Day 48 - August 2 - Seizure Update

The neurosurgeon just came back with the CT scan results - there's nothing wrong, and there's no apparent reason for the episode. Thank you, Lord!

Connor doesn't remember the episode, nor anything after it, which is common with seizure sufferers. He said the last thing he remembers about it is about five seconds of excruciating pain in his arms and chest.

During the interlude between then and now, I've been doing some research. One of the things I discovered is that the electrical impulses of the brain need to be completely regular and stable between brain and spinal cord in order to work properly, and a seizure can result when that is somehow disrupted. A nurse I know wondered if it is possible for powerful pain signals coming through a previously unresponsive part of the spinal cord to cause such disruptions. I don't know! But what I do know is more interesting...

For the last week or so Connor has been coughing occasionally, which we have taken as a sign that his diaphragm is awakening. I mentioned this to a nurse this morning, and her response was "That's great, Connor! Now all you need to do is start hiccuping!" I didn't think much of it at the time, and the conversation moved on. But this evening, while we were waiting for the CT scan results, Cherié and I were talking about seizures and she told me that Connor had been hiccuping all day. I remembered what the nurse said, and so I looked it up. Guess what? Hiccups are involuntary contractions of - you guessed it - the diaphragm! Not only that, I also discovered that one of the causes of hiccups is stimulation of the phrenic nerve, which originates at the C3/4/5 level and enervates the diaphragm. I'm liking all this!

I believe the boy's hiccups and coughing are signs that his phrenic nerve is reactivating, and that his diaphragm will begin it's proper job in short order. I also believe that this seizure marks the turning point in this process as his body begins to regain all that's been lost for the last month and a half. We remain confident in God's provision for our son, to His glory.

God is good. All the time.