MRI is today

The MRI is today.  Right now my biggest concern is not being able to feed Josephine prior to the test.    I'll distract her, and not let her see Madalyn eat breakfast, but I hate this part of sedation! However, I am so glad that UMC has changed the way they sedate for MRIs.  Madalyn had to drink an alcohol based drink for the MRI that we had to force down her throat.  It made her gag, throw up, and then literally suffer from a hangover for hours.  Now, they use anesthesia, and I'm told it's much easier and safer for the children.  Thank goodness!!!!

The purpose of the MRI is to determine location and extent of her brain damage.   It will likely confirm that her hemiplegia was caused by an inutero stroke.  Her China report said she had "left brain atrophy".  I believe this is comparable to the "volume loss", that is seen in Madalyn's report.

As a comparison, Madalyn's MRI report says the following:
There is noted enlargement of the body of the right lateral ventricle with loss of periventricular white matter.  A tiny amount of residual hemosiderin situated within this parenchymca defect on the right.   Impression:  Evidence of old parenchyma insult with volume loss within the right lateral fontral lobe and ex vacuo dilation of the underlying body of the right ventricle.  This is most likely due to prior grade IV germinal matrix hemorrhage. 

As Madalyn has proven, the best indicator of how well a child will do is how well they are doing....and Josephine is doing great.

Still, I'd really like an optimistic MRI today!