Friday 23 August 2013

My First MRI

Today we had a pelvic MRI scheduled at the Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen to more closely examine our baby's brain and cyst beside it.

As with most MRI results we have to have wait for our doctor read the results first then she will contact us. So we know nothing new at this time.

This was the first time I've ever had to have an MRI and I was a bit nervous, especially when it comes to the whole "do you have any metal in your body" talks you get. I was wracking my brain trying to determine if I'd ever had some elementary school accident where some long-forgotten object was lodged in my leg (alas, and never fear it was only graphite from being "accidentally" stabbed by a pencil by "Mike" in 6th grade).

After an initial mild (mild!) panic of going into a tube strapped down I settled into the 20 minute session where I repeated memorized scripture and praise songs.
Nothing like magnetic resonating imagery to give you some quality time with the Lord.

We will update as soon as we know results, realising we may not know much more than we already know now.
Our last update, and what we know now:


Friday was a hard day for our family--a day where our faith was put into practice; where we begin to walk our talk and live out the songs we sing, the lessons we teach and messages we preach.


We had a scan with an obstetrician at the maternity hospital in Aberdeen and now have a diagnosis. Our daughter has Dandy-Walker Syndrome. There are several variants ours being "a complete absence of the cerebellar vermis (the area between the two cerebellar hemispheres), and cyst formation near the internal base of the skull". This can result in quite a severe handicap. There is no treatment, in-utero or postnatal, for this only therapy to help in areas of coordination or learning.Genetic screening has been offered to determine if the cause is from an extra chromosome, either 13, 18 or 21. The first two defects being "lethal" the latter, Down Syndrome. After extensive conversation and with the agreement of the doctor Mark and I have decided against the screening as the risks of such testing outweigh any rewards--we would know just "to know".There will be many more scans, appointments and an MRI in the near future as the doctors monitor any changes and seek any further knowledge to be gained. We will begin posting on our blog saving any major development news for email and then, of course, our monthly eUpdate.We covet your prayers in this time--for our baby girl and for strength for our family. You can't believe how much it means to us to know brothers and sisters in Christ and congregations around the world are petitioning the Father on our behalf. Throughout this all we are reminded that God gave His Son for us--He has held nothing back. As a parent that sacrifice takes our breath away--yet should we withhold any of our most precious treasure (our children) from Him?
In Christ,Mark & Jordan

Again, thank you for lifting our precious little girl and our entire family up before the Great Physician.

2 comments:

  1. how y'all holding up?

    did mark have a sympathy MRI to make you feel better?

    i'd try to name all the states if i had that time to kill. or all the presidents. or recall the gettysburg address. i guess i'm patriotic when i'm nervous. hmph, didn't know that about myself.

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  2. No sympathy MRI--but he's had one before...and he didn't fit well!

    I recited scripture and sang worship songs to myself.

    You know the Gettysburg Address?

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