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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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Sno's Dr. Jeckle & Mr. Hyde Personality...

Friday we went to Henna's pre-op and Sno went with us.  She was absolutely perfect.  Heeled well, didn't try to pull to get to people, went into a down when waiting, etc.  Sno didn't go to the bathroom the whole trip.  I tried to get her to go before and after our appt. but she only wanted to sniff everything.  Now I know she can hold it for hours.

Henna was so excited that she got to have blood taken.  That girl loves it!  She asks for the butterfly needle and wants to push the tubes into the holder.  Makes my life a lot easier!

The doctor said they have decided to do a complete corpus callosotomy instead of a partial.  They think it will give Henna a better chance of success and that way they won't have to bring her back for a second surgery if they do a partial and it doesn't work.  I trust their reasoning.

OK...so Sno was perfect out at the hospital but when we get home and she saw those cats...watch out!!!  The barking started, running from window to window, and her frantic search to find them continued until I put her on leash.  Yesterday she was outside stalking Luna, the diva cat, and I turned around and Luna had gone after Sno.  Sno was curled up on the deck trying to hide from her.  It was a sight!  Sno's a smart girl because since that experience she has put more distance between herself and the cats and isn't as driven to pursue them.  Like I said in the beginning, it's going to take time and maybe a few scratches.

Henna let Sno "check" her but Sno didn't alert.  She has been following Leo's lead and will bark when she sees Henna having a seizure.  Leo barks when I say "check" or anytime he thinks Henna's having a seizure.  It's funny how much of a hold Pupperoni has on these pups.  Ha! When we get back from the hospital I will swab Henna's mouth and work with Sno on her seizure scent. 

I walk Leo 2 miles daily and I have been taking Sno for a walk to get some of her energy out.  She's such a quiet walker compared to Leo.  She heels well and is doing great.

I find it funny that Sno doesn't want to do her business on the grass.  She chooses the garden or wood chips in the play area.  It's as if she doesn't like the feel of the grass.
FINALLY she rests!

I will try to post and let you know how Henna is doing post-op.  I'm sure she will be sleeping a lot, especially the first 24 hours.
Thanks for your support and prayers!
Blessings,
Jan
Posted by Jan at 9:54 AM

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