LOGAN'S JOURNEY WITH 17Q21.31: 2010

LOGAN'S JOURNEY

Well Logan's journey started off fairly early on in my pregnancy. I was bleeding for the first few weeks of my pregnancy and the doctors thought I would miscarry.Through alot of prayers and patience we made it past that hurdle. When we went in for our twenty week ultrasound the doctors said that Logan's kidneys looked too big and they were going to send us to a specialist later in the pregnancy. At thirty-five weeks we went to the specialist so they could tell us what to expect when Logan was born. This appointment turned out to be alot more than that. The doctor told us I was not going home. I had to stay because Logan was in danger. His fluid level was so low they had a hard time measuring it and his size was way too small for his gestation. The doctor said his placenta had stopped nurishing him. So, two days later Logan was born. The doctor said his placenta was the worst looking placentas he had ever seen. He weighed 3 lbs. 15oz. He stayed in the NICU for three weeks. He had jaundice and had to be under the billy lights for two days. During his stay the nephrologist came in to discuss his kidneys. Logan had reflux and hydronephrosis of the kidneys. However, they were not going to do surgery. Logan had to be on antibiotics for the first two years of his life to avoid UTIs. Before leaving the hospital, Logan had a newborn hearing screening. He failed. His hearing loss is moderate and he wears a hearing aid in his left ear. At the age of seven Logan's speech is still that of a two year old. Logan had kidney issues and is hearing impaired but we were blessed that he made it into this world. At the age of one Logan had his first seizure. The doctor said it was fever related and it would probably not happen again. After two more seizures he was sent to a neurologist. He had gotten an EEG which showed that he had epilepsy but it was coming from a strange area of the brain so the doctor thought he might have a tumor. The doctor ordered an MRI. NO TUMOR praise to God!!! It did show that a portion of his right frontal lobe was not formed correctly.WHAT NEXT is what i thought to myself. How much more can this little baby take. The neurologist suggested we see a genetisist. Logan's first genetisist was good. She tried hard to figure out what Logan had. First she thought velocardiofacial because of his wide set eyes, broad nose, and low set ears, then it was angelman's, and finally she thought muscular dystrophy because of his low muscle tone and lack of reflexes. All of which were incorrect. Every test came back negative. She said there might not be anything to find. when Logan was two he had his first eye appointment for a tracking issue and strange movements. The first doctor told me he had ocular albinism (albino) but he told me we should take him to a pediatric eye specialist. ANOTHER SPECIALIST! The specialist told us he did not have ocular albinism but the pigment in his eyes is very blonde, almost no pigment but there was alittle. He ended up getting glasses when he was three for farsightedness. When Logan was three and a half my husband was transferred to Virginia Beach. It was the best thing that could happen for Logan. He had new doctors and fresh eyes on his symtoms. His new genetisist ran a new test that our insurance just approved. Four weeks later she called and told us to come in. UH-OH not good. She told us he had 17q 21.31 microdeletion syndrome. HUH? it is so rare that there is hardly any information on it. The little she did have was not all that helpful either. I liked to be prepared but that is just impossible because the lack of info. Logan has really been doing well. His size is still too small. He is in the fifth percentile for height and weight. Logan is developementally delayed. He recently had an IQ test done at school and his true IQ is between 50 and 70 with an average of 70 which is considered mentally retarded but i don't like that term. He receives ot, pt, and speech at school where he is in a special needs class. Logan had his annual genetics appointment and she said his back did not look quite right so she sent us to a orthopedist. He had several x-rays done and it turns out he has scoliosis. He nows sees the genetisist once a year, the neurologist twice a year, the audiologist twice a year, the nephrologist every other year, and now the orthopedist twice a year. Logan has a dermatology appointment on april 29 for some skin issues as well. That is his journey up until today. Every time something new comes up we wonder is this related to the 17q 21.31 microdeletion syndrome because we just don't know.

Friday, September 3, 2010

A LITTLE IRRATATED

we had logans open house for school last night and it turns out he has the same teacher he had at the beginning of the year last year. heres the irratating part she couldn't handle the number of children in her class so they ended up moving logan to a different class. moving him last year was good for him. if she could not handle it last year what makes them think that she can handle it this year? i guess we will just have to wait and see his progress.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

STARTING THE SECOND GRADE

logan will be starting the second grade. i know he is going to do great. we have been trying to get him to read this summer but it just seems like he doesn't quite get it yet. he has been asking alot "what this say" . i hope he still has the same teachers as last year. because they were awesome.

Monday, June 7, 2010

UPDATE ON LOGAN'S KIDNEYS

we had logan's bi-annual appointment. he had an ultrasound done. he has a variation where there is alittle fluid collection right outside the kidney. the nephrologist said it is not a problem right now. we just have to keep an eye out.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

DERMATOLOGY APPOINTMENT

Logan's dermatology appointment went well. his moles all look fine they are just really big. he has a mastocytoma on his arm which is a mass of cells with a build up of histamine in them. it is not a problem unless he gets more. also he has keratosis pilaris which is the ras on his face arms and legs that he has had since birth. all in all it was a good appointment. thank you for all your prayers.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

NERVOUS

i am just alittle nervous about tomorrow's dermatology appointment. the genetisist said that the dermatologist might have to biopsy the bruise like thing on his arm.if they do that i do not know if it will be tomorrow or if they will schedule it for a different day. i honestly hate taking logan to a new doctor because as we have seen it could be another issue he has to deal with. so keep him in your prayers.

Pages