In two days Mitch will be home after a long 6 month deployment and he will be on his way to get our baby girl. Our first embassy appointment was on December 7th. It was so hard having to reschedule. Mitch is leaving soon after arriving to be there for her embassy appointment. We are so excited she'll be home for Christmas...THE BEST GIFT EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Savannah Is Special Because...........
When we took referral to Savannah we knew that she had an abnormal CAT Scan but we did not know her diagnosis. A later MRI confirmed that indeed the CAT Scan was right it was abnormal very abnormal. Savannah was diagnosed with Unilateral Open-lipped Schizencephaly. She also has right sided Cerebral Palsy, Lobar Holoprosencephaly, Stabismus of the left eye and hearing loss. Currently Savannah is doing well but is delayed in all areas.
Schizencephaly
Schizencephaly is a rare developmental disorder characterized by abnormal slits, or clefts, in the cerebral hemispheres. Schizencephaly can be distinguished from porencephaly by the fact that in schizencephaly the cyst is lined by heterotopic grey matter while a porencephalic cyst is lined by white matter. Individuals with clefts in both hemispheres, or bilateral clefts, are often developmentally delayed and have delayed speech and language skills and corticospinal dysfunction. Individuals with smaller, unilateral clefts (clefts in one hemisphere) may be weak on one side of the body and may have average or near-average intelligence. Patients with schizencephaly may also have varying degrees of microcephaly, mental retardation, hemiparesis (weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the body), or quadriparesis (weakness or paralysis affecting all four extremities), and may have reduced muscle tone (hypotonia). Most patients have seizures and some may have hydrocephalus.
Savannah's First Family
We are so grateful for Savannah's foster family they are true blessings in our lives. They will always be an extended part of our family. They take such good care of my daughter, How can you ever say thank you enough for that? Aleida, Selvin, Jr, and Madaleyn we love you!!!!!!!!
We got to know Tonya and Cristopher through adopting Savannah. Tonya was an instrumental part of this experience and guided me along the way. I will be forever indebted to Tonya and will always remember her support and strength.
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