

Many persons with a Type I CM do not have symptoms and may not know they have the condition. Patients with other CM types may complain of neck pain, balance problems, muscle weakness, numbness or other abnormal feelings in the arms or legs, dizziness, vision problems, difficulty swallowing, ringing or buzzing in the ears, hearing loss, vomiting, insomnia, depression, or headache made worse by coughing or straining. Hand coordination and fine motor skills may be affected. Symptoms may change for some patients, depending on the buildup of CSF and resulting pressure on the tissues and nerves. Adolescents and adults who have CM but no symptoms initially may, later in life, develop signs of the disorder. Infants may have symptoms from any type of CM and may have difficulty swallowing, irritability when being fed, excessive drooling, a weak cry, gagging or vomiting, arm weakness, a stiff neck, breathing problems, developmental delays, and an inability to gain weight.

The pressure is also causing his sleep apnea. We are meeting with a Pediatric Neurosurgeon next week and will have a treatment and recovery plan. He will most likely be having surgery sometime in the near future. Scary thought, but I am SO RELIEVED to finally have some answers for this kid! We feel really fortunate to have caught this while he is so young. So, please keep him in your prayers and I will update you next week!