MRI Results

We heard from the nurse at the neurosurgeon's office tonight. The MRI results are in, and Nolan is recovering well from his fall. The three hemorrhages have dissolved (been absorbed by his brain matter). The skull will need more time to heal, probably two to three months so that the bones can fuse back together. The arachnoid cyst is there, and it is stable. It is not a tumor or cancer. It is something that Nolan was born with and will have for the rest of his life. As the neurosurgeon said, he or I could have a cyst and not know it because we do not have CT scans. But, since Nolan is a baby and we know about it, we have to monitor it. A small percentage of arachnoid cysts grow, a small amount get smaller, and most of them stay the same size. It would become an issue if the cyst grew in Nolan's brain. We have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeons in May, and Nolan will most likely have another MRI in six months and then every year for a few years. The doctors will study and measure the cyst to determine if there is a change in size, etc. It may be a blessing that Nolan fell last Friday because now we know about the arachnoid cyst that was only visible on CT scans and the MRI. Thanks again for the great prayers, thoughts, good wishes, phone calls, emails and cards. We are very lucky to be have such caring people in our lives. Nolan is such a brave, strong baby who is doing very well. We will be extra careful with his head for a long time, and we certainly learned to always use the brakes on our strollers!