Day 6

So we are continuing to learn more about Katelyn's condition each day. The neurosurgeon reviewed results of the testing on the CSF fluid that was extracted during the spinal tap. He informed Katelyn's parents that her red blood cells were at a normal, low level. However, her protein levels were somewhat elevated. He is planning to conduct another spinal tap Friday or Saturday to see if the protein levels continue to be elevated. If the protein levels move down then they plan to place the shunt sometime between Monday and Wednesday next week.

Katelyn was also visited by an occupational therapist. The occupational therapist noticed that Katelyn seemed to have weakness on her right side and poor vision in her right visual field. The occupational therapist also said that it was good that Katelyn was able to breast feed because babies with tongues like Katelyn's (with the line at the bottom of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth being longer than average) often have trouble with breast feeding.