March 25 ~ Pediatric Neurologist Apppointment

Lily's pediatric neurologist appointment brought many more questions and few answers. He said it's not muscular dystrophy or any form of it. (At least that's ruled out though). She needs to have a brain MRI done next week (April 1).  He thinks her issues stem from an old injury to her spine, spinal cord, or brain. It could have already happened while I was pregnant with her. He wants her to do pain management and rehab in Milwaukee.

She did, however, get her condition diagnosed. Her whole right side of her body has muscle weakness. Her arm, hand and leg have weakness, but most of the weakness is in her lower leg and foot. He said that is called hemiparesis. So we have a long road ahead of us yet. He doesn't want to send her to an orthopedic surgeon yet, as he wants to see if therapy will work

On our drive home we tried to think of any injuries she may have had growing up.  In 2007, Lily fell off the back of a kitchen stool and hit her back on a shelf.  She knocked several vertebrae on the way down and couldn't bend over.  So I took her to the ER.  They didn't do an x-ray.  They made her bend over and said she was fine; bandaged it up and sent us home.  She still has a scar from it.  Timothy and I had her bend over to check it out.  Right where the scar is, there seems to be a bump or thickness there.  So now we're wondering if that is the cause of all of this.  Fortunately the MRI next week will go from her brain all down her spine.  So if that's the cause, they will find it.  

We are holding off on any pain management, rehab, or physical therapy in Milwaukee yet.  Driving that much is just not an option for us. We may try a chiropractor first to see if that will help. All of that will wait until after the MRI results.

Lily was very teary eyed when the doc mentioned it was her brain or spine.  She is scared that they will find something bad in her brain.  So I am going to get her in to see a psychiatrist and our pastor to talk with.  I told her she needed to talk with someone and not keep her feelings to herself. We are watching her very closely to monitor for depression.  She's been pretty happy through it so far, but it's starting to take its toll on her now.  She just wants it over. (Plus her best friend for the past 6 years or so will be moving soon, so that doesn't help matters either.)

When we find anything more out, I will be sure to let you know.  We have a challenging road ahead of us. The waiting is frustrating, and not knowing is worse.  We are praying that the MRI shows that Lily's problems are easily fixed, and cause no lasting effects.