Mason’s Mission to Walk
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Mason's Mission to Walk!
Meet Mason, Mason is your typical toddler! He's obsessed with tractors, cars, bikes and let's just say "such a boy". Mason may be your typical boy, but in his short 2 years that he's lived, he has had to fight, and to be one tough boy with all the stuff the little man has endured.
Mason's History;
Mason was born on January 12th, 2016, six and a half weeks premature. Mason only weighed 4.4lbs, he was just soooo tiny!
Mason was in the hospital until January 31st, 2016, other thank Mason's weight and a little bit of jaundice, all the Doctors told Jess and Dave that mason was perfectly healthy. Jess stayed at that hospital with Mason from sun up to sun down… until the day came when Jess and Dave could finally take Mason home!
At four months old, Jess started to notice some things going on with Mason's feet. She noticed that he wouldn't bare any weight on his feet and that if you tickled them, no response from Mason. Jess decided to go with her gut feeling, and booked an appointment with Mason's pediatrician. Masons pediatrician then referred Mason to Dr. Burrow at MacMaster Children's Hospital.
When they met with Dr. Burrow, they decided to do a MRI on Mason. At only 8 months old, our little man had to be sedated for his MRI. I will never forget how worried Jess and Dave were, they paced the hallways the whole time. They waited for the MRI results from Dr. Burrow. Dr. Burrow told them that Mason has Spina Bifida. (Spina bifida is a malformation of one or more vertebrae (bones of the spine)). Now, Mason needed to see another specialist, Dr. Blake Yarascavitch a Neurosurgeon.
Once meeting with Dr. Blake, he explained more about Mason's condition. He explained that Mason's spinal chord was tethered, and that he also had a 6.5cm fatty tumor pushing against his spine. He explained that Mason needed surgery right away, and that he would go in and de-tether his spinal chord, and to try and remove the fatty tumor. Dr. Blake was unsure at the time if Mason would be able to walk or not.
After seeing Dr. Blake, Mason was referred to "The Spina Bifida Clinic", and to see a Urologist. The Urologist is because of where Mason has the spinal chord issue, he may have bowl, bladder and kidney problems in the future. As of right now Mason is still in diapers, and from his last ultra sound, everything looks great! Lets pray that he continues to stay that way for the little dude in the future.
At 10 months old, Mason was having his Spinal Chord surgery at MacMaster Children's hospital. After the longest 9.5 hours of Jess and Dave's life, Mason was out of surgery! Dr. Blake was happy to announce that he "de-tethered" and removed 95% of the fatty tumor. The other 5% was so badly tethered in with nerves, he was afraid he would have damaged more nerves.
Mason recovered like the champion he is! After only two weeks, Mason started to put pressure on his feet! One of Jess' favourite memories! (if you know her, you know she cried LOL).
Now following surgery, Mason is in physio therapy, and has to wear special boots called AFO's (did I mention...they are stupidly expensive and that he's already on his 3rd pair!)
Fast forward a bit, he's two and a half now, Dr. Burrow was hoping that after the surgery and when he started walking (which he only just started walking right before Christmas – at 23months old) his feet would fix themselves, which they haven't at all, they have gotten worse. Dr. Burrow wants to now start casting both his feet for about a month, which means back and forth to the hospital for Jess and Mason, which is now 3 hours away! After the casting, Dr. Burrow may still have to do surgery on his right foot called a tendon release. BUTTT.... now they are waiting to hear from ANOTHER New Specialist in regards to his left foot. They want to do a muscle transfer on that foot, which means another surgery, but when that will be is still unknown.
Mason will always have Spina Bifida, and unfortunately can re-tether at any point, but lets hope and pray for the best! Let’s fix those silly feet!
I'm not sure about you, but if you read Mason's story you know how heart wrenching it is for this little guy, and Jess and Dave. Poor Mommy and daddy!
Jess has to take two months off of work to take Mason to and from his appointments, and Dave... well the guy works like 12-hour days every day.
I started this "Masons Mission to Walk" because I want to give mom and dad a breather for a bit, with Jess not working and being to and from the hospital moneys tight for them. The money will go to Mason's new AFOs, Gas, Parking, Food and whatever else they may need in the next couple months.
Thank you for your time, every dollar helps, and I know that Jessica and Dave will hate me for this, but sometimes you just need some help from friends and family.
Love from Me
A.K.A. Auntie Michele - Masons Godmother
Meet Mason, Mason is your typical toddler! He's obsessed with tractors, cars, bikes and let's just say "such a boy". Mason may be your typical boy, but in his short 2 years that he's lived, he has had to fight, and to be one tough boy with all the stuff the little man has endured.
Mason's History;
Mason was born on January 12th, 2016, six and a half weeks premature. Mason only weighed 4.4lbs, he was just soooo tiny!
Mason was in the hospital until January 31st, 2016, other thank Mason's weight and a little bit of jaundice, all the Doctors told Jess and Dave that mason was perfectly healthy. Jess stayed at that hospital with Mason from sun up to sun down… until the day came when Jess and Dave could finally take Mason home!
At four months old, Jess started to notice some things going on with Mason's feet. She noticed that he wouldn't bare any weight on his feet and that if you tickled them, no response from Mason. Jess decided to go with her gut feeling, and booked an appointment with Mason's pediatrician. Masons pediatrician then referred Mason to Dr. Burrow at MacMaster Children's Hospital.
When they met with Dr. Burrow, they decided to do a MRI on Mason. At only 8 months old, our little man had to be sedated for his MRI. I will never forget how worried Jess and Dave were, they paced the hallways the whole time. They waited for the MRI results from Dr. Burrow. Dr. Burrow told them that Mason has Spina Bifida. (Spina bifida is a malformation of one or more vertebrae (bones of the spine)). Now, Mason needed to see another specialist, Dr. Blake Yarascavitch a Neurosurgeon.
Once meeting with Dr. Blake, he explained more about Mason's condition. He explained that Mason's spinal chord was tethered, and that he also had a 6.5cm fatty tumor pushing against his spine. He explained that Mason needed surgery right away, and that he would go in and de-tether his spinal chord, and to try and remove the fatty tumor. Dr. Blake was unsure at the time if Mason would be able to walk or not.
After seeing Dr. Blake, Mason was referred to "The Spina Bifida Clinic", and to see a Urologist. The Urologist is because of where Mason has the spinal chord issue, he may have bowl, bladder and kidney problems in the future. As of right now Mason is still in diapers, and from his last ultra sound, everything looks great! Lets pray that he continues to stay that way for the little dude in the future.
At 10 months old, Mason was having his Spinal Chord surgery at MacMaster Children's hospital. After the longest 9.5 hours of Jess and Dave's life, Mason was out of surgery! Dr. Blake was happy to announce that he "de-tethered" and removed 95% of the fatty tumor. The other 5% was so badly tethered in with nerves, he was afraid he would have damaged more nerves.
Mason recovered like the champion he is! After only two weeks, Mason started to put pressure on his feet! One of Jess' favourite memories! (if you know her, you know she cried LOL).
Now following surgery, Mason is in physio therapy, and has to wear special boots called AFO's (did I mention...they are stupidly expensive and that he's already on his 3rd pair!)
Fast forward a bit, he's two and a half now, Dr. Burrow was hoping that after the surgery and when he started walking (which he only just started walking right before Christmas – at 23months old) his feet would fix themselves, which they haven't at all, they have gotten worse. Dr. Burrow wants to now start casting both his feet for about a month, which means back and forth to the hospital for Jess and Mason, which is now 3 hours away! After the casting, Dr. Burrow may still have to do surgery on his right foot called a tendon release. BUTTT.... now they are waiting to hear from ANOTHER New Specialist in regards to his left foot. They want to do a muscle transfer on that foot, which means another surgery, but when that will be is still unknown.
Mason will always have Spina Bifida, and unfortunately can re-tether at any point, but lets hope and pray for the best! Let’s fix those silly feet!
I'm not sure about you, but if you read Mason's story you know how heart wrenching it is for this little guy, and Jess and Dave. Poor Mommy and daddy!
Jess has to take two months off of work to take Mason to and from his appointments, and Dave... well the guy works like 12-hour days every day.
I started this "Masons Mission to Walk" because I want to give mom and dad a breather for a bit, with Jess not working and being to and from the hospital moneys tight for them. The money will go to Mason's new AFOs, Gas, Parking, Food and whatever else they may need in the next couple months.
Thank you for your time, every dollar helps, and I know that Jessica and Dave will hate me for this, but sometimes you just need some help from friends and family.
Love from Me
A.K.A. Auntie Michele - Masons Godmother
Organizer and beneficiary
Michele Kinnear
Organizer
Markdale, ON
Jessica Koch
Beneficiary
