Progress Report for Gabe

Ellen DeMik sent this to Michele who sent it to us to send to you.
Please pass along this update on little GABE and ask for continued prayers.
Thanks
Uncle George

UPDATE
"jdemik@juno.com" wrote:
FYI - Gabe is still in a lot of pain, part of the issue is high pressure. He is going in to the hospital Tuesday for a minimum of a week for a lumbar drain trial. If it is successful (the doctors are optimistic), the next step would be a shunt.--Prayer Request - Gabriel Hartman

INTRO:

Thank you so much for being willing to add Gabe to your prayer chains. I did not receive an update today. Love, Ellie

Gabe was diagnosed in 2003 with Metopic craniosynostosis (same condition as Andrew DeMik on Rick's prayer chain in 2004). He has had 2 surgeries for craniosynostosis (5/03 & 2/05) to open up and reconstruct his skull. In 2/07 Gabe was diagnosed with Chiari malformation. Chairi is explained on one website as "It is characterized by abnormalities in the area where the brain and spinal cord meet that cause part of the cerebellum to protrude through the bottom of the skull (foramen magnum) into the spinal canal. This interferes with the flow of cerebral spinal fluid to and from the brain, leading to accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the empty spaces of the spine and brain." It is often extremely painful.

Gabe had surgery for Chairi on June 27th. Since then, his extreme, relentless pain has returned. He was taken back to the hospital when the pain could no longer be tolerated and vomitting began. In his mother's words, "We have a diagnosis. Gabe has chemical meningitis and a Cerebral Spinal Fluid leak. He will be taking 15 days of high dose steriods. That will take us to August 3rd. If his symptoms come back or worsens during that time we will schedule surgery to fix the leak and (another issue) the week of August 6th." Please pray for Gabe and his family. He is only 5 1/2 years old, he has a twin and he has 2 younger siblings. All four children are having headaches. The third child has been diagnosed with Chiari. The youngest one will probably be evaluated once Gabe's condition improves.