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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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Before heading out to get Henna's haircut we did our nails. Granddaughter Nikayla had spent the night so we were having girl's day out.  Henna wanted me to paint an "S" for Soto on her nails. Mission accomplished!

Henna had her hair washed and had about 6 big seizures while it was being washed.  I guess she was anxious and excited about getting her hair cut.  Once her hair was brushed out Glenda began cutting.  Henna held very still throughout the cut.
She almost looked like she was going to sleep but was just pretending.
Hair was falling!



 She layered it in long layers so we could still but it in a ponytail for swimming.

Nikayla and Henna
Henna now looks like the almost 13 year old she is.   Her birthday is May 14th!
Henna will be going to respite again at Jill's House on the 25th.  Chris is supposed to go to Japan on the 19th but we're waiting to hear if he's going since the earthquake has hit.

Please pray that Leo stops growling and barking at teachers in school.  He is selective with whom and when he barks.  The last teacher he growled at was the Home Ec teacher and he has gone around her and into her classroom so many times.  I spoke with the trainer and he thinks it's the room, territory, and that he's sensitive to noise such as a knock on the door or a door bell.  He does it at home too.  I am going to go into school and work with him, getting people to knock on the door and come into the room. 
Leo seems to want to protect and guard more than do seizure work.  He's a great dog and is so bonded to Henna but isn't doing what he was trained to do. 
We're not throwing in the towel yet but I'm fearful his placement in school is in jeopardy.  Any suggestions from anyone will be welcome with open arms!!!
Don't forget to "spring" ahead tonight.
Blessings,
Jan
Posted by Jan at 4:33 PM

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