Medical Update - Spine - 5/29

Lately, we have been noticing that Annabelle has a bony bump just below the mid-point on her spine. We are concerned about all sorts of things this may mean and so we had the pediatrician take a look. He made an appointment for us with the ortho doc who did the initial operation on Annie's spine the day after she was born. We were able to make an appointment with the doc the same day as our appointment with the club foot folks this past Tuesday.

After the club-foot appointment, I sped back to work and left wife and child at the hospital to wait for the next appointment.

The wife called me around 3:30 to say that they were being called in - what a blessing to work 10 min away from one of the best children's hospitals in the country!

If you recall, Annabelle was born with T5-level Spina Bifida (SB) - which is pretty high. When she was born, her back was actually open from her neck to her tail-bone. 

Her little spine curved outward, so in order to do the closure surgery, they actually had to shave down a portion of the protruding bony structure in order to sew her up.

The Ortho doc explained to us that there are two basic scenarios when this happens:

1) The vertebrae that the docs work on fuze together. This would give Annabelle's spine some structural rigidity, which is good. However, whatever vertebrae fuzed would not grow which would mean that Annie would basically be unnaturally short - which can present all sorts of problems for internal organ development etc etc. - This is not the case with Annie-Lu.

2) The vertebrae that the docs work on do not fuze together. This means that Annie will continue on a more typical growth pattern (which is very good). The downside is that she loses the benefit of the structural rigidity that the fuzed vertebrae would provide. 

This is my interpretation of what the ortho doc explained . . . .:

Your spine is like a guitar with the strings running along the back. The "strings" are ligaments and tendons that provide the necessary tension for you to sit/stand upright. Annie does not have all the structural "strings" that typical children have so she is slumping forward. The point at which the slump is most pronounced is around the section of her spine that the doc worked on.

There is nothing to be done.

The spine is one of those areas of the body that docs do not want to mess with unless absolutely necessary as any procedures can have all sorts of ramifications. Currently, Bella's condition does not warrant invasive procedure.

What the doc did suggest is that we have Annie cast for a thoracic brace (I am not sure if that is the correct term). Basically, it is a plastic shell that straps around her mid-section. It will give her the support she needs to continue growing in the right direction. Once Anna-ba-lu is done growing, we can consider permanent solutions to her posture.

The news was neutral as far as I was concerned - just one of those "next step" sorts of things  . . . but it hit the wife pretty hard. After seeing Annie's feet in the morning and hearing that Annabelle has trouble supporting herself later that same day, well, it was more than any mother should be asked to handle . . . 

After explaining the whole situation to Annie's "Aunt" Wendy, the wife received the following e-mail . . . (get the tissues):

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Dearest Holly,

I read this passage of scripture on Tuesday morning as a part of a devotional on prayer. As I prayed for Annie a short while later, I asked God for a passage of scripture to share with you when you dropped off Buckley. This passage of scripture came to mind, but I didn't think it was a word from the Lord because in my lame opinion it didn't really fit the circumstances of your day. I figured that it just came to my mind because it was what I had read as a part of my morning devotional. When Matt described how your day had gone, and the next course of treatments for Annie I realized how wrong I had been. I wanted to share this with you this afternoon on the phone, but I didn't want to start talking about this only to get interrupted by the boys. I decided to wait to share my thoughts on this with you when I was sure that I could complete them!

I love v.14 of this passage, and I think it describes your little Belle perfectly! "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Every time I see Miss Annabelle with a brace around her torso and braces on her feet, I will think of this verse. The hand and protection of God have so clearly been upon this precious girl since the moment her life first came into being. He has indeed put his belt of truth around her waist and placed his breastplate of righteousness over her heart. And he has fitted her feet with readiness for everything he will call her to do as she is continually filled with His gospel of peace. And now there will be a visible reminders of this truth.

My heart aches for the past, present, and future difficulties that Annabelle, and you and Matt will have to journey through together. But as I have said before, I never doubt whether or not any of you will "Stand firm". I am just saddened by the pain that cannot be separated from an undoubtedly triumphant journey. Annie IS so special. People are drawn to her because the light and love of Jesus just pours out from her. She is one of his armor bearers, and everyone who is near her is blessed because the presence of the Lord just surrounds her. It is truly amazing!

I will continue to pray for you "in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.' (v. 18)

With thoughts of great love,

Wendy

Thank you for your continued prayers and support . . .