A few more tests – Gabby Update

The last Gabby update left off with her having dental surgery, which went well.  We were waiting to hear what the NeuroSurgeon decided as far as another brain surgery to place a shunt.  We went in on June 3rd to follow up after seeing an eye specialist and having some tests done to see if the increase pressure was effecting the optic nerve, which it wasn’t.  That was great news!  There is times where children will suffer from increased fluid that puts pressure on the optic nerve enough to actually make them go blind.  Scary.

The June 3rd appointment went fairly well.  The result was more tests which we knew were coming.  They examined the knot on her head again and determined it was still exactly the same.  She is feeling and acting fine which is great, considering.  All of these things are good signs, meaning no rush for brain surgery immediately.  The appointment was going well with the decision to perform another spinal tap in the near future to check the pressure one more time before placing the shunt.  Then… I told the NeuroSurgeon about Gabby’s physical with her Pediatrician and about the precocious puberty.  It was like an alarm went off.  The doctor’s whole tune changed.  Unfortunately they don’t believe it’s just a coincidence and feel pretty confident that the precocious puberty is being caused from the increased pressure in the brain, just as the Pediatrician felt.

This morning we had two more tests done that we are waiting for results on.  Gabby had lab work done to test her hormone level and we had a bone age test complete, which was a simple x-ray of her hand.  The lab work was tough and Gabby was extremely upset.  With it being summer, T was with us which she has decided she’ll never go again.  She was even tearing eyed watching Gabby get so worked up.  I think after seeing her little sister go through so much over the years that even blood work bothers her now.

We are still taking everything one step at a time…  I’m sure the shunt surgery is coming and we’ll most likely be seeing another specialist for the precocious puberty.  Did you know they had a specialist doctor just for that? No matter how much we have been through in 9 years, I’m always learning something new.

Now that the doctor appointments are over for the day and Gabby did so well on her tests, we are taking some quiet and peaceful time reading at Barnes and Nobles.  Yes, books excite my children just as much as a candy store for some.

Gabby has already read 4 Disney books since we got here.

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