Gwen’s MRI Results, Part I

So we heard back from the neurologist in regards to Gwen’s MRI. Obviously, his findings really are more geared to the brain/spinal column and not it’s prevailing effect on her apnea. In terms of Gwendolyn’s Chiari malformation, he still didn’t feel as though it was any more severe than a “typical” Type II situation (of course for those that don’t have spina bifida to begin with, we suppose there isn’t really anything “typical” about a Chiari malformation at all). For reference, the scale goes from Type I (least severe) to Type IV (most severe). On average, most children that have a myelomeningocele (the form of spina bifida that Gwendolyn was born with) have a Type II Chiari malformation. It is the neurologist’s opinion that Gwen’s case does not call for a decompression surgery. As I noted, we still need to get the pulmonologist’s findings but that was a positive report in the short term.

Two points of concern came in the fact that one of Gwendolyn’s ventricles had slightly more fluid in it than the last time they checked. When she was first born, both ventricles were rather inflamed and enlarged as a result of her hydrocephalus. While her shunt helped alleviate the swelling and actually collapsed one of the fluid sacks, the other ventricle has remained at a consistent, non-threatening level of fluid. Hopefully this ventricle doesn’t continue to have the fluid level rise or Gwendolyn might be looking at a follow-up to either replace or reposition her current shunt. Still, the neurologist said that Gwen’s brain currently is at a non-stressed state and at the end of the day, that’s obviously the most important factor.

The other thing that came to light as a result of the MRI was the presence of a cyst in her spinal cord called a syrinx. The neurologist stated that again, given her spina bifida, it is a fairly common thing. However, it will require regular monitoring. If the syrinx were to grow, it could swell to the point that is chokes off the spinal cord from the inside out. If gone unchecked, it could cause irreversible damage so we obviously want to say on top of it and what size it is.

So we suppose the update on Gwendolyn from a neurological state is kind of indifferent. While there’s nothing that requires immediate concern, she’ll have a repeat MRI in six months to chart the level of the fluid in her ventricle and to make sure her syrinx hasn’t got any bigger.

Again, we won’t have the other piece to the MRI puzzle until pulmonology is able to look over things and decipher it’s relation to Gwen’s apnea but that’s the most current status report as far as neurology is concerned.

And even with all that apprehensive news above, just look at the photos of Gwendolyn and Braelyn on the swing set the other day. In the end, that’s all the proof we need that they are both doing rather well all things considered.