Test Results

We received Isaiah's MRI and spinal tap test results this week. The MRI did not show anything new. It just confirmed the initial traumatic brain injury that most likely occured due to lack of oxygen during the birthing process. Cerebral Palsy and brain injuries are not progressive or degenerative so we shouldn't have seen anything new, unless he was suffering from another condition. They also did an MRI of the spine just to make sure there weren't any lesions causing the problems in Isaiah's legs and that MRI was clear of any problems as well. Good news.

Isaiah also had a spinal tap performed that day to look for many different things, the main thing being the possibility of low levels of cerebral folate. The results showed that Isaiah is on the very low end of normal levels for Vitamin D, cerebral folate and Vitamin B6. His cerebral folate is actually probably below normal for his age. Cerebral folate decreases in children as they age and a normal childhood range is 40 - 150, but four year olds should have a level of 63 or more to be in the normal range, with 97 being the optimum average. Isaiah is at 60.

Why does this matter? Cerebral folate levels measure the amount of folic acid available to the brain. There are blocking agents that some children have that make it more difficult for their brains to process folic acid properly. This can lead to brain atrophy, difficulties in walking, psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, low attention and problems with leg development. Hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn't it? In July, I had started Isaiah on a supplement to provide more protein, fiber, vitamins and amino acids in his diet. He has a difficult time chewing meats and vegetables so he was lacking many of these items. The supplement provides 100% of the daily value of folic acid. Since starting him on that supplement, his drooling has decreased, his attention span has increased, he is saying more words and attempting imitation. It has actually been a pretty amazing change. I am the world's biggest skeptic of these kinds of things and a firm believer in the placebo effect so there had to be some dramatic changes, confirmed by comments from his therapists, for me to believe it. I'm wondering now if the folic acid has something to do with this and I would love to know what his cerebral folate level was prior to that supplement, but we will never know.

We are going to start Isaiah on three new vitamin supplements: L Methylfolate (a type of folic acid that is readily available to the brain), Vitamin D and P5P (a readily available B6 vitamin). We are considering trialing a dairy free diet as well as dairy has been shown to increase the folate blocking mechanism in some children with cerebral folate deficiencies. I'm not anti-dairy and I'm not saying dairy is bad for kids...just that it causes problems in some select kids. I know dairy free diets are very popular right now so there should be plenty of information out there to help us. I just need to figure out how to make sure that Isaiah receives enough calcium and Vitamin D if we try the dairy free approach as he needs more calcium and Vitamin D due to his bone development needs.

Tony took Isaiah to the eye doctor on Tuesday. We have always known that his distance vision was problematic. Now that he is in pre-school and looking at the Promethian Board (the upgraded high-tech replacement for a chalk board), he needs to be able to see better. His vision had improved in the last year with his clarity going from 24 inches to 40 inches, but glasses should really help. After completing an extensive eye exam, the doctor said, "That was the easy part. The hard part will be keeping glasses on him."

Thanks to everyone who has asked about his test results and for those of you who are praying for him. We really have had a very fun three months watching some major improvements occur in Isaiah. When I walk in his room in the morning or when I get him off the bus, he says "Mommy" now which makes me smile every time.