November 2003

 

Beverly was almost five months pregnant with her first child.  A child she and her husband, Dwayne, had tried for over five years to conceive.  They were thrilled that God had finally blessed them with a baby.  Beverly had to go to a paranatalogist for special 3-D sonograms because of the fear of complications.  This was her third visit, both the visits prior had been great! 

This visit was not great.  The Doctor told Beverly and Dwayne that they had detected Hydrocephalus.  Neither Beverly nor Dwayne were familiar with this condition and so the Doctor explained, in a very frightening and discouraging way. 

The Doctor said that there would probably be other complications, Spina bifida, Dandy Walker and other possibilities.  He proceeded to show pictures of worst case scenarios where infants had been still born as a result. 

When asked what the odds were of her not having an additional complication, his response was that they would need to consult a specialist. 

When asked what could be done, his response was that they would need to consult a specialist. 

When asked if it could go away before she was actually born, his response was that they would need to consult a specialist.  This was his response to all other questions that tried to be positive, while he was willing to dwell on the negative effects of Hydro without a specialist consultation.

The Doctor then said they would need to do an amniocentesis to see what other complications were involved.  Beverly agreed, although she had previously declined screening for this because she had stated that it would not make a difference if something was wrong with the infant anyway.  Now she was being put to the test.

Beverly was scared and felt very helpless, something was going to be wrong with her baby and there was nothing she could do about it.  She asked if there had been something she had done that caused it, the answer was no.  Dwayne also felt scared and helpless and did not know how to comfort Beverly.

This was the worst day of their lives.

 

They went home and looked up Hydrocephalus on the internet.  Two things caused them to feel a little more encouraged, although still scared.  They found that Hydrocephalus could indeed be a condition on its own, and that people could live a normal life with it.  And, they found out about shunting and third ventriculostomy.  These two things were very encouraging and they could not fathom why the Doctor had not mentioned them. 

They did consult a pediatric neurosurgeon, which was very optimistic.  They had received the results of the Amniocentesis and the baby did not have any other complications.  All in all, while the thought that their baby was not going to be normal was scary, they were thrilled that so far it was not life threatening.  They stood by the fact that God blessed them with this baby and He knew what he was doing.

 

March 5, 2004

Cassidy Samantha Smith, a beautiful baby girl, was born with a severe case of Hydrocephalus.  Initially thought to be aqueductal stenosis, later it was discovered that the hydro was caused byArachnoid cysts.  She also failed her hearing test in the hospital, creating yet another worry for her parents.  They wanted their child to have the best of everything and yet more and more,it seemed she was going to have a very challenging life.  Cassidy was taken to the Children’s Hospital in Atlanta – Scottish Rite – first thing the following morning.

 

On March 6th Cassidy had her first surgery.  They placed a VAD (Ventricle Access Device) so that they could relieve some of the pressure from her brain.  On March 10th she they did the Shunt surgery.  There were thankfully no complications from the surgery and she was able to come home on March 16th.  Her neurosurgeon was very optimistic and helpful.   He gave Beverly and Dwayne informative books, website addresses, and recommended they contact an association.  It was very comforting being informed, but they continued to pray that everything would work out well.

 

June, 2004

 

Cassidy is very alert and is hitting most of her milestones.  She has went to several specialist, one being her hearing – and her hearing is great.  Beverly and Dwayne know that God has answered prayer and are feeling very optimistic.

Cassidy goes in for her follow-up CT Scan.  The good news is that her ventricles are getting smaller, the bad news is her brain seems to be deformed and they suspect a possible case of Schizencephally.  Unlike the Doctor who told us about the Hydrocephalus, our Neurosurgeon assured them that she was doing great and that even if she did have a case of Schizencephally it would probably be mild.  An MRI is scheduled, but not for another few weeks.  Beverly and Dwayne once again consulted the internet.  This time, it was not as encouraging.  Schizencephally was a very scary condition.  Fortunately, prayers were answered once again.  The MRI showed there was no Schizencephally.  This was when they discovered the Arachnoid Cysts.  They had been so enlarged that her brain was not able to connect properly.  The good news – they were getting smaller as well as the ventricles.

Beverly and Dwayne were then told they needed to visit a Neurologist.  As much as they liked their neurosurgeon, they did not realize they needed anyone else.  The first Neurologist was very dry – asking questions without looking at child or parent, then finally making the prediction that Cassidy would probably be delayed when she was six and starting school, but that currently she was fine.

 

Beverly and Dwayne made the next visit with a different Neurologist. 

 

September 2004

 
Cassidy’s next visit with a neurologist was when she was six months old.  This Neurologist was much better suited to Beverly and Dwayne’s personality.  (Beverly and Dwayne have discovered by this point that while they like hearing all possibilities, they much prefer an optimistic doctor to a pessimistic one) Like the first, this Neurologist also informed them that Cassidy would need to be monitored as there were definite abnormalities in her brain.  However, he also added that currently she was doing fantastic and seemed right on track.

Beverly and Dwayne use a book called “What to Expect the First Years” to monitor Cassidy’s Milestones.  At six months she had met everyone except she still was not eating solids.  Her regular pediatrician recommended she see a specialist.

Beverly and Dwayne waited to make the appointment for a month just to see what would happen.  They knew Cassidy could eat, she just wasn’t very interested.  Finally, Cassidy discovered she likes Sweet Potatoes and there was nothing to worry about.  Cassidy is still not a big eater, but her height and weight are fine.

July 2004 - 4 months old

 

December 2004

 

Cassidy is very active at nine months.  She is strong willed and determined, characteristics that will serve her well.  She is still meeting most of her milestones.  According to her pediatrician she is meeting all of the important ones.  She pulls herself up, crawls, walks along the coffee table, loves to find anything to get into – especially if it is something she isn’t suppose to.  Cassidy says "ma ma" and "da da".  She said "Da Da" first.  She is rarely ill tempered and hardly sick.  At nine months she has only ran a fever twice, both times low grade. 

Beverly and Dwayne are extremely proud of her, more so than if she had been born with absolutely no challenges.  They know that while her story is just beginning and she may have hurdles ahead, God is watching out for her and she will overcome them.

 

 

                                                                                

 

 

                

                                                                                          Cassidy finding something to play with

Cassidy helping daddy trim the tree