More details, including today's surgery

At the risk of some potential error given my lack of a medical degree, I'll try to explain what the neurosurgeon thinks is causing the leaking and why it is important to fix the issue with a new shunt on the left side of her head (the current shunt and former shunt and drains have all been on the right side).

When they put a shunt in, they have to enter through the outer layer of the brain, a leathery covering called the dura.  When the most recent shunt was put in, the surgeon first tried to see if the alternative ETV surgery could be done, as I explained in a previous post.  In order to do that, he had to put a scope in, which required a wider hole in the dura than is required for a shunt.

When that surgery was not an option, he used the same existing hole to do the shunt and tried to put a sealant around it to keep fluid from leaking around the shunt (like we understand was occurring with the first shunt). However, we believe the fluid has leaked out through the hole in the dura (due at least in part to the hole being larger than would be typical with a shunt) and is finding a path, which has led to the leaking through now two of her incisions.  As I understand it, the leak would likely continue around the dura even if they re-stitch Brooklyn's incisions, and so a re-stitch would only be a temporary "band-aid" on a deeper issue.

So, the plan today is to go in and remove the first shunt.  Next, they will patch the current hole in the dura on the right side.  Then, they will place the new shunt on the left side.

We're not quite sure when the surgery will take place today, but it will most likely take place in the afternoon.   The hardest part now is that we can't feed Brooklyn any food until after surgery.  She does have an IV to prevent dehydration but it's tough to have her uncomfortable.

The surgeon stopped by and he may go with the same shunt that was used in the first shunt surgery now that the brain has filled in more than it was at birth.  Or he may use a programmable shunt but he'll make that call when he is in surgery.

Thanks again for all the faith, hope, charity, prayers, and support you've offered up on Brooklyn's and our family's behalf.  We appreciate all of you!

I'll post again after the surgery.