Its after 10pm and we just got the kids to bed and eating dinner...spent another evening in Children's ER but at least we came home! We ventured out with the kids to a restaurant for dinner with family and Morgan fell a sleep in the car on the way there - not unusual since apparently she had a short nap today. I thought she was just being slow to wake up after we arrived but shortly after we were settled at the table and ordered Morgan food she started vomiting :(
Of course we debated again is she just sick or do we need to go to head to the ER... a few minutes later more came up so that solidified our decision. She was whimpering for a bit, glossy eyed and very sleepy and then fell a sleep again on the way up to the hospital. Were checked in and shortly after she got a room in the ER she perked up, wanted to walk and play - like a new person! The Doctor saw her and we agreed she didn't need scans, IV, etc. since now she is acting fine and he advised to take her home and monitor her every few hours through the evening. No fever and she doesn't seem to be sick but we were told it is possible she might be having intermittent blockages of the shunt line. So maybe she is constipated or stomach full and this causes the shunt line in her abdominal cavity to block temporarily and the vomiting would relieve? Interesting and might explain the two recent episodes of this. Relieved and hopeful she escaped again without intervention. Can't wait until she is old enough to tell us what she is feeling!
My Journey with hydrocephalus and Cerebral Palsy
Morgan Grace was born 3 1/2 months early on Aug, 21, 2012 weighing just 1 lb 7 oz and 13 inches long. Morgan was hospitalized at Children's Hospital NICU in Minneapolis, MN for 108 long days. During this time she encountered many medical challenges common to "micro preemies" but most devastating was to hear she had suffered from grade III/IV Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH / brain bleed). We were told she may never walk or talk and they would not be able to tell the severity of the damage until she is older. The IVH resulted in Hydrocephalus, a condition she will have for life. At two, Morgan was also diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
I have found it very difficult to find information online - stories and information on hydrocephalus, shunts and people's experiences - so decided to write this blog to share what we have been through. I hope some day that Morgan can take over writing from her perspective. More importantly I hope maybe it can shed some light for other hydrocephalus and Cerebral Palsy patients and families. We welcome comments and questions.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Hydrocephalus is also known as "water on the brain", is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision, and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death. It is more common in infants, although it can occur in older adults.
The cause of Cerebral Palsy is a brain injury that occurs while the brain is developing. As a result of the brain damage during brain development a child's muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance can be affected.
I have found it very difficult to find information online - stories and information on hydrocephalus, shunts and people's experiences - so decided to write this blog to share what we have been through. I hope some day that Morgan can take over writing from her perspective. More importantly I hope maybe it can shed some light for other hydrocephalus and Cerebral Palsy patients and families. We welcome comments and questions.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Hydrocephalus is also known as "water on the brain", is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision, and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death. It is more common in infants, although it can occur in older adults.
The cause of Cerebral Palsy is a brain injury that occurs while the brain is developing. As a result of the brain damage during brain development a child's muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance can be affected.
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