MRI

Cal had to have an MRI when he was 3 weeks and 5 days old. Kids with Achondroplasia can have a small Foramen Magnum (this is a large opening in the base of the skull that the spinal cord runs through). If it is to small it can casue respiratory and neurologic complications. The MRI checks the size of the Foramen Magnum. After the MRI is read by a radiologist the results are sent to a neurosurgeon who determines if surgery (to enlarge the opening) is needed. Cal had to fast for 4 hours before his surgery...and for all of you that have had babies you can understand how that would be difficult with a newborn. He did great the first 3 hours but after that he was hungry...and who can blame him thats when he should be eating! I hated that he had to be hungry, that he had to get an IV, that he had to be put to sleep (not just with gas but intubated as well), and I hated that he had to be hooked up to monitors for 8 hours aftere the surgery.  I also decided that sometimes my nursing eductaion can be a bad thing. I know too much and so I worry. I watched the oxygen saturation monitor in his post op room like a hawk...paranoid everytime it would drop below 90%. Which it did a few times while we were there. Eventually though after a long and very draining day we were discharged home. A week later we met with a neurosurgeon at Primary Childrens Hospital. He informed us the opening was small...but not small enough that surgery was required. Best news ever!!! I was so relieved he didn't need surgery. Obviously there are certain signs and symptoms to look out for...but for now we are good and won't need another MRI until he is two years old. This was a great blessing and an answer to my prayers.

 The anesthesiologist let us watch as he put Cal to sleep with gas. After he was asleep they put in his IV and intubated him. It was after he was asleep that they took him away. Watching them take my little boy away from me was very hard and I cried. I was so grateful when that 45 minutes was over and I was able to see him again!

 Cal was a trooper! Spending the entire day in the small same day surgery room...and sleeping in a wagon (below) didn't bother him a bit. I, on the other hand, had a really hard time stuck in that little room all day and was so grateful when we were discharged home.