Joshua's Medical Fund
Donation protected
A fellow co-worker of ours is in need of some help. After a challenging few months they have found out that their oldest, Joshua (6 years old), is in need of brain surgery. A message from Jess & Nick is located below:
"Joshua has always had some little “quirks” that we never thought of as “symptoms” until he started Kindergarten and his teacher voiced some concerns. He went to countless appointments including ENTs, Speech Therapists, Neurologists, Oral Surgeons, Pediatric Neurosurgeons and the Fraser Center and we finally received some answers (although we may not have all of the answers yet).
On Wednesday, July 19th, he was sedated for a 2 hour MRI of his brain and spine. The results showed that while he does have a significant Chiari Malformation, we are fortunate that he does not have a Syrinx in his spinal cord. He does, however have an elongated spinal cord, so as he grows we will have to watch for signs of TCS (Tethered Cord Syndrome). The Neurosurgeon recommends that we do surgery to decompress the 9 mm Chiari Malformation. This will not only allow his brain to relax, but it will allow the spinal fluid to smoothly flow through his brain without getting cutoff where the Chiari Malformation is located. He will be in the ICU the first night after surgery and then he will stay in the hospital a total of anywhere from 3-6 nights after that."
Funds are needed to pay for the medical and the travel expenses from taking Joshua to and from each appointment.
The surgery to correct the Chiari Malformation is scheduled for next week and any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
"Joshua has always had some little “quirks” that we never thought of as “symptoms” until he started Kindergarten and his teacher voiced some concerns. He went to countless appointments including ENTs, Speech Therapists, Neurologists, Oral Surgeons, Pediatric Neurosurgeons and the Fraser Center and we finally received some answers (although we may not have all of the answers yet).
On Wednesday, July 19th, he was sedated for a 2 hour MRI of his brain and spine. The results showed that while he does have a significant Chiari Malformation, we are fortunate that he does not have a Syrinx in his spinal cord. He does, however have an elongated spinal cord, so as he grows we will have to watch for signs of TCS (Tethered Cord Syndrome). The Neurosurgeon recommends that we do surgery to decompress the 9 mm Chiari Malformation. This will not only allow his brain to relax, but it will allow the spinal fluid to smoothly flow through his brain without getting cutoff where the Chiari Malformation is located. He will be in the ICU the first night after surgery and then he will stay in the hospital a total of anywhere from 3-6 nights after that."
Funds are needed to pay for the medical and the travel expenses from taking Joshua to and from each appointment.
The surgery to correct the Chiari Malformation is scheduled for next week and any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Jessica Ruettimann
Organizer
Elk River, MN
