What Does This Mean?

Well we have had a few days of quiet and a little peace.  But it is over.  We have come to expect this and I think I am always on the edge of my seat...not in excitement, but in waiting.  I wrote a few weeks ago about Brooke's MRI.  We had it sent to Dr. B and waited to hear his response.  It came this weekend.  Over the past few days we have learned some things we already knew, and some new things.  At first, I needed clarification from him, and also had a few smart chiari mama friends of mine help me.  Here is what we know....

Brooke's MRI shows that she has a significant Basilar Impression. (Good description here) She has a Grabb's measurement of 8.8mm.  (description here) Not a lot of info on this.  So what does all this mean?  With Brooke's current symptoms and this info, the doc is suggesting a craniocervical fusion. We knew Brooke would need this, but we thought maybe high school.  This is a big surgery.  Brooke will have to follow strict restrictions in order to heal properly.  It could take a year or more in the healing process.  She may be home bound for months.  This is very hard to wrap our minds around.  This is very hard to explain to a 6 year old.  We do not have anything set yet.  In the near future Brooke needs several more tests, she also has to wear her collar more, and we are going to get a second opinion.  Unfortunately all the docs who deal with this kind of surgery and chiari are out of state.  (The one in Ohio is retiring.)  We are looking at a very good doc in Iowa for the second opinion.  We trust Dr B, but just feel that with a decision this big more eyes can be helpful.

This was not a road we were prepared for but trust that it is a road God chose for us.  Read this quote and felt it really applied: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Ambrose Redmoon.  I hope you can pray for us as we try to figure out the best thing for Brooke.