- Because of her shunts and the possibility of infections, we are going to shave her whole head. He was going to do all but about an inch from her forehead. We decided to just let it all go.
- They will be putting in at least 9 screws into her skull that will hold the electrodes. There is a good chance there will be more. He will decide when they get the MRI results that she takes next week. This will be painful and there will be minor swelling. :(
- It will take at least 6 hours in the OR. He said she will most likely be his only patient that day.
- We will go right to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit that night to begin getting her hooked up for monitoring.
- When they locate the spots, they will see what they think will be effected by taking that section out. There is not any guarantees about it not causing damage to some kind of function for her. The sections they are watching close deal with vision and motor function.
- If they take a section out, we will be in the hospital at least 5 more days, if not longer.
- If we decide that it isn't smart to remove those sections, we look at putting in a VNS.
- The things that have him worried are that she has two shunts that are out at a risk for infection, we are opening the brain up for chances of infection, she has multiple spots that start seizures in her brain. She will be on antibiotics during her stay.
We are stressed about it but her life at the current time is stressful because she is living in constant fear. We are in constant fear and worry because her seizures are just getting worse quickly. Please pray with us that all these unknowns have the best possible outcomes and Sam can come away from all of this stronger. That she can live her life without being constantly afraid. It is going to be a long haul with a dog, and a 5 year old in a small room for weeks, but at least we had a little time to plan. Thanking God for doctors we trust, friends who pray and for what we have today, because none of us are promised tomorrow.
