The Mitchells: 4th in One Year

Friday, February 26, 2010

4th in One Year

Another seizure. Ella had her 4th seizure in the last 10 months. I can't believe that we've managed through 4 of these and that Ella is no worse for the wear. Last Wednesday morning, February 17th, Joe woke up a little after 5am to the sound of Ella coughing and he went in to check on her. It took him a second and then realized that a seizure was starting and by the time we got her emergency meds pushed in her she hadn't been seizing for longer than 10 mins. I'm so greatful that the Lord prompted Joe to wake up when He did. Ella and I traveled by ambulance and our wonderful neighbor came over until Kristie took over for the day. Usually I ride in the front of the ambulance, but this time they had me hold her on the stretcher in the back...not the safest mode of transport...oddly. Ella's seizure never reactivated after we gave her the Diastat and I'm SO greatful that they didn't have to use any of the sedatives on her. They couldn't find ANY infection and Ella never had a fever...so I got us released about 12 hours after arriving.

I know, lots of question.

Answers...in walks Dr. Daniel Nale, our WONDERFUL pediatrician. Dr. Nale LOVES the Lord and as been so amazing with Ella since day one. We don't always see eye to eye (tubes for Will's ears) but he really is great with my kids. Dr. Nale found an ear infection in one of Ella's ears and fluid in the other and determined that the infection lowered her threshold for the seizure. We are greatful to be on good meds and have wonderful doctors. Here are some pictures of Joe and Ella in Dr. Nale's office the say after the seizure getting all checked out!

2 comments:

Kristine said...: I'm sorry your gorgeous little one has had to endure these seizures. I can't imagine how scary it must be for you and your hubby. I'll say a prayer that this was the last!; 11:22 AM
AW said...: We've seen Doctor Nale for most of JK's childhood so far. I don't see eye-to-eye with him either about tubes. But I've started taking EK to see another homeopathic doctor in Frisco instead. I don't know who I like most. I stay with Dr. N for comfort's sake...I'm used to him. But that's not really a good reason I think.; 12:07 PM

Ella's Story

Elizabeth "Ella" Hope Mitchell was born on May 10, 2006 at 3:45pm...by 5am the following morning the whole world turned upside down. The doctors came in to inform us that while Ella had been resting in the Newborn Nursery, she began to have irregular breathing and seizures. It was touch and go for the next 3 days. We were told several times that she probably would not make it alive through the ordeal. She had contracted Group Beta Strep which had resulted in meningitis. Due to the seizures and the infection we had no idea what the long-term effects would be. After Ella spent a long and trying month in the NICU we came home to see where the effects of her illness had left us all.

A few months later, almost a year, we had an official long-term diagnosis...Ella has Cerebral Palsy. She is a happy and loving child. She struggles with physical delays, cognitive delays and all sorts of things that have come and go.

2-eye surgeries to correct lazy eye
3-EEG's to check for siezures
5-MRI/MRV/MRA to check actual brain damage
3-CT scans for brain stuff
1-G-button/feeding tube surgically put in (and then Ella removed herself)
10 (approx)-Swallow Studies
1-Scoliosis Study
2-Kidney Reflux tests
2-Upper GI tests
1-24 hr reflux test
8-hearing tests
countless UTI tests
seemingly a million developmental tests
a hand splint
bath chair
adaptive stroller/wheelchair
stander
gait trainer
AFO's

ha, not to mention all of the therapist...currently: OT 2X/week, PT 3X/week (2 land, 1 horse), ST 3X/week (2 oral motor, 1 speech), develomental 1X/week, vision 2x/month, and we are about to start ACCDAT camp.

As of 4/8/2009.