Angelina's first Neurology appointment

We had Angelina's first neurology appointment. The neurologist was very matter-of-fact with a smile on his face so that was easier to listen to. We went over her MRI point by point as he explained where the damaged areas were and what that meant to Angelina. He brought in a box of tissue for us to use, I guess he thought it would be too much to bear and tears would flow, but we had heard most of it before and our thick skins held strong. All the while Angelina was playing with her toy, babbling and blowing raspberries on her tongue and lips! She was in such good spirits and that was fortunate for us because we wanted Dr. Acosta to see her personality in full force.

He diagnosed her with cerebral palsy but we just don't know yet how severe it will be. Larry and I always knew this would be the case, but hearing it from a professional some how makes it so much more concrete and solidifies the fact. That stung a little just to hear Dr. Acosta say it out loud. He also said that just looking at her MRI prior to seeing her he thought she would be a child with little to no communication to the world outside her body. By that alone he could see that we were truly doing all that we could to help this little girl by getting her the therapy she needs and working with her alot at home. The fact that she was interacting and responding to him and to us was huge and that it truly is a mystery what she will be capable of in time.

He gave us a prescription to try with her to help loosen the tone in her muscles. Of course there are side effects. It could inhibit and heighten her risk for seizures so we will start slow and work up from there. It will also make her much more sedative than she should be and that will take about a week to adjust to. He talked about other treatments, but right now she is just too young to even think about using with her.

Overall it was a good appointment and Larry and I feel good about Dr. Acosta. He seems very passionate about his work and didn't see her as just a patient but a person that has a life worth living.

She is truly is an amazing little girl. She is our miracle baby and is such a tough little trooper! Larry tells me God gave her to us to make both of us more patient, because Lord knows we are some pretty impatient folks!