Development: Hers and Ours

Bailey had a six month neurodevelopmental appointment last week. Although we always long to hear good news the reality is that these appointments confirm what we already know in our heads but struggle to accept in our hearts.

Bailey continues to be on a developmental trajectory that will leave her severely and multiply impaired. In addition to an ongoing lack of head growth, she is beginning to exhibit many of the postural and tonal abnormalities that are typical for children with cerebral palsy. These patterns include increasing hypertonicity or tightness through her arms and legs and hypotonicity or low muscle tone in her trunk. She also is demonstrating clonus (a spasmodic alternation of contraction and relaxation of the muscles) that results in her ankles bouncing in a jerking motion. She is also "stuck" in many of the primitive reflex patterns that are typical for infants but then must become integrated to allow development of consciously controlled movement. As a result she continues to be unable to perform purposeful motor movements. She also continues to be unable to smile or verbally interact in an intentional way. The development of additional saliva as she begins to cut teeth has resulting in increasing difficulty for Bailey in managing her secretions. She often gags and chokes on the saliva and we have begun to use a suction machine to assist her with clearing her airway when needed.

Some of the positive developments include the addition of a new medication that along with the use of a feeding pump significantly improves her comfort with feedings. This also has helped her with sleeping and even occasionally napping during the day. Overall, in the past two weeks for the first time, she has had more comfortable days than days when she was in pain. This has been a tremendous blessing.

I personally often (certainly not always) feel a deep sense of peace in this time. In part this is because the tyranny of the immediate prevents too much deep reflection. But even more than that, it is the acute and daily reminder that this situation is so clearly beyond us. There is no illusion that we can control this situation. It just is. As a result it is easier to live in the present moment without fear of the future. Thank you all for your ongoing care and concern.
Sincerely,
The Mekkes