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Layla has always had a special kind of imagination. She is this amazing six year old kid who believes Spider-man is real, and Captain America is who is in charge of the United States. She loves rainbows, horses, and running in cross country. She loves math, science and all art and crafty things.
When she started having headaches in Spring of 2019, and she was missing school, her favorite activities, and the simple over the counter things like Tylenol or Motrin were not helping her, I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what. Over the summer she had food and environmental allergy testing, her eyes checked, and to even see a counselor to see if there was anything going on emotionally. Layla is a kid who has never had the flu, strep throat, or even an ear infection. Although she did put hot pink play-doh in her ear once.
Throughout summer her “head and ear pain” as she calls it was worsening, she was having neck pain, migraines, and vomiting. We received a recommendation to see a pediatric neurologist, and an ENT specialist. The neurologist was very thorough, and concerned. She gave us a variety of medicines to try, not only THREE daily medications, but also some rescue medications for when the migraines are just really awful, and unfortunately they haven’t helped.
We were sent for a brain MRI, and after some complications with insurance, we ended up finally getting a STAT MRI through the ER, and receiving the diagnosis of her having an Arachnoid cyst. The cyst is most likely full of spinal fluid, and is actually a very common diagnosis that almost never needs intervention. Unfortunately Layla’s is in a location where it’s creating such severe symptoms, that are continuously getting worse. Hers is on her brain stem, compressing on the cranial nerve bundle, and creating pressure on her left hemisphere. She will need a craniotomy (brain surgery) and will spend two weeks between ICU and being monitored at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and a couple weeks at home be.
We are all ready for her to be a little kid again without pain and restrictions.
When she started having headaches in Spring of 2019, and she was missing school, her favorite activities, and the simple over the counter things like Tylenol or Motrin were not helping her, I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what. Over the summer she had food and environmental allergy testing, her eyes checked, and to even see a counselor to see if there was anything going on emotionally. Layla is a kid who has never had the flu, strep throat, or even an ear infection. Although she did put hot pink play-doh in her ear once.
Throughout summer her “head and ear pain” as she calls it was worsening, she was having neck pain, migraines, and vomiting. We received a recommendation to see a pediatric neurologist, and an ENT specialist. The neurologist was very thorough, and concerned. She gave us a variety of medicines to try, not only THREE daily medications, but also some rescue medications for when the migraines are just really awful, and unfortunately they haven’t helped.
We were sent for a brain MRI, and after some complications with insurance, we ended up finally getting a STAT MRI through the ER, and receiving the diagnosis of her having an Arachnoid cyst. The cyst is most likely full of spinal fluid, and is actually a very common diagnosis that almost never needs intervention. Unfortunately Layla’s is in a location where it’s creating such severe symptoms, that are continuously getting worse. Hers is on her brain stem, compressing on the cranial nerve bundle, and creating pressure on her left hemisphere. She will need a craniotomy (brain surgery) and will spend two weeks between ICU and being monitored at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and a couple weeks at home be.
We are all ready for her to be a little kid again without pain and restrictions.
