August 18, 2004 : I took my baby to her 6 month appointment, sad about putting her through immunizations. Little did I know the worst was yet to come. The nurse took all of Rachael's measurements and shortly after the doctor came in, obviously upset. Rachael's head circumference was in the 95 th percentile.48 cm at 6 months. That is a 1 ½ year old's head size. Right away she ordered an ultra sound and within the hour we learned she did indeed have hydrocephalus. She was scheduled for an MRI first thing in the morning. Scared about the shunting, I still was ignorant on the monster that was about to terrorize our lives.

August 19, 2004 : How could this be happening to my little girl? A VGM aneurism! We were taken by ambulance to the PICU of St. Joseph's Hospital here in Phoenix , AZ. I called my husband in Camp Pendleton , CA to meet us there.

August 23, 2004 : All these days hooked up to machines and IV's.the time finally came for the dreaded embolisation. It was a success! Our little baby was strong. Getting off the respirator was difficult and the infections were tormenting but we finally felt like everything was going to be okay.

April 27, 2005 : Today Rachael is 14 ½ months old and her brain is slowly but surely making its way back to normal. She won't need a shunt. She has physical and occupational therapy for her developmental delays. She is a happy and beautiful baby girl. Now we just want to make it through her angiogram in August of this year. Wish us luck!

Sept. 1, 2005 Rachael had her angiogram. Her single treatment a year ago was a success. She is cured! She is 19 months and still can't walk or crawl, but she is definitely showing improvement.

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