A MIRACLE!

Henna was 2 years old when she was admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. She had been thrown against a concrete wall by her biological father for crying too long. She had two depressed skull fractures, old blood on the brain from previous abuse, a lacerated liver, collapsed lung, suspected sexual abuse, and shaken baby syndrome. Henna coded while on the way to the hospital via helicopter and was brought back to life only to go into surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. She was not expected to live through the night. Henna was in a coma for one month hanging on to life. Then the miracle happened! Henna woke up and was able to move all her limbs and speak, shocking all of the medical professionals. We took Henna into our home and shortly after her arrival she started having seizures.

Henna's journey continues as we try to control her seizures. She received the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) on Feb. 4, 2011 at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC. The VNS will send an electrical impulse to Henna's brain every 3 minutes for 30 seconds to interrupt her seizures. Over two months we have increased the electrical current and we have seen no change in her seizure activity. It looks as though Henna is in the third of children who receive a VNS that sees no relief from the VNS. We are very disappointed! We have started her on a new medication in addition to her current medications. Maybe it will help.

On August 6th, 2012, Henna had a full corpus callosotomy. This surgery is for people who have generalized seizures with no focal point. The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers located deep in the brain that connects the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain. It helps the hemispheres share information, but it also contributes to the spread of seizure impulses from one side of the brain to the other. A corpus callosotomy is an operation that severs (cuts) the corpus callosum, interrupting the spread of seizures from hemisphere to hemisphere. Seizures generally do not completely stop after this procedure (they continue on the side of the brain in which they originate). However, the seizures usually become less severe, as they cannot spread to the opposite side of the brain.

Henna received a white Labradoodle, Leo, from 4 Paws for Ability in Oct. 2010. We sent 4 Paws 2 shirts a week to help train her dog. One shirt was when Henna had a seizure and they used it for her dog to smell the chemical change during her seizure. The other shirt was when Henna had NOT had a seizure. This helped her dog differentiate between the two scents. It's a fascinating process. We trained for 10 day in Ohio with Leo and a trainer before bringing Leo home.

Leo had been going to school with Henna but started to bark and growl at different people when they came into her classroom. We worked with Leo's barking and growling when people would knock on the door and for a while he seemed better. He is very protective at home also. He then barked and growled at some boys who came into Henna's classroom and had to be removed from school. The trainer at 4 Paws said that some dogs bond so closely with their child that they become protective. Leo took on Henna's classroom as another home and felt he had to protect her. Sadly, because of his aggressive behavior, Leo can no longer be a service dog. The trainer said Leo would behave lthat way with any child he bonded to. Just his nature. We will keep Leo as a pet. Leo LOVES being just a pet. He still alerts to Henna's seizures and lives to get his hot dog reward!

Henna now has Snoball, a beautiful Golden Retriever. Snoball was born June 3, 2011. She is so sweet and a bundle of energy! Sno is doing an excellent job alerting to Henna's seizures BEFORE she has them! She is alerting up to one hour before Henna has a seizure. Sno goes to school with Henna and proudly wears her school ID badge. Snoball will be a great seizure alert dog and will serve Henna well.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Henna's Sick :(

I went down to see Denesha in North Carolina for the weekend and Chris ended up giving Leo a bath.  He said it really is a 2 person job.  He looked so fluffy and clean when I got home late Sunday night.  Monday I took Leo to school for the day to introduce him to the classes.  I am taking him into the PE classes and talking about the rules regarding Leo.  There are many kids who love him already and some that are unsure of him.  Mostly because of his size.  One class asked a lot of great questions about seizures.  Leo was really good in the classroom and stayed on his "place" well.   He was always looking for Henna and if we went to another classroom he would have his eyes on her.  He was quite anxious in PE.  It was loud and Henna was in a group of kids and Leo couldn't see her all of the time.  Henna sometimes doesn't want to touch Leo so we encourage it every time she gets close to him. 
Henna is sick today so I have to finish up the introduction another day.  She coughed all night and slept in my bed.  Right after she got into our bed Leo jumped up and plopped down next to Henna. 
Next week we will have our final meeting concerning Leo and he will start full time on the 17th.  I will train his handler as long as needed. I still have to check out the bus Leo and Henna will ride on.  Transportation came by on Monday and they are working out all of the logistics.  Great people and so willing to help!
Leo has been accepted by all of the animals in the house.  Luna is now soliciting licks and affection from Leo like she does with Jonas.  It's very cute.
Leo has to be watched in the kitchen because he will try to take food off the counter.  He is even trying to eat Jonas's food if he leaves some in his bowl.  Jonas is doing the same to Leo. 
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my Mom will be coming from Arizona.  Chris is taking DJ and Darrell to Mexico with my brother and his son.  Busy times...
    Puppy Leo
                                                       
Posted by Jan at 3:02 PM

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