Catherine Update, May '06
As many of you know our third baby was in the hospital for a week with
idiopathic seizures (epilepsy for no reason or cause) at 6 months old. She
was then placed on Phenobarbital and was doing fairly well, seeing
occasional glimpses of the former seizures. Then at 7 months we saw
something new, back to the hospital we now had a diagnosis of Infantile
Spasms (a severe form of epilepsy). From there we gave her injections of a
steroid ACTH that had a 50% chance of working. If it worked, great – she
would grow out of them. If not, possible mental retardation or cerebral
palsy down the line. So far, 5 weeks into injections and we are weaning off
the meds now, we are not seeing anything.
She lost her ability to smile and laugh. She needed constant attention
and holding. She slept no more than 1-2 hours at anytime and nursed
constantly when awake. Of course that led to pooping all day long as well
and spilling out of every diaper. She gained an additional 4 pounds in three
weeks. She screamed as if her stomach pained her and it took10 minutes after
nursing to calm her.
We have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Children’s Hospital
and we are using their neurology department. Although very caring, they
don’t say much about prognosis good or bad. We are also lucky to be able to
have access to Doctors of Osteopathy, Doe Yamashiro and Eric Dolgin, that
are working to correct imbalances in her central nervous system and fluids
in her body. She has shown remarkable improvement – laughing for the first
time Easter week at a treatment with Dr Yamashiro.
We have also been referred to a Homeopath in Palo Alto, John Melnychuk
and have been consulting over the phone daily. 4 times now I have seen
immediate results from a remedy given when all else that I have tried has
failed. Because of the constant nursing (as much or more than a newborn
trying to bring in milk) my body has responded as usual with Reynard’s
Syndrome which I have been treated for in the past with a blood pressure
medication. With her weakened system and proclivity now to hypertension I
was unable to treat that way. John gave a remedy and within two days I was
nursing without any discomfort. Better than in any of the previous 5 years
with my other girls. Again after many sleepless nights, we had one
particularly inconsolable time – frightening my mother and husband. Within
15 minutes of giving her a remedy he prescribed, she was again asleep
peacefully.
I am amazed at her improvement. I do not fully understand why any of this
has happened and what fully accounts for her improvement. The pediatrician,
neurologist and internet have not said that this has anything to do with her
6 months vaccinations given three days prior to onset of seizures. Nor do
they say that the infantile spasms have any relation to an antibiotic for
conjunctivitis given which she had a severe allergic reaction to just a week
prior.
The osteopath and the homeopath believe differently and that they are
most likely the cause of the seizures and spasms. Both have been proactive
and diligent in their work with her. And I am please with the results. As
her medication goes down, there are improvements, as she receives the
alternative therapies I see improvements. I am grateful to all and I am
still waiting hopefully to see my whole little girl again. She is coming
back, she still has a way to go.
If ever this happens to you, be sure to cover all of the bases:
Osteopathic, Homeopathic, Medical, an expectation of healing and Prayer.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. They have been heard and are
being answered. We are truly grateful for all that God provides.
== Jennifer
