Hello, I'm new!

[heatherkb32]

Hello, my name is Heather and I am from Michigan. My daughter Jordynn was born Feb 10 2009 with L2-L3 Spina Bifida, hydro, and Chiari 2. I did not know that she had SB while I was pregnant, it was all such a shocker. I had normal U/S and excellent prenatal care, however I could not afford the quad screen since my insurance did not cover it and I was not considered high risk. She spent 11 days at University of Michigan Mott's Children's Hospital in their NICU. We are getting the best care from everyone at U of M. She is already 2 months old and just had her heel cord release surgery this past Wednesday. We have to cath her 4 times a day. Other than that she is a normal healthy baby! We love being home with her!! I am so glad I found this group, I don't feel so alone anymore!

[smoop]

Hi Heather.. welcome to our group. My daughter is 3.5 years old with shunted hydro, L3-4, is cathed 5x/day, and walks with long braces and crutches. She was also born at Univ of Michigan! We had Dr. Muraszko for neuro, Dr. Park for urology, at Dr. Craig for ortho. We visited U of M until my daughter was 2 years old and we had to move out of Mi (Ann Arbor). We so miss our wonderful doctors at UM. We live in CT now and have to drive an hour for all of our appts. Anyway, let me know if I can help you in any way or answer any questions about doctors there.

Take care!!
Renee

[heatherkb32]

That's so funny! We also have Dr Muraszko, Dr Wan for Urology (whom I am not happy with currently), and we have Dr Caird for Ortho. Dr Buchman was her plastic surg but we dont have to see him anymore since her closure looks so good. Now I could do without the hour drive there every week. This has been the first week since she was born that we have had no dr appts at all. I feel so lost!!

[smoop]

Heather-- it will get easier. That first year is so overwhelming with all the appts. By the way, we too started out with Dr. Wan but I ended up switching to Dr. Park. The hospital seemed to pick all our of specialists-- I didn't know any better. But you have every right to pick & choose who you want. Dr. Park is absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend him.

[LisaJoy]

Welcome, Heather! Congratulations on Jordynn's birth! Post some pics when you get a chance.

[valmarie]

Hey welcome! Aside from the fast that we did know throughout the pregnancy, everything else is almost the same. I haven't had to cath yet though, amazingly. And my doc didn't want to do the heel cord release until much later so that's on hold. My baby boy was born 2/4 and he just started smiling and cooing. So fun!

(I had to edit after I re read what I wrote...that everyhing is the same, except for this and this and this...so it's not really the same, is it? LOL I haven't had my coffee yet, can you tell?)

[cadon's mum]

Hi, i'm lorraine from the u.k my son cadon was born on 4th february 2009 with lumber/sacral sb, hydro & chiari 2 . we only have to cath once a day at the moment, now waiting for orthopedic checkup. welcome to the group!!

[valmarie]

Mine was born 2/4 too!