The River Church Community

Good Morning Angel Helpers,

Hope you're having a good start to a day full of sunshine.  We had a great visit with Hannah Jane's new neurosurgeon at Kaiser Oakland.  Getting launched and out the door took us over 2 hours - and i thought I carried a lot of stuff for just me, now there's two Geoghegan girls and both our gear to pack into the Jetta.  We're learning to streamline packing and such and trying to get by on little sleep.  Signs that I'm a new mom and working on the normal reduced sleep include yesterday me realizing that I was wearing my pants backward all day; that got us a great laugh!

Hannah's new doc is wonderful - we feel very good about him and his expertise and experience are quite extensive and he also has a very kind, calming spirit, that we really appreciate too!

He will want another MRI done with different images and that will be done in the next 6 weeks as her brain has time for the edema, hemmorage etc. to go down.  Her head size is now at 39 inches vs. 36.5 at birth.  We are finding out what this means.  It currently ranks in the 99% percentile where at birth she was right in the middle percentile.  Could be the impacts of surgery or more pressure, although her soft spot looked even yesterday.  We'll be sure to keep you up to date.

He has referred her to a neurologist now in Santa Clara as well and we are to be seen in within the week for that.  This doc will be here in Santa Clara as she needs someone closer than Oakland to see to monitor her antiseziure med and to determine more about seizures and track her much more often.  We'll be seen in Oakland with the neurosurgeon again in 3-4 weeks.  So, sweet Hannah Jane now has a neurosurgeon, neurologist, pediatrician, physical therapist and an infant development person as well. 

Hannah Jane will have to be sedated for her next MRI as it is as her new surgeon put, the measurement for all future scans.  We'll be able to stay with her for that and will let you know when that comes up.  We really liked that he is getting a sample of the tumor to be reviewed by their pathology team as well.  We've found out that this tumor only occurs in .4% of baby's brain tumors.  He is very thorough and we feel very blessed that God is using him to be so complete with Hannah Jane's care.

We hope that you are all doing well and we'll continue to keep you up to date after Hannah Jane's first physical therapy appt. on Wednesday and her blood draw to measure the phenebarb. levels.  They're looking to get them between 25 and 30.  Please keep praying for Hannah Jane to become more vocal - never thought we'd pray for our baby to cry so we can comfort her, but this journey has long since ceased to surprise us, as it has you too, I'm sure!

A special thank you Kate for putting us in touch with her daughter who has lots of resources for us, to the Guerreros for sending us a yummy lunch on Sunday, Pam for the beautiful, precious album you made for Hannah Jane, the Snells for their encouraging card and notes, Jason for his friendship and computer expertise, Shane, my brother for his support and love - I know you have so much going on yet you still take time for us, my mom for her special Grammie prayers and for putting out the word requesting so many prayers for us, the Claassens for gathering food at their home (hope you are feeling better!), to Heather for her kind message last week, Pat Valentine for her always very timely and uplifting notes and encouragement.  Hannah Jane loves her dolly too!

Also a big past due thank you Courtney a long time ago neighbor for the changing pad she sent, Shannon Amidon for her card and Dawn from my Honors Society for her thoughfulness and handmade card too and a blessing, hug and thank you for each and every one of you as well!

Have a beautiful, blessed day!!!

Love,
Hannah Jane's Mommy