counting down...

Just got back from Sophia's doctor visit in Orlando...

Praise God for some much needed good news!

The MRI results are in... Sophia has portions of her brain that are enlarged.. exact terminology I'll leave up to the neurologist, but I do have it all written down. ;) These enlarged portions are creating a dilatation of other areas...

... so this is why she has seizures. Don't really know what to call it... I don't really care... but I am so glad to know that there is no tumors, no scar tissue, no need for a shunt... and maybe, a chance she can be taken off the medication.

No need for the botox injections, right now anyway... the doctor said the tap dance classes have been a great therapy in helping her get flexion in her foot. It is something she enjoys and practices all the time. You can't make a kid practice physical therapy but she is practicing tap. ;)

She goes back for an EEG next month. We then go to back to the neurologist for results and if the results are good we can discuss weaning her off of all medications in December 2010!!! Once/If she can wean off of the medication we will go to Children's hospital for another 4 day EEG and if those results come back normal she will not have to take medication unless she has a seizure after that point.

So a lot of ifs... but I am so hopeful. For the first time in a while seems like we have an end in sight. I get so hopeful about her coming off of medication. We have traveled this road once before and 3 days after the 4 day EEG she suffered a 14 minute Grand Mal seizure. (*A grand mal seizure — also known as a tonic-clonic seizure — features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general.) So there are risks in this but I am so hopeful. The neurologist wants to see her seizure free (specifically, Grand Mal seizures) for 18 months, then we will wean and do the 4 day test... 18 months will be December 2010.

Let the count down begin.