Around 7:30pm on Thursday, December 29, Jaida was being her usual daring 4 year old self, when she was leaning back on the high bench at the kitchen table. She went a little too far back, the chair tipped over, and sent her head first toward the hard wood floor. She hit the back of her head, but did not loose consciousness or have any cuts or lumps starting in the area. Mom & dad iced the area while she rested for a bit. They monitored for typical concussion symptoms, and decided if symptoms presented and persisted, an ER visit would be warranted.

Jaida threw up about 1 hour later. She consistenly complained of a headache, and was even acting lethargic. This was enough for mom and dad to decide a trip to the ER was needed.

On the way to Monticello Hospital, Jaida threw up once again. After a full neuro assessment was completed, the doc determined Jaida had a mild concussion. They administered Tylenol and Zofran, and Jaida seemed stable and hadn't thrown up again for some time. The doc decided to monitor her for a bit longer to see if there were any changes in her symptoms. Almost ready to pack things up and head for home to continue monitoring her, Jaida threw up yet another time. A CT was then advised and ordered. 

There was no aparent injury from the fall, instead, the CT showed a mass, directly in the center of Jaida's head, which was blocking the ventricles, causing swelling in Jaida's brain (hydrocephalus).

By 11:30pm, Jaida was directly admitted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis for further evaluation.
Melissa Hamacher, mother.
Kyle Hamacher, father.