How it all started . . .

Hannah Christine, born March 5, 2009 at 10:39 a.m., 4 weeks premature although as healthy as a full term baby (Praise the Lord). Bless her heart, she was bruised and swollen from head to toe due to her rapid journey into her new world (I think I almost missed the delivery, hehe). I was in such awe of how beautiful she was, as any mother would be of their freshly born baby. After months and months of anticipation of what she will look like and smell like and feel like, it was finally here, finally the moment I waited for. Naturally, I studied her, studied every nook, cranny, and roll of her body. I noticed that her forehead was odd, but assumed that was how GOD made her.

A few months had passed and it was getting more prominent. At her 4 month check-up I pointed it out to her doctor, hoping that it was nothing and actually expected that response, nothing. To my shock, what I had noticed was something very valid, something, at the time, I didn't understand. Our doctor didn't feel as if it was something too concerning but she sent us to have a CT scan of her head just to be sure and make sure everything was growing properly.

I still didn't understand what we were checking for at this CT scan so I google "abnormal head shape" and to my horrific surprise, find the results. Something that is called Metopic Crainiosynostosis also known as Metopic Synostosis.

What is Metopic Synostosis?
The metopic suture runs down the midline of the forehead. Premature fusion of this suture results in a triangular shaped forehead called trigonocephaly. A bony ridge is usually palpable that extends from the bridge of the nose to the upper part of the forehead. This premature fusion produces a prominent midline keel with lateral recession of the brows. From the frontal view these patients typically have the appearance of hypotelorism or decreased distance between the eyes.

In my mind I didn't need the CT scan to confirm my theory, I knew after researching that it was what it was. I knew that without a shadow of doubt my baby girl had this condition. In order for Hannah to have a CT scan, she must be absolutely still; therefore, they gave her a sedative to sleep. The testing was easier than I or my husband expected, although it confirmed that Hannah's sutures were indeed closing/closed.

We met with the neurosurgeon and set the surgery date for November 3, 2009. She will be in surgery for 5-6 hours and will need a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, we do not know what blood type Hannah is and won't find out until the day before her surgery, if not the day of. Brandon and I will be giving blood in October designating it specifically to Hannah. If we are not the exact match, they will pull from their bank. We pray one of us is the exact match.

I will be posting new updates of her surgery and her milestones as time goes on to keep all of our friends and family in the scoop. So until then ...