Kaitlyn has Chairi malformation, It was a accidental finding on her first MRI scan for her scoliosis, in May of 2010. We may not have known about the Chiari, had it not been for that MRI.
Chiari cannot be seen on an ultrasound or xray, it will show up on MRI only.
She see's a very respected Neurosurgeon at The Children's Hospital of Michigan, he is the Cheif of Staff.
She is being followed by why of clinical check ups with her Neurosurgeon once every year with a once a year MRI.
He believes that her Scoliosis, Tethered Cord, and Syringomyelia are directly linked with her Chiari, meaning the Chiari may have caused the Scoliosis, Tethered Cord and Syringomyelia.
Chiari, Scoliosis and Tethered Cord, often go hand in hand together, when they are scanning the spine for Scoliosis they always scan the brain as well, to check for such things.
Kaitlyn does not seem to display the debilitating symptoms that are often associated with Chiari Malformation. We are very grateful to be able to say this. However, she does have days that are very hard on her than others. She does have headaches, leg and foot pain and back pain.
Some days, she would rather lay quietly down and seem sleepy, with little energy.
Other days, she seems very irritated and restless, prone to anger.
When she displays these types of emotions, we are quick to believe that she may be experiencing pain and or discomfort, that she may find very difficult to explain to us.
Because she is normally a very happy girl with all kinds of energy!
We try very hard to make sure we see when she needs pain medication and is experiencing pain.
She is a tough girl, and would hate for anyone to think for one minuet that she is pain.
We know that she's learned to live with her conditions, and any pain that she may deal with.
She doesn't often tell you that she's hurting, so we have to go by her actions.
Kaitlyn has had the decompression surgery, it was preformed on May 12th 2011.
God worked a miracle in this little girls life, as she recovered with remarkable speed.
She spent 3 days in the Hospital recovering and went home for further recovery.
She was not able to lift, climb and do much running for the first month, it was very difficult for those first few weeks.
She was very very sore and a little upset that she couldn't be doing all those normal toddler things.
It has been four years since surgery, and she is doing wonderfully, with all things considered.
We are SO blessed and give all the glory to God.
We are taking one day at a time with our sweet girl and know that God has her safely in His arms.
Chiari cannot be seen on an ultrasound or xray, it will show up on MRI only.
She see's a very respected Neurosurgeon at The Children's Hospital of Michigan, he is the Cheif of Staff.
She is being followed by why of clinical check ups with her Neurosurgeon once every year with a once a year MRI.
He believes that her Scoliosis, Tethered Cord, and Syringomyelia are directly linked with her Chiari, meaning the Chiari may have caused the Scoliosis, Tethered Cord and Syringomyelia.
Chiari, Scoliosis and Tethered Cord, often go hand in hand together, when they are scanning the spine for Scoliosis they always scan the brain as well, to check for such things.
Kaitlyn does not seem to display the debilitating symptoms that are often associated with Chiari Malformation. We are very grateful to be able to say this. However, she does have days that are very hard on her than others. She does have headaches, leg and foot pain and back pain.
Some days, she would rather lay quietly down and seem sleepy, with little energy.
Other days, she seems very irritated and restless, prone to anger.
When she displays these types of emotions, we are quick to believe that she may be experiencing pain and or discomfort, that she may find very difficult to explain to us.
Because she is normally a very happy girl with all kinds of energy!
We try very hard to make sure we see when she needs pain medication and is experiencing pain.
She is a tough girl, and would hate for anyone to think for one minuet that she is pain.
We know that she's learned to live with her conditions, and any pain that she may deal with.
She doesn't often tell you that she's hurting, so we have to go by her actions.
Kaitlyn has had the decompression surgery, it was preformed on May 12th 2011.
God worked a miracle in this little girls life, as she recovered with remarkable speed.
She spent 3 days in the Hospital recovering and went home for further recovery.
She was not able to lift, climb and do much running for the first month, it was very difficult for those first few weeks.
She was very very sore and a little upset that she couldn't be doing all those normal toddler things.
It has been four years since surgery, and she is doing wonderfully, with all things considered.
We are SO blessed and give all the glory to God.
We are taking one day at a time with our sweet girl and know that God has her safely in His arms.