MRI results

At rounds this morning, we learned that all of Henry's levels are either normal or very close to normal.  He is still free of clinical seizures.  

Our pediatric neurologist arrived rather unexpectedly and told us that he would go over Hank's MRI results after rounds had finished.  After a few anxious minutes, we learned:

The MRI shows NO evidence of hemorrhage.

The MRI shows NO evidence of stroke.

The MRI shows that the vessels going in and out of his brain are still clear.

Basically, we got the best possible news.  

There are still two concerns:

1.  We need to continue to watch for seizures as his medication levels continue to reduce.  We hope that he'll be seizure-free.

2.  Henry's head is growing too quickly.  This is due to that fact that his body (and the human body, generally) is really good at producing and absorbing spinal fluid, but not so good at clearing blood from the brain.  The blood is being cleared out, just not as quickly as new spinal fluid is produced.  Since his passage ways are clear, we are hoping this problem will resolve itself.  If his head continues to swell, however, we may need to consult with a neurosurgeon about putting in a shunt.  

Henry's uncle Ross has been living for 30 years with a shunt, and we all know how well that has gone.

We hope to begin giving him Meade's milk starting tomorrow.  The nurses will be using his feeding tube until his sucking reflex gets strong enough.  

I'll post pictures later.