Thursday, January 26, 2012

ETV = Successful!!

Ruth had her neurosurgeon appointment last week, and we couldn't ask for a better visit. Her ventricles are about the same as her last MRI (3 months ago), her head circumference is now following a normal growth pattern, and he doesn't want to see her again for another 6 months! She also doesn't have an MRI scheduled, for the first time, well... for the first time ever!! He told us that he considers her ETV to have been a success!! Pretty good, I'd say :) Ruth is only the 4th Spina Bifida patient he has done that particular surgery on (he has done many on other types of people), and he has had about 50% success rate. I'm glad she is in the right half of that statistic!

She still has the opening in the bone in her skull, and he told us, that since she has extra fluid (ETV does not drain the fluid like a VP Shunt would), it would likely always be there. But since it is small (about the size of a dime), it does not concern him for safety reasons, i.e., her brain is still very well protected by the rest of her skull.

Prayers are always still appreciated, as he told us, she will never be completely out of the woods. But this is a great step in the right direction!

A few photos of Ruth from about a week ago. She has turned into quite the toddler.