Over the past few days I have been thinking about everything Isabelle's surgeon and I talked about Tuesday and weighing the options. Posterior and lose her range of motion, anterior and risk having to have a third fusion. After a lot of debate and a lot of advice from outside sources I had pretty much made up my mind.
I called the nurse on Wednesday because I had a few questions for her and I let her know that I was leaning more towards doing the posterior fusion. I felt like with Isabelle's track record the odds were against us that the anterior fusion would be a permanent fix. I had a feeling that if we did the anterior now we would have to do the posterior anyway when she was older and I knew that it would be much easier for her to adapt to not being able to move her neck now than it would be when she was older.
Her surgeon's nurse called me earlier today to let me know that she had spoken with him about the questions that I had and let him know that I was leaning more towards the posterior. When she told him that he said, "Good, I am too." After doing some research and consulting with the other surgeons he also felt that it would be better to go ahead and proceed with the posterior fusion. So that is the plan.
We are set to go in Friday morning. I am not sure of the exact time but we will be one of the firsts. Once I know more detail about times and everything I will let you guys know.
Thanks to all of you for the continued support and prayers.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Five Question Friday
I am participating in Mama M's Five Question Friday Blog Hop again just in case you guys need a little entertainment until we hear some news from the doctor. Like last week I will be giving the answers that I believe Isabelle would give if we asked her. Here we go!
1. What is your favorite holiday and why?
This would have to be Christmas. What two year old doesn't like all those gifts?
2. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Well duh! My mommy of course. Where do you think I get the phrase "Oh crap" from?
3. If you could give up one household chore what would it be?
Putting the 20+ DVD's I have back in the cabinet after I insist on taking them out.
4. What is the best practical joke you have ever been on the giving or receiving end of?
When I was playing peekaboo with my mommy and while I had my eyes covered she left the room. I couldn't find her anywhere and I giggled and giggled and giggled!
5. Where or how did you meet your spouse?
Boys have cooties!
1. What is your favorite holiday and why?
This would have to be Christmas. What two year old doesn't like all those gifts?
2. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Well duh! My mommy of course. Where do you think I get the phrase "Oh crap" from?
3. If you could give up one household chore what would it be?
Putting the 20+ DVD's I have back in the cabinet after I insist on taking them out.
4. What is the best practical joke you have ever been on the giving or receiving end of?
When I was playing peekaboo with my mommy and while I had my eyes covered she left the room. I couldn't find her anywhere and I giggled and giggled and giggled!
5. Where or how did you meet your spouse?
Boys have cooties!
No News Yet
I still have not heard from Isabelle's surgeon but I will post about it as soon as I do. In the mean time here is a funny video of her first experience with silly string.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
About the Appointment...
It didn't go so well.
We found out today that Isabelle will need another fusion within the next week or two. The part of her spine that was fused originally looks great so that is good news. However, parts of her spine that were not fused are not lining up as they are supposed to. I will try to explain it the best that I can but if you have questions please leave me a comment.
In case you don't remember in the first surgery C2-C6 in the posterior were fused. As I mentioned before we left the hospital and again when we went for an x-ray four weeks ago the front part of C2 and all of C1 looked like they were curving the wrong way and we were told that another fusion was likely...we just weren't sure when. The main problem now is that the front of C2 is not connected to the back part of C2 so it's just sort of floating around in her spine. The x-ray today showed that since the x-ray four weeks ago this abnormal curve from the front of C2 and C1 has gotten worse even with the halo on. Her surgeon made some adjustments to the halo to push her head back and then took another x-ray. These adjustments helped for the time being but she will not be in a halo forever and it is not a solution. The fact that just him moving her head around and making adjustments to her halo is just proof of how unstable her spine is and how much another fusion is needed.
Now for the hard part. There are two options that the doctors and myself need to decide on.
First, he can go in and fusion a few of the segments in the anterior and hope that that works. This will leave Isabelle with some motion in her neck. It may work. It may not work. It could work for weeks, months, years, or not at all. If we do this surgery and realize later on down the road that it did not work then he will have to go in again for a third time and fuse the back all the way up to the skull leaving her with no motion in her neck. There is no way to know if it will work or for how long. However, her surgeon said that if he had to guess he would say there is about a 50/50 chance that he would have to do the third surgery. So the down side is that this surgery may not work and she will likely have to go through a third surgery at a time that no one could know. The upside is that if it does work Isabelle will still have some motion in her neck.
Second, he can go in and fuse the back of her spine all the way up to the skull now. This will straighten her spine and it is unlikely that Isabelle will ever need a fusion on the front part of her spine or any part of her C-spine for that matter. The down side is that Isabelle will no longer have any motion in her neck, ever. The plus side is that if she makes it through that surgery that will likely be it. She may need more surgery in the distant future to repair the fusions that have already been done (they start to wear down over the years) but it is unlikely she will need another one as a child.
You see the dilemma?
So, a decision needs to be made and I would appreciate it if all of you would please pray that both the doctors and myself are able to make the right decision and to know what is best for my Belli. This will be a very difficult decision to make and I certainly need the prayers. Also, regardless of the decision that is made she will be having a second fusion very very soon and it will be just as risky as the last. Please continue to pray for her to be safe and for everything to go well. I will let you guys know as soon as a decision has been made and the date of the surgery.
We found out today that Isabelle will need another fusion within the next week or two. The part of her spine that was fused originally looks great so that is good news. However, parts of her spine that were not fused are not lining up as they are supposed to. I will try to explain it the best that I can but if you have questions please leave me a comment.
In case you don't remember in the first surgery C2-C6 in the posterior were fused. As I mentioned before we left the hospital and again when we went for an x-ray four weeks ago the front part of C2 and all of C1 looked like they were curving the wrong way and we were told that another fusion was likely...we just weren't sure when. The main problem now is that the front of C2 is not connected to the back part of C2 so it's just sort of floating around in her spine. The x-ray today showed that since the x-ray four weeks ago this abnormal curve from the front of C2 and C1 has gotten worse even with the halo on. Her surgeon made some adjustments to the halo to push her head back and then took another x-ray. These adjustments helped for the time being but she will not be in a halo forever and it is not a solution. The fact that just him moving her head around and making adjustments to her halo is just proof of how unstable her spine is and how much another fusion is needed.
Now for the hard part. There are two options that the doctors and myself need to decide on.
First, he can go in and fusion a few of the segments in the anterior and hope that that works. This will leave Isabelle with some motion in her neck. It may work. It may not work. It could work for weeks, months, years, or not at all. If we do this surgery and realize later on down the road that it did not work then he will have to go in again for a third time and fuse the back all the way up to the skull leaving her with no motion in her neck. There is no way to know if it will work or for how long. However, her surgeon said that if he had to guess he would say there is about a 50/50 chance that he would have to do the third surgery. So the down side is that this surgery may not work and she will likely have to go through a third surgery at a time that no one could know. The upside is that if it does work Isabelle will still have some motion in her neck.
Second, he can go in and fuse the back of her spine all the way up to the skull now. This will straighten her spine and it is unlikely that Isabelle will ever need a fusion on the front part of her spine or any part of her C-spine for that matter. The down side is that Isabelle will no longer have any motion in her neck, ever. The plus side is that if she makes it through that surgery that will likely be it. She may need more surgery in the distant future to repair the fusions that have already been done (they start to wear down over the years) but it is unlikely she will need another one as a child.
You see the dilemma?
So, a decision needs to be made and I would appreciate it if all of you would please pray that both the doctors and myself are able to make the right decision and to know what is best for my Belli. This will be a very difficult decision to make and I certainly need the prayers. Also, regardless of the decision that is made she will be having a second fusion very very soon and it will be just as risky as the last. Please continue to pray for her to be safe and for everything to go well. I will let you guys know as soon as a decision has been made and the date of the surgery.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Appointment Reminder!
Just a little FYI, reminder, or whatever you want to call it.
Isabelle's check up is tomorrow at 9...or 930...I can't really remember. Either way we are getting there at nine. So...don't forget it is time for some serious prayer so get at it! Thanks =-)
I will update you guys some time tomorrow night. As I mentioned before my laptop is broken but I was able to hook it up to an old monitor my parents had so I could still use it. Well, that apparently is not working anymore so I am going to buy one tomorrow but it will not be until later in the evening before I get it, get back home, and post an update.
And just because I know everyone needs a little laugh sometimes the following is a list of the new "funnies" Isabelle has been doing.
1. When sitting in the living room Isabelle will shout in a very demanding voice, "Granddad all done snoring!" When ever he falls asleep in his chair and starts snoring.
2. Isabelle now asks herself (or anyone who will listen) questions in which she responds either, "Ok!" or "That's right!" For example, "Watch a movie? Ok!" or "This red circle? That's right!"
3. When she wants to do something she knows she is not supposed to be doing she will look at you and say, "Bye, bye (insert name here)," so you will leave the room and not see. She then proceeds to scream hysterically when you do leave because she thinks you actually really did leave.
4. She calls octagons "ocgatontons"
5. She HATES lower case letters and will demand you to erase them as soon as they are written.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Isabelle's check up is tomorrow at 9...or 930...I can't really remember. Either way we are getting there at nine. So...don't forget it is time for some serious prayer so get at it! Thanks =-)
I will update you guys some time tomorrow night. As I mentioned before my laptop is broken but I was able to hook it up to an old monitor my parents had so I could still use it. Well, that apparently is not working anymore so I am going to buy one tomorrow but it will not be until later in the evening before I get it, get back home, and post an update.
And just because I know everyone needs a little laugh sometimes the following is a list of the new "funnies" Isabelle has been doing.
1. When sitting in the living room Isabelle will shout in a very demanding voice, "Granddad all done snoring!" When ever he falls asleep in his chair and starts snoring.
2. Isabelle now asks herself (or anyone who will listen) questions in which she responds either, "Ok!" or "That's right!" For example, "Watch a movie? Ok!" or "This red circle? That's right!"
3. When she wants to do something she knows she is not supposed to be doing she will look at you and say, "Bye, bye (insert name here)," so you will leave the room and not see. She then proceeds to scream hysterically when you do leave because she thinks you actually really did leave.
4. She calls octagons "ocgatontons"
5. She HATES lower case letters and will demand you to erase them as soon as they are written.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Friday, August 21, 2009
And the Winner Is...
Colored dots!
Unfortunately when I applied that background to my blog I realized that I would then have to change all of my font colors throughout the WHOLE blog if you guys wanted to continue to read it. I wasn't to much feeling up for that so I chose this background instead. I have saved the colored dots background for future use since I still want to keep my readers happy. As soon as I feel the need to change all the fonts I will put the colored dots background up for you guys.
What do you guys think of this background though? Like it? Hate it? Let me know!
Anywho...
I also wanted to mention a few additions to the blog while I am here. In case you haven't noticed if you look to the left you will see a wonderful blog button for my web site. I was lucky enough to have this great lady make it for me (since I pretty much stink at those things). You can also find the button for that same great lady on the right side of the blog, From Memories to Books. Do you see it? Do you? Do you? I thought so.
Anywho...
Lastly I wanted to mention another great blog that is about to get up and running that I personally think is a great idea. It's called Shoulders and can be found by clicking on the link. The idea behind the blog was for the followers (or anyone really) to nominate people who are in need of encouragement or a "shoulder" to lean on. Get it? Shoulders? So, the point is once the people are nominated the followers will read their story and leave comments for them. Because everyone LOVES to get comments on their blog. Hint hint =-) It currently does not have any posts yet because it is still in the making but stay tuned. It only has about 10 followers right now so hop on over there and check it out.
And of course don't forget Isabelle's check up with the Neurosurgeon is Tuesday! Pray pray pray for a GREAT report!!!!
Unfortunately when I applied that background to my blog I realized that I would then have to change all of my font colors throughout the WHOLE blog if you guys wanted to continue to read it. I wasn't to much feeling up for that so I chose this background instead. I have saved the colored dots background for future use since I still want to keep my readers happy. As soon as I feel the need to change all the fonts I will put the colored dots background up for you guys.
What do you guys think of this background though? Like it? Hate it? Let me know!
Anywho...
I also wanted to mention a few additions to the blog while I am here. In case you haven't noticed if you look to the left you will see a wonderful blog button for my web site. I was lucky enough to have this great lady make it for me (since I pretty much stink at those things). You can also find the button for that same great lady on the right side of the blog, From Memories to Books. Do you see it? Do you? Do you? I thought so.
Anywho...
Lastly I wanted to mention another great blog that is about to get up and running that I personally think is a great idea. It's called Shoulders and can be found by clicking on the link. The idea behind the blog was for the followers (or anyone really) to nominate people who are in need of encouragement or a "shoulder" to lean on. Get it? Shoulders? So, the point is once the people are nominated the followers will read their story and leave comments for them. Because everyone LOVES to get comments on their blog. Hint hint =-) It currently does not have any posts yet because it is still in the making but stay tuned. It only has about 10 followers right now so hop on over there and check it out.
And of course don't forget Isabelle's check up with the Neurosurgeon is Tuesday! Pray pray pray for a GREAT report!!!!
5 Question Friday
For those of you who do not know much about blogging or the blog world let me explain before I continue with this post.
Did you know that there was a whole other world out there? Millions of people who blog and share their stories. It is really and amazing thing. Since I have started Belli's Place I have met a lot of really great women with amazing stories of their own. One way for bloggers to spread their wings and continue meeting fellow bloggers to hold contests or host blog hops. A blog hop is basically having a theme on your blog one day and other people will link to your blog and have the same theme on their blog. This way all the people who are participating in the blog hop are all linked together. It is actually pretty cool. So today I stumbled upon a blog hop called Five Question Friday. This blogger takes questions from her readers and every Friday, she answers them. I thought this was pretty cool and wanted to participate. However, since this blog is about Isabelle and not me I have decided to answer with what I think Isabelle would say. That way you can get to know my sweet girl a little better. Hope you enjoy!
1. What is your biggest Pet Peeve?
Isabelle's biggest pet peeve is someone getting in her personal space. When this happens she will not hesitate to tell you to, "Back up!"
2. With no worries about finances, childcare, or travel time...where would you most want to vacation?
Isabelle would want to go "beach swimming"
3. If your house was in the path of a tornado and you had time to grab 3 things before the house was totally destroyed
Isabelle would have to have a blankey, an Elmo movie, and the old laptop we use to play movies on
4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Isabelle would want to live on Sesame Street. Yep that's it.
5. What is your family's favorite homecooked meal?
Isabelle favorite home cooked meal is cheese grits with milk and butter.
MckLinky Blog Hop" longdesc="http://www.brentriggs.com" border="0" height="98" width="300">
Did you know that there was a whole other world out there? Millions of people who blog and share their stories. It is really and amazing thing. Since I have started Belli's Place I have met a lot of really great women with amazing stories of their own. One way for bloggers to spread their wings and continue meeting fellow bloggers to hold contests or host blog hops. A blog hop is basically having a theme on your blog one day and other people will link to your blog and have the same theme on their blog. This way all the people who are participating in the blog hop are all linked together. It is actually pretty cool. So today I stumbled upon a blog hop called Five Question Friday. This blogger takes questions from her readers and every Friday, she answers them. I thought this was pretty cool and wanted to participate. However, since this blog is about Isabelle and not me I have decided to answer with what I think Isabelle would say. That way you can get to know my sweet girl a little better. Hope you enjoy!
1. What is your biggest Pet Peeve?
Isabelle's biggest pet peeve is someone getting in her personal space. When this happens she will not hesitate to tell you to, "Back up!"
2. With no worries about finances, childcare, or travel time...where would you most want to vacation?
Isabelle would want to go "beach swimming"
3. If your house was in the path of a tornado and you had time to grab 3 things before the house was totally destroyed
Isabelle would have to have a blankey, an Elmo movie, and the old laptop we use to play movies on
4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Isabelle would want to live on Sesame Street. Yep that's it.
5. What is your family's favorite homecooked meal?
Isabelle favorite home cooked meal is cheese grits with milk and butter.
MckLinky Blog Hop" longdesc="http://www.brentriggs.com" border="0" height="98" width="300">
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