Ellie Updates

First off, Ellie and her parents are in Minneapolis right now, going to appointments with several different medical personell at the Shriner’s Hospital there. Pray things go well!

Last week they had an appointment with Ellie’s orthopedic doctor, and were hoping to get a letter of recommendation from him to give Canadian insurance. This might have enabled them to get some help in paying for Ellie’s surgery.

It didn’t turn out as they expected or hoped, but that maybe a good thing.  Here’s what Ellie’s mom had to say, “Dr. M spent a long time talking to us in his office, and although he didn’t completely discourage the surgery, he was very cautious in recommending it. He said that he hadn’t seen “amazing” results post-SDR, and he wondered if perhaps pursuing a different avenue (specifically, a intrathecal baclofen pump) might be a better solution. He seemed to indicate that SDR wasn’t as popular as it used to be, because many CP specialists were questioning the risk versus gain.

That said, Dr. M admitted that he felt somewhat under qualified to advise us for or against SDR, so he referred us to a local neurosurgeon (who doesn’t perform SDR himself, but has many CP patients who have had it done. We should have an appointment with the neurosurgeon by the end of summer.”

By the time Ellie has been seen by all the people at the Shriner’s Hospital, and then sees this neurosurgeon later this summer, her parents will have more information, and hopefully a better idea of what exactly is the best course of action for Ellie’s treatment.

It may still be surgery, but then again, it may not.  Please pray for them to have wisdom in deciding, and peace about what is the best thing to do to help Ellie walk.