Tue 10 Jul 2007
Too Much
Posted by Jen under Updates
[8] Comments
Making choices for your child’s future is a challenge for every parent. In Jane and Andy’s case with Ramona it feels like they are constantly getting new information about her health and having to make choices at an alarming rate. Today is one of those days.
Today Ramona had a visit with the Geneticist. They have found that Ramona has a Sacral Dimple. A sacral dimple is an indentation, present at birth, in the skin on the lower back. It’s usually located just above the crease between the buttocks. It can be an indication of tethered spine which can come along with q22 and may require surgery. So Ramona is scheduled for yet another test, a MRI for next week to rule out a tethered spine.
As you can imagine Jane and Andy are overwhelmed. Today added to the list of possible needed medical interventions for Ramona. To get a clearer picture let me lay it out for you. The Cranial Facial Doctor has suggested a helmet to help shape Ramona’s head since she has had such an extended time on her back. They have a short time to decide to go ahead with this. It would require she wear this helmet 23 hours per day for a few months, making outdoor play in the summer a distant memory.
The second surgical consult for the g-tube surgery went well as they got the go ahead to do it. However she is currently scheduled for the necessary GI study in late July in order to have that surgery in early August.
Now they have the MRI test. They are thrilled that Ramona no longer has to have oxygen but they are understandably overwhelmed by all of this.
Please pray for Jane, Andy, Ramona and Simon. They had a lovely vacation but are still battling lack of sleep and are handling a tremendous amount of stress. Pray they would receive clarity and discernment on which interventions to agree to and which to wait on or say no to. Pray that Ramona handles all these tests and doctor visits well and that God would strengthen their family and marriage through all of this.
I had the amazing opportunity to spend a few hours with all 4 of them this past weekend and this family continues to amaze me. They have faced and continue to face huge challenges and difficulties yet they continue to love deeply and relish in the joy found in each day. I pray God covers them with immense blessings!
Jane will be posting some stellar (I got a sneak peak) photos of their vacation as soon as they get the car unpacked. I am not sure how they got it all in there!
Thank you all for continuing to lift them up in prayer.
Jen
Thanks for the update Jen. I agree they are an amazing family. I’m floored that they found a way to take a vacation. God Bless them! I will pray that they make the right decisions for them and that they get all the support they need to continue to help them through all the challenges that they face.
Love,
Judy
I think of Ramona and your family every day. I am praying for all of you –
Love,
Angie
One of my daughters and a few of her cousins have a similar dimple. An ultrasound just after birth showed that it was nothing more than cosmetic. May it also be so with Ramona!
Keri (with Darel, Abi and Josi)
Thanks for our marching orders, Jen! It’s sad to hear more weird medical news, but good to know how to pray. Thanks for sharing your deep love for the Deitrichs with the rest of us. Can’t wait to see those pics — and the family in person!
Jane,
I’ve lost your phone number-my bad. Please call so we can talk about this. Sunday is the gathering & we’d love to have you guys there. A great chance to talk to other families.
Extended Love & Hugs & Prayers,
Trish
Jane,
Glad you’re back and were able to get a vacation in, even though I’m sure you are exhausted now. BTW, what time can I bring dinner over tomorrow night?
I’m not sure who Ramona’s doctors are, but my boys both have sacral dimples and their doctor is Tord Alden at Children’s. (If you Google him, you’ll get his bio.) He’s awesome and supposedly one of the best pediatric neurosurgeons in the country, if you want a second opinion.
Jack had his MRI when he was just six months old. They gave him some good drugs and he fell in a deep enough asleep to ignore the deafening whoosh-whoosh and beeps of the MRI machine. It turned out that neither one of the boys has a tethered spinal cord or leaking spinal fluid. However, they do not have 22q. Jack does have a cyst that only Dr. Alden saw, so we are monitoring that.
As always, I wish you peace and love.
Nicolle
Thanks Jen for posting this.
I am pretty worried but am comforted to know that some children can have this symptom with no underlying problem.
Feeling grateful that the test is next week, so we won’t have to wait long to find out…
Gosh. I know what it’s like to be happily coasting along, thinking things are finally settling down, when you abruptly get a slap in the face. Right now it seems that it is just one thing after another. I’m sorry that you have yet another thing to worry about. I’ll be praying for the MRI to go well next week and that the results would be favorable. I’m glad you at least got a little respite on your vacation. Great job taking those moments to rest and rejuvenate when they come.