I am finally playing catch up and I was able to download pictures of Meghan's MRI images and Meghan's Dora pillowcase.  I thought it would be interesting for others to see what is going on inside of Meghan's body.  I will do my best to explain the images.

This image is of Meghan's spine from October.  There is a very small syrinx that is starting to form on the cervical area (top of spine) of the spinal cord.  Syrinx's that are formed due to Chiari Malformation are typically in this area.  The cervical area of the spinal cord controls neck muscles, diaphram, shoulder, wrists, triceps and fingers.  Meghan also has a larger syrinx in the thoracic area (lower spine) of the spinal cord.  Syrinx's that are in this area can be from Chiari, but are typically due to Tethered Cord.  If, after surgery, the syrinx in the thoracic area does not decrease in size, she will need to have her cord released.  The thoracic area of the spinal cord controls hand, trunk and abdominal muscles.

This is a better look at her syrinx on lower spine.

This is her brain MRI from October.  The area in the green circle is her cerebellum (brain) herniation which is being pushed out of the bottom of her skull and onto her spinal cord.  You can see where the herniation is next to the spinal cord that it is very crowded (tight), which is causing blockage of cerebral spinal fluid.  The blockage of CSF is causing her syrinxes.  It is very important to have the syrinxes decrease in size - or better yet - completely diminish as the syrinxes can cause permanent nerve damage, and scoliosis.  This is a HUGE reason for her surgery.  If you look a couple inches below the herniation you can also see the syrinx that is beginning to form - it is black in this image instead of white like the images above (this was a different kind of MR image than the spinal images - hence the color difference of the syrinx).

Here is little Meggers and her Dora the Explorer pillowcase!  She loves it and she especially loves cuddling with it.  Thank you to Pillowcases for Patients for donating this pillowcase to Meghan so she has something extra special while she's recovering in the hospital and at home.

In a previous post, I mentioned that a teacher at Luke's school contacted me about her having Chiari.  We have been chatting with each other, and she also has a 4 year old nephew that has Chiari...and they live in New Ulm!!!!  I will be contacting the little boy's mother to get us all together to meet.  I can't even explain how humbled I am knowing we are not alone in this community...I don't feel like we live such a foreign life anymore!  It will be great for Meghan to have a friend who has one of the same conditions as she has, too!  And it be will great for Jeff and I to be able to have another couple to talk with who knows what we go through.

Meghan has had really good therapy sessions these last few weeks.  She no longer cries when they come (yay!!!). 

We have been hibernating this week as it's WAY too cold to go outside.