On Monday, January 24, 2011, we met with Dr. P., the pediatric neurologist. He confirmed that he saw a Dandy-Walker Malformation from the ultrasound. He asked us what we knew/what we had been told. I told him the scenario we had been presented with. He listened, really listened. We were educated about the brain and its functions especially pertaining to the cerebellum. (I forgot to mention that in my research over the weekend, I had learned of the importance of having a fetal brain MRI performed. I asked our genetic counselor about the possibility of this, and she said she'd see what could be done.) So, Dr. P explained the limitations of ultrasound and that he couldn't really tell us where our baby's condition stood without an MRI. I asked if we could have one performed. He said, "We're in the process of setting one up for you." I knew I liked him from the moment he walked in the room. He went on to tell us that there are people who live until they are 60 years old before they know they have DW. He explained that there is a huge spectrum of possible outcomes for children with this syndrome from being in a vegetative state (as we were told) to being highly functioning. He needed to see the condition of our baby's brain stem along with the condition of the rest of his brain to determine more. Our MRI was scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2011.
The FISH results of our amnio were in. They were "normal." So, his survival was less questionable due to the fact that his condition wasn't coupled with Trisomy 13, 18, or 21. Good news.
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