Update on Cade

Cade is showing you his Larry from VeggieTales in this picture. He l0ves Veggies and he is just an all around happy and energetic 2 year old!!

Most of you know that Cade has recently gotten glasses, and so he had an MRI just to make sure that there were no problems in his brain. The MRI came back fine for any problems related to his eyes, but they did find a cyst on his neck. This sent us back to St. Paul Children's for another MRI.

Cade has not been a huge fan of the MRIs as he needs to have an IV and is sedated. At this point, he is pretty fearful of any doctor or nurse who so much as touches him. Unfortunately, Kirk and I have been accomplices in holding Cade down so he doesn't take much comfort in us holding him either.

Cade's second MRI showed a syringohydromyleia or syrinx for short. Basically, this is a cyst on his spine. Today we met with a pediatric neurosurgeon at Gillette Children's to see what should be done about it. We were (my mom and I) very impressed with the atmosphere and efficiency at Gillette. What we were told is that the fluid from Cade's brain that should be drainging out, is for some reason, going into his spine creating these syrinx (there are 2). This can cause Scoliosis, but Cade's spine is straight and he shows no other symptoms. We don't know the reason why he has these syrinx as it is usually a result of something called Chiari Malformation which he does NOT have.

Anyway, the doctor said not to lose sleep over this and that we will keep our eye on it. This means that we go back in March for Cade to have his 3rd MRI and meet with the neurosurgeon again. He said that it may get bigger or stay the same or could possibly go away on its own. Of course, we are praying for the latter.

Thanks for your prayers and support. God is so faithful! I do intend to be more diligent about keeping up the site.

Blessings,
Shara, Kirk, Cade and Ella