MRI Results



Someone like to shop at Trader Joe's with Dada.

I know a lot of folks out there have prayed for our MRI appointment last Monday. Whitney woke up from her MRI "surprisingly well", via the nurses. It all went as smooth as possible.

A lot has transpired in my heart and soul concerning Whitney within the last week. To be brief, I find myself somewhere in the tense midst of acceptance and desire. With each cry I am learning to lovingly and graciously accept that she was made perfectly the way that God has designed her. I am learning to interpret her challenges and limitations not as problems and obstacles, but as beautifully crafted improvisations. But of course the warrior badge that comes with being a mother will not allow the desires I have for her to live a life free of limitations and heart breaking 'No's' quietly surrender.

Somewhere in the middle. That is where I am.

The place of peace and love airs on the side of acceptance. That's where I can interact with her in the purest form of love...not cringing inside because she won't, or can't, put together a puzzle. But celebrating her bright presence and bossy love. I think she gets the bossy thing from me.

On Friday, after a tormenting 3 hour gap of half info's from a thickly accented nurse, I received the unexpected news from our neurologist. Whitney has 2 places on her brain that indicate that she has suffered a brain injury, or brain insult, most likely caused from a lack of oxygen in utero. Medical doctors do not use the word brain damage in cases like this because unlike a fully grown adult, the child brain has the most remarkable way of reorganizing itself, creating new path ways of information. Although her injuries are permanent, they are non-progressive. That is the good news. It is possible that her brain will continue to grow and develop, and that in the future her MRI will show a beautiful picture of 'normal' brain activity.

So, if in fact the root causes of her delays are due to these insults, than it appears that Whitney will have the possibility of a 'normal' future, as her continual therapies and experiences help her rewire. The neurologist did say that how she is progressing holds more weight than what the MRI pictures show us.

However, there are still some unresolved pieces of the puzzle. She still has some slightly dsymorphic features that maybe be indicative of something abnormal on a chromosomal level/genetic level, or they may be nothing at all.
So we wait. He lab results should be back in about 3 weeks. Regardless of those results we are considering undergoing genetic counseling as was recommended to us. Her therapies start back up this Wednesday.

After the initial waves of nausea, guilt, relief, shock at the scary what 'could have been scenarios', I have somewhat resurfaced. To tell you the truth folks, it is just a daily walk, choosing to look at the walls (literal walls) of my life as opportunities and blessings. To not let fear and control grab ahold of me. Lately this daily walk has started at 6:45am, with a cup of coffee and some pleas for grace and some words of thanks.

Thanks for being a part of my journey.

Jenn, the proud Mommy of Whitty Woo.

We picked up Trixie from the groomers. LOOK at those yellow bows!

I mean COME ON!

This is Woo the evening of her MRI doing fabulous