Baby Leroy cranial vault surgery
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When Leroy was about 5 weeks old we noticed something wasn't right with the shape of his head. When I mentioned it to his pediatrician she called it positional plagiocephaly and said it was common and would resolve on its own. Over the course of the next few months I continued pressing the issue due to seeing no improvement. We were given several different diagnoses and treatment plans. It was called plagiocephaly then torticollis, then plagiocephaly as a result of torticollis.
We went through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and helmet therapy. I finally insisted on seeing a neurosurgeon. After 7 months of fighting, going to doctor and therapy appointments almost every day, when Leroy was 8 months old we finally got some answers from the Pediatric Neurosurgery department at University of Chicago Medical Center. Leroy was diagnosed with complex craniosynostosis. Some of the plates in his skull fused early and as the surgeon stated, "his brain is all being smooshed to one side". We have been very lucky to have not seen any major developmental delays. However, surgery is necessary to relieve pressure on his brain and allow it to grow normally so that he does not develop delays, disabilities, or even die as a result of the intracranial pressure.
On October 22nd, Leroy will undergo a cranial vault remodel. It is an open surgery where they will cut him from ear to ear and remove all of the plates from his head. The surgeon will reshape them, create symmetry with his eyes and realign his ears. They will put him back together with dissolving plates and screws. He will be in surgery for 6+ hours and in the hospital for about a week. He will need about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During that time he will need 24 hour care to watch for signs of infection, abnormal swelling, bleeding, and seizures among other things. I will be taking 6 weeks off of work unpaid to care for him. We expect to have some severe medical debt on top of losing 6 weeks of my pay. We will be paying for insurance out of pocket and can use any help we can get to assist with the mounting medical bills for his treatment. If you can't donate, please share. Every little but will help.
We went through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and helmet therapy. I finally insisted on seeing a neurosurgeon. After 7 months of fighting, going to doctor and therapy appointments almost every day, when Leroy was 8 months old we finally got some answers from the Pediatric Neurosurgery department at University of Chicago Medical Center. Leroy was diagnosed with complex craniosynostosis. Some of the plates in his skull fused early and as the surgeon stated, "his brain is all being smooshed to one side". We have been very lucky to have not seen any major developmental delays. However, surgery is necessary to relieve pressure on his brain and allow it to grow normally so that he does not develop delays, disabilities, or even die as a result of the intracranial pressure.
On October 22nd, Leroy will undergo a cranial vault remodel. It is an open surgery where they will cut him from ear to ear and remove all of the plates from his head. The surgeon will reshape them, create symmetry with his eyes and realign his ears. They will put him back together with dissolving plates and screws. He will be in surgery for 6+ hours and in the hospital for about a week. He will need about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During that time he will need 24 hour care to watch for signs of infection, abnormal swelling, bleeding, and seizures among other things. I will be taking 6 weeks off of work unpaid to care for him. We expect to have some severe medical debt on top of losing 6 weeks of my pay. We will be paying for insurance out of pocket and can use any help we can get to assist with the mounting medical bills for his treatment. If you can't donate, please share. Every little but will help.
Organizer
BevvyBev Sausaman
Organizer
Cedar Lake, IN