Surgery???

Well, when we came to see Paton this morning, the nurses were beginning to prepare him for another surgery -- to put in a shunt to drain the fluid from his head. They had taken him off feedings (poor hungry fella!) and were starting to prep him to head to the OR later this afternoon. The reason for the concern was the build-up of fluid at the site of his spinal lesion (see picture). But after a while the neurosurgeon came in to evaluate, and decided to hold off on the surgery for the time being. A shunt is a lifelong thing (generally), with its own set of complications. So they are going to watch him a little longer. They're going to reevaluate him this afternoon with a head ultrasound. If the area on his back continues to swell, or if fluid builds up in the ventricles in his brain, they'll go ahead and shunt. Jen's thrilled to be doing a few breastfeeds with the guy. And daddy ... well ... gives him a great bottle! : )