Medical update

Tomorrow I am taking Weilong for a CT scan of his little head. We have had several MRI's in the last two weeks, and yesterday we visited a neurosurgeon.

They tell us Weilong has Chiari Malformation 1, and a Cervical Syrinx. His pituitary is also small and isn't producing hormones properly. Tomorrow's CT is scheduled because there may also be something wrong in the occipital area. We will get the results of the CT sometime next week. I'm unsure of the day because Weilong's growth hormone test conflicts with his appt with the neurosurgeon so I will have to reschedule something!

I started to get concerned about our precious little Weilong a couple of months after we got home. All the other children had gained weight and grown taller quickly, but despite all the good food I was giving Weilong he just wasn't growing.

He has complained "my tummy ouch" almost every day since we were in China, and he throws up a lot. At first I thought he was eating too much, or that the food was just different. But limiting his food didn't stop the nausea. So, we had him tested for allergies and parasites. Both negative. I took Weilong back to the pediatrician several times over the following months just to document his lack of growth. We did a bone age xray and Weilong's bone age is 4 yrs 6 months. He is 8 yrs old.

Other physical symptoms we noticed were aching arms and legs, and headaches. Also, Weilong is not able to stand on just one foot, he cannot keep his balance.

The next step was a visit to the pediatric endocrinologist. We tested Weilong for chromosomal abnormalities and that was negative. Blood tests revealed his thyroid and growth hormones were very low. The doctor suspected a pituitary problem, so he ordered the first MRI. He also started Weilong on thyroid hormone and cortef.

The pituitary MRI showed that Weilong has CM1. So the next week we had a total spinal MRI. That is when the syrinx was found.

Reading back over this post, it seems so calm and unemotional. For the record, that is not at all how I feel. I have a terrible ache inside that just won't go away. There is no medicine for this ache, and even crying doesn't make it go away. I have only one source of great comfort. That is my faith in God. I don't know what I would do without that. And sometimes I'm ashamed that even though I know our lives are all in God's hands, I still am afraid for my precious son.

But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day.