Very bad news from the MRI scan

I’m sorry to have tell you that the results of Abigail’s MRI scan today were not good. The scan showed permanent damage to both sides of Abby’s brain as well as the part that deals with movement. The consultant in charge said that although the MRI now shows clear and irreversible damage to Abigail’s brain and that her long term prognosis is therefore not good, the extent to which that might manifest itself in her life was still unknown. Despite this, doctors say they fully expect Abby to have problems with her limbs and movement and that she may well have a severe mental handicap. Ironically, Abby’s feeding continues to improve and today she took a whole feed from a bottle. It seems that getting her feeding going well is now the only hurdle to overcome before she comes home.

This evening we've just returned from the hospital where we spoke to one of the consultant paediatricians. He was able to outline in a bit more detail the likely long term effects of the brain damage that Abby has suffered. None of it is good news. At this stage – and particularly with a very young baby – it is notoriously difficult to predict what might happen. That said, the consultant said he felt it very likely that Abigail will develop cerebral palsy and that she will suffer quite serious and severe physical and mental handicaps with that. He said that many functions including speech, development, intellect and communications could be very harshly affected. There might well be a period of relative ‘normality’ for a few months before any of these disabilities become readily apparent, but he felt convinced that it was highly probable they would.

Obviously, Nix and I are completely devastated by today’s news which really hasn’t sunk in yet to it’s full extent. But we have already pledged to each other that we will endeavour to provide the best possible care for Abigail as a whole family including Rebekah and Joshua. I must tell those of you that see us regularly that we’re as yet undecided about what to tell the children. Many of you may also know that we have recently been trying to move house. Needless to say that idea has been shelved for the time being.