Occipital Meningo-encephalocele On Our Little Boy

Posted on Apri 17, 2017:

I, my partner Richard, and our son William, would like to say thank you very much for the donations you've given us. All your help helped us very much. William celebrates today, April 17, his 2nd month. He had another operation last April 4 to put a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in his head to fix the build up of cerebral spinal fluid caused by bilateral ventriculomegaly. William's been home more than a week now and he has recovered really well from the operation at the Philippine General Hospital.

Your help meant so much to us and we're very thankful for all of you.

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Posted on February 12, 2017:

On a fetal MRI done in January 10, 2017 the fluid-filled structure protruding out of the occipital region measures about 1.4 by 2.3 by 2 cm. Also according to the same fetal MRI, "A small portion of the cerebellum/vermis is also insinuating into the bone defect, compatible with an occipital meningo-encephalocele". A biophysical profile scoring ultrasound report done two days after (Jan. 12) says "thin walled sac like structure protruding from the occipital region now measures 3.3 by 2 by 2.9 cm. A follow up biophysical profile scoring ultrasound report done on February 7 finds " A bone defect meauring 1.1 cm at the occipital area with brain structures measuring 1.7 by 1.1 cm protruding out of the bone defect and into a thin walled (0.12 cm) cystic structure measuring 4.1 by 4.4 by 3.8 cm."

As of today February 12, I am now 34 weeks and 5 days. I was told two days ago by my obstetrician-gynecologist that CS will be on February 21 at 36 weeks age of gestation so that the cyst on my baby's head doesn't grow anymore bigger.

I continue to ask for your help as the operation that will have to be done to remove the cyst on my baby's head, to be able to put the cerebellum back in place, and to fix the gap on his skull as informed by the team of doctors (obstetrician-gynecologist, perinatologist, neonatologist, and pedia neurosurgeon) that will take care of our baby is a tremendous amount. Me and my partner, baby's father, are both pulling our finances together, asking the help of our families, and we are also asking your kindness if you could help us.

Your kindness will mean a whole world of difference to me and my partner, our families, and our little boy, William

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Posted on December 3, 2016:

Our little boy is diagnosed to have an occipital meningocele. I'm now as of December 3, 2016, six (6) months pregnant. When I had my last ultrasound on the 14th of November, the doctor found the skullcap of my baby boy as "intact except for a 4.1 mm midline defect in the inferior occipital bone where a thin cystic outpouching is seen (measuring) 23 x 22 x 14 mm".

All of you know me as either Onjay, or Christine. I was either your dive master or scuba diving instructor in Malapascua Island, or as your novice mountaineering friend, or as your fellow life adventurer. I'm asking all of you, new and old friends, friends from near and far, to help me with my baby boy's needed operation. My expected date of delivery is on March 21, 2017. I'm taking my 100-day maternity leave by mid January to fly to Manila to be close to my family and to be close to the hospital I've chosen to give birth. Since it's a high risk pregnancy, I've chosen St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City where there is a pediatric neurosurgeon that would do the operation on our little boy's head once he is born.

My obstetrician-gynecologist, perinatologist, neonatologist, and our baby boy's pedia neurosurgeon had mentioned to me that me and my partner must ready ourselves financially since I'll have to deliver by cesarian section and that our baby boy's cyst on his head will have to be operated, ideally if the cyst doesn't rupture upon delivery, after 9 weeks of delivery. The doctors had also mentioned about the possible outcomes after the operation- from the not so good outcome to the great outcome of the removal of the cyst. We're hoping and praying for the best possible outcome for our little boy that he grows up to be a great life adventurer like his parents.

So here we are reaching out to you for your kindness to help us out with this big financial situation we'll have to face. Your help will make a tremendous effect on our little boy's life and future. We, the parents, thank you in advance for any help you could give us. A big hug and a big kiss from us xo