tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77571183716566838922024-02-02T23:38:07.741-08:00How Is Ethan?This page was established to quickly share information about the progress of Ethan Michael Benjamin in overcoming the medical complications surrounding his birth. Ethan's dad (my son, Sean) will report any changes in Ethan's condition to me (Ethan's Paparazzo) and I will post the new information as soon as I can thereafter.carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-62892448619787677412007-08-24T22:08:00.001-07:002007-08-25T17:56:44.181-07:00Ethan's Remarkable ProgressSince he started on the anti-seizure medications our little Ethan has made an incredible transition. While he still is a bit behind developmentally where it comes to visually locking in and tracking, he is acting more and more like a happy little guy who's "firing on all cylinders" so to speak.Our recent trip to Kansas for my mom's birthday was a joy as we had opportunity to observe the new Ethancarlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-66948787979400646092007-07-25T20:27:00.000-07:002007-07-25T20:49:09.380-07:00Praise God! .......... Again..........Here's the scoop on Ethan. The sutures in the forehead have fused, but that's OK because they can fuse any time in the first year. The other sutures are all just fine. Bottom line: No surgery needed!What we think happened is that Ethan's head was in the 70th percentile for newborns shortly after he was born. It is now in the 5th percentile for seven month olds. Ordinarily this should send up carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-53352391270512567242007-07-03T12:22:00.000-07:002007-07-04T22:13:51.201-07:00Need More PrayerLast week we heard that Ethan was rolling his eyes up, then to the right followed by a grunt. I mentioned that it sounded like a small seizure (always the same sequence indicating that the same part of the brain was being affected) and urged the kids to get Ethan in to see the neurologist. The earliest they could get them in was over a month off. Fortunately Ethan got in to see him much sooner. carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-79823509432224802902007-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:002007-06-19T08:07:20.977-07:00Season Premier of How Is Ethan?Sorry to have left so many of you hanging since February. Since then we have been back to see Ethan and, just a couple of weeks ago, Ethan came out to see us. Oh, yeah..... his parents were there both times and we also got to see them.Developmentally he's a month or two behind, but the doctors keep reminding his mom and dad that he had to finish development outside the womb that most babies get carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-25300368751583009472007-02-07T06:57:00.000-08:002007-02-07T07:03:09.743-08:00Neurologist's Latest FindingsWell, it's been a couple of weeks and no updates. That's a good thing. It means that Ethan hasn't experienced any downturns, that he's doing well at this point.Yesterday Ethan was seen by the Neurologist and he said that the fluid was no longer building up in the ventricles of the brain. In fact, they were decreasing. The size of the ventricles are still larger than normal, but they have gotten carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-37275456964176831152007-01-20T10:38:00.000-08:002007-01-20T23:46:48.033-08:00Weekend UpdateFriday came and went and Ethan was not allowed to go home. An earlier sonogram showed that the fluid buildup in one of the ventricles of the brain had subsided (praise God!), but that the other one was still filling. The sonogram also found a cyst in the brain. The doctors want to recheck the cyst in three weeks to see what it does (grow, shrink, disappear....... I vote for the last one).So, a carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-61636053201903116582007-01-16T09:22:00.000-08:002007-01-16T09:57:29.642-08:00Specifics For Continued PrayerSean tells me that they've started "ad-lib" feeding rather than scheduled feeding times. They think that perhaps Ethan will eat better if they wait until he's actually hungry (imagine that!). Since they've started the new routine Ethan has lost a bit of weight, so they are mixing formula in with mom's milk to add calories.Here's the deal. If Ethan continues to eat well under the new schedule AND carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-52612301333706615962007-01-11T19:08:00.000-08:002007-01-11T19:15:11.255-08:00Ethan's Latest ProcedureI spoke with Sean today. Last night at about 11PM, the neurosurgeon inserted a needle into the soft spot on top of Ethan's head and withdrew some spinal fluid. He says that they'll likely have to do it again. This time they were able to draw fluid from near the top of the brain but next time they may have to go deeper.Please continue to pray for Ethan and for both Sean and Ashli. Having a child carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-68933978198688164442007-01-09T14:38:00.000-08:002007-01-09T15:01:33.268-08:00What's Next For EthanI talked with Sean this morning. The fluid buildup in the vertricles of the brain continues and it appears that Ethan will be scheduled for a spinal tap to drain fluid.Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is made, as I recall, in the ventricles and circulates around the brain and spinal column. There is some debate about all of the functions of CSF, but everyone agrees it's pretty important stuff. Normally carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-36270059611296967942007-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:002007-01-08T12:59:08.749-08:00Update From the NeurologistEthan's Neurologist spoke to Ashli last Wednesday night (I thought I posted this then, but it was still languishing in the draft state today) and while the problem in the ventricles of the brain is of concern he feels that there is no immediate threat but they will continue to monitor the condition. One of the things that they will be looking for is additional sleepiness and lethargy. The doctor carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-75774356093584185312007-01-03T12:39:00.000-08:002007-01-03T12:54:36.601-08:00A New Turn of EventsWhile at lunch today I received word that Ethan's condition has taken a turn. There is now swelling in both the left and right ventricles of the brain. We will have more information after the Neurologist talks with Sean and Ashli tonight.I know that this comes as a blow to Sean and Ashli as they were of the mindset that Ethan only needed to learn to suckle properly to come home and now this..... carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-37484840137882556482007-01-02T07:08:00.000-08:002007-01-02T07:13:31.683-08:00Not Much NewEthan continues to improve but still isn't taking two ounces on his own. As a result, he's still in the hospital. Also, he seems to do OK with a bottle, but cries when nursed.We're so thankful that God has brought him through the bigger events that could have been very dangerous, so this seems pretty minor in comparison. I know that Sean and Ashli would really like to take Ethan home, so let's carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-43392608444464683462006-12-24T18:57:00.000-08:002006-12-24T19:52:29.083-08:00Christmas Eve UpdateThere is much to be thankful for this Christmas Eve. Ethan has continued to improve on all fronts.Another sonogram was run on Ethan's head today and it looks as though everything is stable. No new bleeding was detected. Fluid content in the ventricles of the brain are not increasing. As far as any possible damage at the bleed sites, there's no way to tell at this point. Ethan will have to be carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-49893446798010275882006-12-19T20:13:00.000-08:002006-12-19T20:58:31.765-08:00Latest on Ethan....Sean and Ashli visited with the neurologist tonight. He says that they have found several locations in the brain where there has been bleeding. They are as follows:Both the Left and Right ventricles (brain, not heart)Both the Left and Right occipital lobesSlight bleeding in the Right temporal lobeI'll explain the concerns for each of these locations and the course of action the Dr. has laid carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-44942263915960909302006-12-19T10:04:00.000-08:002006-12-19T10:12:35.961-08:00As long as we're praying.....Ethan's grandma Mary is trying to get to Kansas to see him and to help out at the house. She had to get off of I-40 at Gallup, NM because it has been closed due to ice and snow. She's now making her way south on two-lane backroads toward US 60, trying to get over to I-25 and then on down to I-10 to take the southern route. As I look at the NM road conditions map, she is surrounded by the front carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-61552787150401660112006-12-18T20:47:00.000-08:002006-12-18T20:52:52.419-08:00Specific Prayer Request.....Sean said that the folks who ran the MRI on Ethan today said they thought they "saw something" in the brain. I need to correct something I said earlier about Ethan's blood sugar at birth. It was actually 3, not 5 as I previously reported. Extremely low blood sugar can have an impact on the brain.We are praying that the folks looking at the MRI were mistaken or that if there is something there carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-86618246550446154582006-12-18T10:25:00.000-08:002006-12-18T10:28:48.536-08:00This just in.....Just talked to Sean and he reports that they took Ethan off the ventilator last night. He is now breathing on his own and doing a good job of it. When they went to see him he was just being carted off for the MRI and Sean said it was good to hear him cry.Just a few more prayers and Ethan may get to come home earlier than the Doctors expected......No pictures for this one since Sean called from carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-65065783507459584672006-12-17T19:30:00.000-08:002006-12-17T20:05:46.942-08:00Update on EthanEthan is doing better. We all appreciate the prayers on his behalf.The infection in the bloodstream continues to improve and he is now down to 21% oxygen (from 28% on Saturday). The edema is completely gone now (praise God) so there is one area of concern that has been eliminated.Ethan's bilirubin is elevated now. That's fairly common among newborns, but it means that Ethan will be spending time carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7757118371656683892.post-74149859326383506062006-12-16T13:01:00.000-08:002006-12-16T17:15:44.181-08:00Ethan's ConditionEthan made his entrance into the world a month premature but weighing 8 lbs. His size was a product of his mother's diabetes, but he is still a month premature and deals with issues of not being fully developed in some areas. As a result, Ethan is hooked up to a few tubes including a ventilator.Here are a list of the things Ethan is dealing with:Enlarged right ventricle in the heart resulting in carlos benjamin - benjphoto.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200377485288762159noreply@blogger.com5