No Surgery-- For Now
In what was, to us, a surprising turnaround (sounds like an intro to the sport's news on your local network), doctors at MCV have decided that Peter does not need the surgery, at least not now.
The following is from an e-mail I sent today to friends and family:
The doctors at MCV have agreed that the cure is probably worse than the condition at this time. The surgery is extensive and in an older child the recovery is harder and painful. Peter shows no severe bossing (which is when the skull deforms and sticks out trying to accommodate the growing brain) that’s easily seen (his hair covers it—so no more crew-cuts for Peter) so the doctors and cranial-facial team would rather monitor him over the next few years to keep track of his skull growth.
Next year at this time, Peter will go back to MCV and see the neurosurgeon, Dr. Tye, and the cranial-facial team. In many respects, this is a relief but, like the sword of Damocles, it still hangs over us. We have to watch out for symptoms of intra-cranial pressure just as before. But since his brain has, at this age, completed about 70-80 percent of its growth, the doctors are hopeful that we won’t have to put Peter through any reconstruction of his skull and/or upper face. The doctor’s are also confident that if it causes any problem at all, it will be in the form of intra-cranial pressure and not a worsening of his autism.
I’ll get an official report from the team nurse by phone on Friday and then a paper version of the report in the mail shortly after that. Continue to pray for us, as I said, this is not over and can require surgery in the future-- or not. But the team of doctor’s we met with was very knowledgeable and we feel comfortable with the decision for now.
. . .Thank you to everyone who was praying for us throughout this long wait. We continue to ask for your prayers.
Thank you to all of you who had us in your thoughts. We're not completely out of the woods but, for now, Peter is not in need of surgery.
The following is from an e-mail I sent today to friends and family:
The doctors at MCV have agreed that the cure is probably worse than the condition at this time. The surgery is extensive and in an older child the recovery is harder and painful. Peter shows no severe bossing (which is when the skull deforms and sticks out trying to accommodate the growing brain) that’s easily seen (his hair covers it—so no more crew-cuts for Peter) so the doctors and cranial-facial team would rather monitor him over the next few years to keep track of his skull growth.
Next year at this time, Peter will go back to MCV and see the neurosurgeon, Dr. Tye, and the cranial-facial team. In many respects, this is a relief but, like the sword of Damocles, it still hangs over us. We have to watch out for symptoms of intra-cranial pressure just as before. But since his brain has, at this age, completed about 70-80 percent of its growth, the doctors are hopeful that we won’t have to put Peter through any reconstruction of his skull and/or upper face. The doctor’s are also confident that if it causes any problem at all, it will be in the form of intra-cranial pressure and not a worsening of his autism.
I’ll get an official report from the team nurse by phone on Friday and then a paper version of the report in the mail shortly after that. Continue to pray for us, as I said, this is not over and can require surgery in the future-- or not. But the team of doctor’s we met with was very knowledgeable and we feel comfortable with the decision for now.
. . .Thank you to everyone who was praying for us throughout this long wait. We continue to ask for your prayers.
Thank you to all of you who had us in your thoughts. We're not completely out of the woods but, for now, Peter is not in need of surgery.
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