kelly's second CT scan

For the last couple of months, Jonathan and I had noticed an unusual ridge that had formed on the top of Kelly's head. Concerned that it might have been related to her skull fracture from last year, I made an appointment with her pediatric neurosurgeon. Today started with a trip to one of our local children's hospitals for a head CT scan on Kelly. Being that I am preggo, I couldn't stay in the room with her...I just got to listen to her scream bloody murder from the hallway. I don't blame her one bit. They strap her whole body and head down to the table and then slide her under the machine which emits red laser beams all around her head. All with three strangers looking on and your mom is suddenly MIA. Luckily a CT scan is a relatively quick procedure so I was able to go in and get her in about 10 minutes.

This hospital then forwards the scan to our doctor at a different local children's hospital/specialty clinic and we load up and head there for our actual appointment with the neurosurgeon.

Our doctor reviewed the scan and told us that Kelly has a metopic ridge. A metopic ridge is caused when the two halves of the frontal bones of the skull fuse together prematurely. Kelly's is very minor and starts behind her hairline so it will never be seen. You can feel it if you rub your hand over it but the doctor said that as she grows up and her scalp thickens, you won't be able to feel it as much. It has nothing to do with her skull fracture...the two are totally unrelated. It does not affect the brain in anyway...in fact our doc told me that two of the neurosurgeons on staff there have metopic ridges. That was his way of telling me that kids with this condition go onto lead totally normal lives and can in fact become brain surgeons! It will not get any worse or any better than it is today. It just is. Thank GOD!!! I also asked him how her skull fractures looked on today's CT scan and he informed me that they are completely healed as if they never even happened. WOW!

This hospital is truly a state of the art facility for children. If you ever feel like your life is hard, take a trip there...your perspective will change in a moment. This hospital gets patients from all over the country with some of the worst conditions/diseases out there. I asked our doctor what is the furthest a patient has ever traveled to be treated there. He said that he has two patients from Singapore! Wow, to have that kind of knowledge practically in my backyard is so comforting.

Today, while we were in the waiting room, we were able to meet Otis. Otis is a gigantic bull mastiff. He was probably four or five times the size of Kelly. His only job in life is going to children's hospitals to visit sick kids. What a great dog. He was sweet and gentle with all of the kids. Being that Kelly is absolutely fascinated with dogs, this was especially a treat for her. She got right up in his face and was kissing him and hugging him. I don't know what makes her so brave to walk right up in the face of a HUGE dog, but she did. Kasey was also able to make a trip to the "treasure chest." Another wonderful part of this hospital. Supplied 100% by donations, this hospital has a chest plump full of things for kids to take home with them to make visiting the hospital a little more pleasant. No stickers here, this chest is full of brand new stuffed animals, board games, coloring books and crayons, Play Doh and small toys. All patients and siblings get to pick out one thing to bring home.

Again, I am so thankful to have left there hearing that everything is totally okay!! In a perfect world, there would be no need for children's hospitals. To have such a great facility to go to when you have questions about your child's health is so comforting.