Byron's 1st grade School Photo - Age 6

On Monday, November 18, 2013 Byron will have a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). Of the many thousands of these procedures done since the 1950s, less than one percent are preformed on children with Hemiplegia. In the last five years, top neurosurgeons who perform this surgery have determined that it has enough significant impact on children with only one side weakness, to make the risks worth the positive outcome.

 The following is from the SDR website associated with the St. Louis children’s hospital:

 “Two groups of nerve roots leave the spinal cord and lie in the spinal canal. The ventral spinal roots send information to the muscle; the dorsal spinal roots transmit sensation from the muscle to the spinal cord. At the time of the operation, the neurosurgeon divides each of the dorsal roots into 3-5 rootlets and stimulates each rootlet electrically. By examining electromyographic (EMG) responses from muscles in the lower extremities, the surgical team identifies the rootlets that cause spasticity. The abnormal rootlets are selectively cut, leaving the normal rootlets intact. This reduces messages from the muscle, resulting in a better balance of activities of nerve cells in the spinal cord, and thus reduces spasticity. ”

While in New York, we’ll be staying at a lovely apartment I found through www.airbnb.com. It’s only 6 blocks from the hospital so it will be easy to go there and rest.

Dr. Richard Anderson from New York Presbyterian will be performing the surgery. Byron will be in surgery for 4-5 hours on Monday, and then in ICU most of the rest of that day.

 On Wednesday, November 20 he will move by Ambulette to Blythesdale Childrens in Valhalla, NY. This is a gorgeous private acute rehabilitation facility just for kids. All the children spend most of their day in therapy and the rest of the time in school that happens right on campus. Children attend classes on stretchers, in wheel chairs, however they are most comfortable. They try to make the children as comfortable as possible by encouraging street clothes and normal activities. Byron will be there for 3 – 4 weeks. He will be relearning how to use his left leg once the spasticity is gone. They have a pool and many other useful therapy tools. Bob will be there with him staying in the facility for the duration. I will try to update every day with pictures and videos.

 Lots of Love!