The elusive neurology team gives a first report (August 26)
Ever since we heard the terrifying news last week that Lucas possibly suffered some sort of serious brain injury in utero, we’ve been nervously awaiting further diagnosis from the Children’s hospital neurological team.
Yesterday afternoon they hooked Lucas’s head up to about 30 different colored wires and monitored his brain for 24 hours. We held his hand and told him he didn’t really look that bad. It was a good thing he didn’t have a mirror, though, because he looked a little like a baby Frankenstein, at least from the top.
Today around noon two neurologists came in to examine Lucas and look at the results of the EEG (brain activity test). We held our breath and waited while they tapped his knees and elbows, peered into his eyes and analyzed the EEG results. And then the neurologist turned to us and said that she thinks his brain activity looks pretty good; perhaps like the activity of a baby a few weeks younger than Lucas, but that could be a result of whatever is ailing the rest of his body. In other words, her best read right now is that any slow functioning of the little guy’s brain, and his lack of body movement, is a symptom of something else, not the cause. While it doesn’t bring us much closer to understanding what is making Lucas sick, it was a relief. An even bigger relief will be hearing good results from the neurology team after his MRI test tonight.
We celebrated by giving Lucas a bath and a bit of a shampoo to get all the EEG glue out of his hair. He took it well, and he had the softest hair imaginable after it dried.
Lucas also had three more visitors today – Tracy, Daniella, and Erin – following visits from Sha and Rosa yesterday. Although he barely opened his eyes, we’re pretty sure he appreciated making new friends.
Comments (23)
Naomi
August 27th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
This is good news. Go Lucas! Your in my prayers!
Tara Melinkovich
August 27th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Dear Krista, Burke and Lucas,
You don’t know me, but I am a friend of Carly Kaufman’s. I have a son who was admitted to Children’s after suffering a cardiac arrest at 4 weeks of age. His prognosis was very grim, and we were prepared by everyone from the very beginning for the fact that we would most likely lose him. He is now almost 2 and people don’t believe that anything was ever wrong with him! Seriously!
My heart reaches out to you, as I know how painful it is to watch your child suffer and not know what to do our how to help or even what is going on! But I am writing to tell you that miracles happen!! And you can do this! Give each other a hug and know that people you don’t even know are thinking of you. Your son is absolutely beautiful and obviously a fighter! I think that’s what it takes. He can do this I know it!
Much love
Tara
Elly
August 27th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Sending baby Lucas lots and lots of love and tiny little kisses on those amazing toes (what an amazing picture). He couldn’t have better parents and I’ll be thinking of both of you as well. Much love to you all.
Carly, Peter and Dylan
August 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Good job Lucas!
Such good news.
We are thinking about you and your family and how amazingly strong you ALL are.
love,
Carly, Peter and Dylan
Madeline
August 27th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
wow, that is one cute leg and foot.
Glad to hear some good news from the docs, keep it comin’!
Love,
Mad
Sara Mersha
August 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hey Krista,
Just read my email with the news about your giving birth to Lucas! (thanks Laura.) Congratulations! I can tell this must be a challenge for all of you, struggling with health issues with someone so small…but glad to hear that things are looking up! Thinking of all three of you.
Love,
Sara
Jeremy
August 27th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hi guys. I just wanted to add a few words of encouragement and appreciation to everyone else’s. I have been traveling the last week or so without an internet fix, so I’ve just read about how you are doing. I send you strong hugs and best wishes!
Maria E.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Saludos!! Wanted to send much love to lucas and all the fam.
Un fuerte abrazo!
Scarlet
August 27th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Yay Lucas! you are totally a baby Vidal Sassoon model :) sending you lots and lots of love
-Scarlet
Steve
August 27th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I was eager to hear news of Lucas and Annie told me of the blog. THanks so much for taking the time to give us these updates.
Sending you heaps of SHEPs* from Mexico. I’ll be home Sept 17 and eager to see you all.
Steve
* Secular Humanist Equivalents of Prayer
Ricardo
August 27th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Thank you for the update! We’re holding our breath along with you and sending love to your family.
Julie Graves
August 27th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Dear Burke and Krista,
I’ve heard from Lucia about the birth of little Lucas, and wanted to send you a card, but with your recent move we don’t have your address. So she sent me the link to your wonderful blog.
Lucas has come into the world with more than his share of hazards to overcome, but from meeting you in April, and reading your posts it’s clear he’s got the best of loving and optimistic parents to strengthen him and ease his path to recovery. I want to congratulate you on the great step into parenthood, and wish you and little Lucas health and strengh.
I have made something for Lucas, and I will mail it to the hospital in his and your name–they have assured me they will get it to you.
I’ll be reading along and keeping you all in my heart.
Julie Graves
Eliza
August 27th, 2009 at 9:45 am
i finally got my eyes on this blog and am so happy to see all the progress! felicidades and sending those much needed good vibes to you and el pequeno
hearts heart hearts
eliza
Kristin Lasher
August 27th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Hi Lucas, we have had you in our prayers for so long and are waiting for all the the details from the beach people at Greenbank Farm. We welcome them back and can’t wait to have you wading in our salt water of Whidey Island. All our love to your mom and dad, Kristin and Earl PS, We love baby hair and as we age we even know it better.
Nadine
August 26th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
August 26, 2009 at 11 pm
Good news. I’m holding my breath for the next report. And keeping little Lucas in my prayers.
The pictures are beautiful.
Nadine
Tia Ashley & Madden
August 26th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Yeah Lucas! We are so happy to hear some good news. As everyone has said before, you are a fighter just like your parents and your strong spirit is shining bright!
We love you.
Tia and Mads
Tio Sha
August 26th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Yay Lucas! I bet it felt good to let your hair down finally.
Sheeva Ellie and Brook
August 26th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Dear Lucas-
Ellie blows you kisses every night.
We send you our love!
Ellie Brook and Sheeva
Great Aunt Kit and Great Uncle J.D.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Hi Burke & Krista
We’ve been away for a few days and your good news when we returned brought tears to my eyes. What a roller coaster the three of you have been on since Lucas was born. We appreciate your blog site so everyone in Seattle can keep up with Lucas’s progress. The news seems to get better each day. We’re all thinking positive thoughts and are hoping the doctors at Children’s Hospital can come up with a definitive diagnosis. So far, though, the signs seem to be positive. Lucas is such a cutie but oh so small :) We love the pictures and the daily updates. Give Lucas a hug and kiss from all of the Browns and Thomes.
All our love, Kit & J.D.
Margo
August 26th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Oh man, what a huge relief. Love the good news. Glad you got to enjoy it with a little bath. Nice to be hands-on with your babe.
Kaaren Johnson
August 26th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Dear, dear Lucas….you are in my thoughts and prayers so often each day. What a beautiful boy you are….and what amazingly long toes you have (at least in one of the pics)!
I am off to the GAP Gathering in Estes Park, CO. I know that all the accompaniers and others will be thinking and praying for you, Lucas, for your parents and for the doctors to figure it out!!
Love,
Kaaren
Marsha
August 26th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Oh that is such good news! One teeny tiny baby step at a time. Adelante! And isn’t that baby hair so delicious? It does go away at some point, so enjoy those soft locks and gorgeous smell! Love, Marsha
Chris
August 26th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Great to hear some good news!
Keep on fightin’, little buddy, your parents want to take you home!
Lots of love from me and my family,
Chris
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