ICP Monitoring - July 26, 2011

Day 1 - ICP monitor is in place. Waiting to be called back to recovery and then he will be moved to an IMC room to be monitored over the next few days. Scheduled for 4 days but could be out in as few as 2 if no mishaps occur.


Day 2 - We are almost done with day 2. The monitoring is showing that the pressure in Mason's head is still higher than the neurosurgeon would like, even after the cranial surgery. So now we will continue to turn the distractors to widen the space they are creating in Mason's head. We will not be release from the hospital until the pressure goes down to a level that the neurosurgeon is comfortable with. Oh well, so much for being out of here after a few days! :( Mason is hanging in there like a champ as he always does! :)


Day 3 - The wire for the ICP monitor has developed a kink or something in it. So it is back into surgery tomorrow to replace the wire. This really isn't a big surgery. The doctor explained that if Mason was older and capable of understanding and able to contol himself long enough to sit still for more than 20 minutes, he wouldn't have to even be put under. It would just be a local anethetic to numb the area and insert the wire. Looks like we will be here through the weekend. Thankfully a room at the Ronald McDonald House opened up so we will be able to get some more restful sleep. :)


Day 4 - Dr. has decided that it is not worth putting him under again for just a day of monitoring. So monitor is coming out and we are being discharged today. :). Yipee!!! Praise God!

Checking in - July 23, 2011

Hello all! Just checking in to let you know Mason is doing great. On Tuesday, July 26th, we go back to the hospital for a few days to do the pressure monitoring again. The doctors want to compare the results of the monitoring now that he has had his cranial surgery with the results from the time they did it in March before his surgery.

Post Surgery - July 5, 2011

This cranial surgery was a success.  This time the spacers were much smaller, but his frustration level was much higher during recovery.  He recovered well and was home within 4 days of surgery.

It's Surgery Time Again!

Well it's that time again. Mason is gearing up to have his next major cranial surgery on Tuesday, July 5th. It's nice that we were able to go 6 months without being in the hospital but it's that time again. This surgery will be the same one he had back in December of 2009. They will be opening his skull, putting in spacers (called distractors) and basically forcing his bones to grow out so as to give his brain more room to grow and release the pressure that has been building in his head since the last surgery. I will keep everyone posted as much as possible.

I have created a group on Facebook called Updates for Mason. It is open to everyone to become a member. That way I can post the updates one time and in one place for all to be able to read. Please feel free to join the group and add your friends as well if they want to keep up on the latest info about Mason!

We want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that helped, contributed, and participated in Mason's latest benefit in May. It was a huge success. It raised close to $7500 which helped us pay off his medical bills for this past year and we have enough to also cover our copays for this upcoming surgery as well! We cannot thank everyone enough for the love and support that continues to flow in for our family!

I know that I am behind on updating the pictures, but I will upload them in the next few weeks once everything settles down from his surgery! He is doing great, being pretty much a typical 2 year old: climbing on everything, getting into everything, and just being happy and loving life! AMEN!

Until the next update, thank you all again and again for your prayers, support and love!

Sincerely,

Allison, Justin, & Mason