Well tomorrow is the big day. Olivia will have her second surgery since home here in America. We hope this to be her last! She will be having a ETV surgery for her hydrocephalus. Praise God she is not symptomatic. We are doing this procedure to ensure she stays that way. Olivia's issue is with the 3rd ventricle of her brain. All of her ventricles are larger than normal, but the 3rd one is the largest. This means fluid does not flow through like it should (your brain processes a pint of spinal fluid through each day!).
So tomorrow in this surgery they will open a hole inside the brain to re-establish effective flow of the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). The fluid flows from the lateral ventricle in your brain to the third ventricle (that is the largest one for her ) and then finally out the fourth ventricle. If there is an obstruction or this ventricle is too narrow (this is what is the case for Olivia here at the third ventricle) then ETV is a good option in lieu of shunting her. They will make a single small dime size in her skull and use an endoscope. The will put a small hole in the front part of the third ventricle which will allow the fluid to leave the third ventricle, by bypassing the obstructed part. Surgery should only take about an hour to an hour and a half...nothing like the untethering surgery which was LONG! we should also only be in the hospital one night.
Please pray specifically for:
1. That God guides the hands of the surgeon.
2. For peace for Olivia, the doctor and us!
3. No complications - like, stroke, bleeding, death - you know all the unlikely but scary things they have to tell you. And that that dont' get in there and find the anatomy is not conducive for the ETV (the most natural way to do this) and they determine they need to shunt her.
4. The surgery is a success and recovery goes well.
As scary as some of this sounds, it is the brain after all! I feel peace and I know that is God. We have also shared with Olivia in a way that she has peace as well. I thank you all for your prayers for her. Will keep you updated along the way.
Thanks to all of you for all the support it has meant a lot!
Our son (Zhe Nan) lived at Eagle's Wings with Olivia. We have so many pictures of her pushing him on swings and being a good "big sister" to him. We will be praying for her. We have not met her before, but she is very special to us too.
ReplyDeleteoh how cool is this! Thanks for reaching out. That is so sweet!
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