Update post Surgery

Jackson is doing great! Surgery took about 6 1/2 hours. His surgeon said it could not have gone better, completely textbook and he described it as "beautiful anatomy." He thought they might have to just dissect the front 2/3 of the corpus callosum, which is the most important section to disconnect. However, they ended up doing a full callosotomy, since Jackson already had a right partial hemispherectomy and his occipital area is gone anyway. Also, there is an small area near the callosum called the supplemental motor area. We have been through brain surgery before, and never heard of this area until he mentioned it this morning. The surgeon said it does not serve any purpose for motor function, simply supplemental, so they removed or disected that small area. Although, he said for us not to be alarmed if Jackson had drastic temporary weakness on both sides of his body and may not be moving everything.

However, Jackson was in recovery by 3 pm. We were able to go see him at that time and he opened his eyes, squeezed my hand with both sides, and tried to sit up!! The nurse said he is definitely moving all sides! ;-) So grateful!

Jackson will then be in ICU overnight. In fact, we just arrived in the ICU finally...he has been in recovery this whole time waiting for a bed.

He has had some pedialite. Mostly sleeping though...very restful and looks great!

The surgeon hopes to have Jack out of the hospital in a couple of days if all goes smooth! He would rather him recover at home, where the risk of infection or getting sick is lower.

The surgeon did mention that Jackson's brain looked really good, and the Detroit team did an excellent job on his resection. Jackson's scar tissue was not nearly as difficult to get through as he originally anticipated.

He ended up shaving Jack's entire head, but I guess it is better than a misshapen haircut! ;-)

Thank you again for all your messages, support and continued prayers!

Jackson's Surgery

I know...it's been a long time!!! Over a year! I can't tell you how many drafts are sitting in this blog never published?!?

I sent an email out to many, and some bounced back. I apologize! I just want to let everyone know that Jackson is having brain surgery today (I know last minute notice) Thursday, January 20th at 7:30 in the morning at Texas Children's Hospital here in Houston. A lot of you have known this has been in the works, but many that just follow the blog may not. I am sorry I have not posted earlier.

He will have a procedure done called a full Corpus Callosotomy surgery. During a corpus callostomy, no tissue or portion of his brain is removed, as done in his previous surgery in Detroit. Instead, the tissue connecting his right and left hemisphere is completely disconnected to stop the transfer of seizures between the two hemispheres in hopes to control the seizures he is still having. He should not have any deficits following this surgery, only maybe a slight temporary weakness on his left side of his body.

Jackson's last surgery, a right partial hemispherectomy, was October 2008, and he was 17 months old at the time. Although he is not seizure free now, we do not regret that surgery. It really helped his development and he was seizure free for 7 wonderful months. We did gain control of his seizures once more, but since last November 2009 they are once again hard to control. However, he is still able to develop and do okay despite the seizures. Slowly, but he has come a long way. His speech is still not there. He understands so much though, does some signing, and definitely vocalizes. Over the Fall, we weaned him off some of the medications he was on and now his cognition and awareness has really improved recently. He is even potty training, which is huge for him!

The Medications we have tried in 2010 are Keppra, Vigabatrin, Banzel and Zongeran, and even a special diet called the Ketogenic Diet. (He has actually been on the diet since March) After obtaining 2 Neuro recommendations, the next best step for Jackson is this surgery. We are certainly hopeful and optimistic this surgery will benefit our son. The type of seizures Jackson mainly has now are called Drop seizures (where his head slightly drops forward), and this surgery is proven to help with those.

We just want to let everyone know and to please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a safe and successful
surgery. Everyone has always been so supportive and caring about Jackson over the course of this journey, and we are so very appreciative to each and everyone of you.

I will send updates as we know. We check into the hospital early morning and his surgery is at 7:30 am. It takes approximately 4 hours. He will be in ICU over night. Then in the hospital about 5 days. I am sure we will be there until Monday or Tuesday.

We went in on for an MRI and blood-work on Monday. They had to sedate him for the MRI, as they always do. I thought about how many times he has had to go under anesthesia in his 3 short years for various tests and surgeries. That was his 11th time!!..and it never gets easier. It just breaks my heart. When he was in recovery, the nurse told us he would be out for at least 30 minutes because of the anesthesia. Well, as soon as she said that, she removed the oxygen from his nose and Jack just popped right up in the bed, started smiling at the nurse and was ready to go. ;) He has always been one strong, resilient child...and continues to be!

Above is a picture of him waking up from his MRI on Monday.