On Wednesday, while in Colorado for his sister's feeding intensive, Gabe developed a severe migraine that turned into vomiting and a seizure, when an ambulance was called. Imaging found a large mass on his pineal gland effectively blocking the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from his brain, leading to significant build up of CSF in his ventricles. He had substantial obstructive hydrocephalus, as well as cerebral edema, along with several symptoms stemming from this pressure in his head.

He was then taken by another ambulance to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora where he was kept in the PICU to monitor this fluid buildup and accompanying symptoms until an MRI could be completed and a surgical plan established moving forward. Over the course of a few hours that evening, despite their best interventions, he began to suffer new debilitating and highly concerning symptoms that an emergent external ventricular drain (EVD) was needed to be placed in his brain to relieve the build up and reduce these symptoms. This drastically helped the more debilitating and life-threatening symptoms he was displaying. He has had considerable output from his drain, and pressure from the hydrocephalus itself is improving.

He underwent an extensive two hour MRI Thursday afternoon, followed by another brain surgery to install a Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV), which is an internal drain to drain off CSF in addition to his external drain as the mass is completely obstructing the natural drain for CSF. We are still awaiting results of what type of mass we are dealing with and that will dictate the path forward. He has a post-op MRI coming up to check on the mass, drain, hydrocephalus, and cerebral edema. He is continuing to be monitored very closely, with neuro checks every hour. We do not have a timetable or a plan for how and when we are all going to be able to return home to AZ at this moment.

Gabe is a compassionate, intelligent, inquisitive, adventurous 13 year old boy. He loves all things related to spice and has a new passion for archery. He is drawn to stem activities and strategy games. He adores family, especially his four siblings.

Gabe has already been through so much with a younger sister who had leukemia and another younger sister who was born with an extensive brain injury. It has been a terrifying time for our family and we just are praying for the best possible outcome.

With it being the 7 of us away from home, out of state, it has added a layer of difficulty and unpredictablility on top of an already stressful and uncertain time. Any support, well wishes, good thoughts for him and our family would be tremendously appreciated.

The Wegner Family