Thursday, 22 October 2009

• Levi's Story - Hydronephrosis

  

  When I was about 16 weeks pregnant with my son, Levi, I had a routine ultrasound.  We found out that we were having a boy, which was exciting because that would make 2 boys and 2 girls for us.  I was then told about a week later that I needed to go for another ultrasound at the Maternal & Fetal Medicine Specialists at St Vs.  I was never told why, just that they needed a better ultrasound.  I thought, okay, weird, but they just need clearer pictures.  WRONG!  I go for this ultrasound, and after seeing Levi up on a little TV screen on the wall the doctor comes in and starts talking to the ultrasound tech about the right kidney and mentions hydronephrosis.  He never tells me ANYTHING.  The tech never said anything about it either.  She hands me a card which she wrote Rt. Hydronephrosis on the back of and says that I need to come back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound.  What?  I thought that they just needed a better picture.  So I get home and look up hydronephrosis and here is what I learn - on my own.  Yes, I should have asked questions then, but I was shocked.  I went for a better ultrasound and find out that there is something wrong with my baby.  I was alone, Moe was at work, after all, we were not told that there might be something wrong with the baby.  Anyway, here's what I found out:
  
  "Hydronephrosis is a "stretching" or dilation of the inside or collecting part of the kidney. It often results from a blockage in the ureter where it joins the kidney that prevents urine from draining into the bladder. Urine is trapped in the kidney and causes the kidney to stretch.
  Neonatal hydronephrosis is often detected on an ultrasound test during pregnancy (prenatal ultrasound). Hydronephrosis has never been linked to anything the parents have done during pregnancy and is usually not passed from parent to child or found in more than one sibling in a family. The blockage that produces hydronephrosis is usually the result of a narrowing at the top of the ureter near the kidney that probably developed before the fourth month of pregnancy. The surgery to correct hydronephrosis is called pyeloplasty. This procedure involves removing the obstructed part of the ureter and then reattaching the healthy ureter to the collecting part of the kidney." (http://www.duj.com/hydronephrosis.html)
  
  So, know I know what is wrong with my baby and there is nothing I can do to fix it.  I go back every 2 weeks for the next 16 weeks or so.  Along with going to my OB for all those appointments also.  So, at about 32 weeks they bring me in every week until 1 week before I'm going to have him.  My OB decided to induce me at 39 weeks.
  On Saturday, September 27, 2007 Levi was born at 3:04 pm.  Very healthy baby boy of 7 lb 10 oz, 20 inches long.  He's a little cold so he is kept in a warmer for about an hour in my room.  Other than that you would not have thought anything of this little bundle of joy that has just come into our lives.  He has an ultrasound before we are released from the hospital the next day, and the kidney is still enlarged. We are given the name of a Pediatric Urologist at Mercy Children's Hospital.  I call a few days after coming home and our new adventure begins...
  Levi started on an adventure that would take a very healthy looking little boy through many ultrasounds, too many to count at this point.  3 Lasix Renograms, the first being at 3 months with an IV in the top of his head.  1 VCUG at 1 month, and kidney surgery to remove the blockage at 18 months.
  
  Lasix Renogram "You will be positioned next to a special detector called a gamma camera. The camera does not produce any radiation. It will be placed close to the part of your body being imaged.  A small amount of radioactive material and Lasix (a diuretic) will be injected into a vein in your arm. Painless Images will be obtained for approximately 60 minutes." (http://www.norfolknuclear.com/patients/renal3.htm)
   
  VCUG "A children's (pediatric) voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is an x-ray examination of a child's bladder and lower urinary tract that uses a special form of x-ray called fluoroscopy and a contrast material. An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

  Fluoroscopy makes it possible to see internal organs in motion. When the bladder is filled with and then emptied of a water-soluble contrast material, the radiologist is able to view and assess the anatomy and function of the bladder and lower urinary tract." (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=voidcysto)

  My little boy is now 2 years old and everything is turning around for him.  His third, and final Lasix Renogram showed that his right kidney is functioning like it should.  He will get his next ultrasound in April and then once a year after that for a few more years.  Eventually, he will no longer have to have ultrasounds and he will grow up to be a very healthy boy.
  Now, having said all this, some have wondered how I have gotten through this with no problems myself, after all, my 18 month old had surgery!  It does seem a bit strange, especially since I didn't even shed a tear when they took him back for the surgery.  But, I have God in my life and in my heart and I know that He will take care of everything.  God has been a great comfort to me through all of this.  Even when I was going through all those ultrasounds when I was pregnant, I didn't worry about my baby.  God has had his hand on Levi since before he was born.  My greatest comfort was a simple birthmark that he had...I say had because it is slowly going away.  Levi's birthmark was in the shape of a heart and it was on his lower back on his right side - right over his KIDNEY!  I truly believe this is where God touched my son to bring healing to him and comfort to me.  Yes, he had surgery, but God had his hand on him through that.  There were no complications.  Levi was laughing and playing 7 hours out of surgery.  I thank God everyday for what he has done for my family and what he continues to do in our lives.  The Lord is mighty and powerful.  There is nothing He cannot do!
  
  
  Here is a pic of his birthmark (above) and a close up of it (below)
  
  This is Levi during his last Lasix Renogram (below) - he is slightly out of it (sedation).

  
  
  
  
  

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