Good Morning,

We met with Dr. Grant at Duke yesterday. He is amazing. He completely blows the stereotype of the self-centered, arrogant, know-it-all neurosurgeon with no bedside manner out of the water! He is so caring and compassionate I couldn’t stop crying after the appointment. He truly cares!

We went over the EEG and it definitely shows bilateral activity. The next step is to figure out if it is really bilateral or just an illusion. Dr. Gallentine will be trying to schedule a videoEEG and an ictal SPECT. These tests will give us a better understanding of what area or areas the seizures are coming from. We will also look into scheduling a MEG while we are at NYU for the second opinion. This is a special machine similar to an MRI which may also help in establishing a seizure focus. They do not have the machine at Duke and Dr. Grant feels the MEG can certainly be a revealing test.

The bottom line yesterday was we do not want to proceed with any surgery until we have confirmation that the seizures are confined to one hemisphere. If they are, then we can place a grid on her brain to determine whether there is a seizure focus or widespread neuronal dysfunction. This would dictate whether lesionectomy or hemispherectomy would be a more promising option.

Dr. Grant said he will see Dr. Weiner at the end of this month at a conference and he will tell him about Gabrielle. He said Dr. Weiner is a very smart man and is well respected. Dr. Grant offerred to communicate directly with Dr. Weiner and collaborate in any way necessary to get Gabrielle the care she needs. We are blessed to have doctors like Dr. Grant at Duke.

Please continue to pray for God’s will in all of this. I am turning it completely over to Him knowing He has a plan. I feel in the past year I have entered into a world of sick children. This world was always present but I just wasn’t a part of it. I was able to forget about the children suffering in hospitals all around the world while I lived my life in a bubble of happiness. A bubble where you worry about what to wear, what’s for dinner, when you’ll find time to clean, and where to go on your next vacation. I feel like a veil has been lifted from my eyes and everywhere I look now there is a child suffering and heartbroken parents. I have entered a world where parents are clinging to Jesus just to get through another day. I guess I am forever changed…changed for the better because I too am clinging to My Father just to get through another day.

Please continue to pray!
Kelly