One year and counting

A year ago my little family went through one of the toughest times I've had in my life.  I thought it was appropriate to post the story to commemorate the year mark.

William before surgery at a moment where he felt good.

On August 21st at my niece, Lilly's, birthday party William started complaining that his head hurt I figured he bumped it and didn't think much else about it. The next day, Monday, he was still complaining so I gave him some Tylenol. That night we went down to my brother and sister in laws home. Jake's sister was there and asked if William could go for a sleep over for his birthday. (His birthday is September 3rd. but she was wanting to take him before the school year started) we said yes but I told her that he might be getting sick. She said it should be fine and he slept over. All was fine until the morning when he threw up twice. She brought him home to me and he was fine the rest of the day. Wednesday I took him to the doctor they said he probably just had a virus of some sort, but that if he continued to throw up, to bring him back in. Right after getting home he threw up again but was again fine for the rest of the day, Thursday as well. The whole week he had been complaining of headaches so I had been giving him Tylenol. By the end of the week I had to give him Tylenol and Motrin, but by Friday nothing was helping. He woke up at around 5:40 and was throwing up almost constantly. Jake stayed home from work and we took him in to the Doctors. Because he had no other flu symptoms, they wanted us to get an MRI done. We took him down to Utah Valley Medical Center, they discovered a cyst on his brain and also extra fluid and we were sent up to Primary Children's Medical Center. The main Neurosurgeon, Dr. Walker, was not there so they wanted us to wait until the next day so he could assess the problem.  The next day, Saturday, After Dr. Walker had taken a look, he scheduled William for another MRI, this time of his neck. Once that was done he finally knew exactly what was wrong and what needed to be done. William had what is called a chiari (pronounced key-are-ee). It is a malformation that just grows for who knows what reason. William's was located at the base of his head where his head and neck meet. It was blocking the passageway where the cerebrospinal fluid is supposed to exit.  The fluid couldn't leave his head so it was giving him pressure headaches which was causing him to vomit. They can not remove a chiari, so instead they remove a piece of bone (you have so much muscle in your neck that he'll never miss that small piece of bone) along with some tissue. This creates space for the fluid to go around the chiari letting the fluid drain and eventually the chiari will disappear. He also had to have an EVD (External Ventricular Drain). They make an incision on the top of his head, go through the skull and into his brain. It was placed there only until they could determine if he needed a permanent shunt.  His surgery was scheduled for the next day, Sunday. Saturday night was one of the longest nights of my life. I could not sleep, not only because I was terrified of what could happen, but also William was in so much pain. He was receiving Morphine as often as he could but it wasn't doing anything for him. I felt the most helpless I have ever felt. Sunday morning finally came and William was taken into surgery.  About 3 hours later we received the call that the surgery was finished and that everything had gone perfectly and that he shouldn't need a permanent shunt. However, we wouldn't find out for sure for about a week.
After the surgery when he was starting to come to he told us he wanted chocolate milk. He wasn't allowed anything but clear fluid until he could hold them down. I've never seen a kid drink chicken broth so fast! He wanted that chocolate milk, BAD!  Finally after keeping the chicken broth down for a little bit he got his chocolate milk, I think he drank 2. 
The first few days after surgery were rough. Its the most painful surgery that the neurosurgeon does. You could tell he felt awful, but slowly he stated feeling better and all he wanted to do was play. They have a big play room at the hospital and they also have stuff they can bring to your room.  Its an amazing hospital and we were so blessed that it was as close to us as it was.
We are so grateful that our little William is still with us and for the doctors and nurses who were able to help him.  Also for our family's that were there for us every step of the way!
I am thankful to my heavenly father for the comfort that was given to us and for William's recovery and for all that he has blessed us with.

They have dogs that come around that they let you give treats to. William LOVED this!

After almost a week of just sitting in a bed or wheelchair William needed a little bit of physical therapy

The only thing William told me he wanted for his birthday was a BBQ. 

We thought we were going to be at the hospital for his birthday, but once Dr. Walker found out he made things move along quicker and we were home the day before his birthday.
Now, a year later, William is doing wonderful he no longer has to go for check ups at the hospital. The chiari is gone and he hasn't had a headache since.
He has a large scar on the back of his neck and he remembers being at the hospital but his story is that he got hit by car. Maybe that's how felt. I'm just glad he doesn't remember much about it.