Ella Updates
CKB’s 8 month old cousin, Ella, went through emergency brain surgery on Saturday, January 30, 2010. You can read about the surgery and why she needed it here. This page is to keep those of you who are concerned and or thinking about Ella up to date on her progress. Newest updates will be on top.
Thursday, May 27th - Ella met her discharge date of March 17th and has been home for over two months now. I got to meet her shortly after her discharge and she is a charming little thing! Absolutely a miracle baby. She is still participating in lots of therapy and the doctors are evaluating things like splints and braces to encourage use of her right side. She is still unable to see out of the right side of both eyes, but she compensates by turning her head to see you (but you must call her name to get her attention, as she can’t see you in her peripheral vision). She has made light-years of progress since her hospital stay and the doctors are still hopeful that she will regain some more of her sight and movement. She is a joy to be around, smiley and sweet despite everything she’s been through.
Thursday, March 4 – I apologize that it’s been so long since I’ve updated this page. Ella is out of the hospital and living in a rehab facility at the moment. I just received an update email on her progress. She is doing really well! She is drinking from bottles, sitting up and is generally more active and verbal than she has been. There is considerable weakness on her right side, but she is moving both her arm and leg some (thought not with intent yet). They are hoping she will be ready to go home on March 17th.
Thursday, February 4 – Ella suffered at least two separate seizures today that may have been caused by a stroke or may have just been due to over-exertion. They have had to sedate her again to allow the swelling to go down in her brain so that they can evaluate the cause of the seizures. CKB said that we are essentially back to where we were Saturday night, waiting until her body recovers a little so that they can assess the the day’s events. Ella’s mom was at a doctor’s appointment when the seizures occurred and CKB’s mom was the only person present at the time. Understandably, they are both traumatized by the circumstances surrounding this unforeseen step backward. Please keep all of them in your thoughts today.
Wednesday, February 3 – Ella is awake and completely off the pain medication. They had her off the ventilator completely briefly, but have put her back on at 4 breaths/minute because she seemed to be struggling on her own. She seems to be in quite a bit of pain (which sounds bad but the silver lining is that it means she can feel it) and is moving all of her extremities, but the difference in movement between her right and left sides is pronounced. She is responding to her parents’ voices and they were allowed to give her a stuffed animal to cuddle with. They also turned her on her side last night (I’m not sure why this is significant, but if it was mentioned to me I’m sure it is). I’m not sure, but I assume next steps are to continue to monitor her and begin trying to assess what the long term effects of the surgery might be.
Tuesday, February 2 – The latest I’ve heard is that she is down to less than 50% oxygen (which is fabulous because it means she’s breathing on her own) and they’re continuing to ween her off the sedatives but are maintaining 100% of the dosage for the painkiller. They’ve had to restrain her hands because she has begun moving around enough that they’re concerned she’ll pull out something important (also great news!). Apparently her mother is concerned that she isn’t moving her right side as much as her left (the left side of her brain was operated on), but at this point it’s hard to know whether that’s legitimate or just a touch of paranoia.
