Little 4 year old Breanna had her surgery today.  It was one day earlier than originally scheduled.  She came through surgery with flying colors, and the doctor reported an excellent blood flow to her brain.  Awesome news, isn't it?

DJ is with the family in Omaha, Nebraska, so I'm sure he'll provide more details later.  Please keep the prayers and good thoughts coming for Breanna and her mom Tina (teetee).

Have a great day!

Jill

Glad to hear Breanna's surgery went well. She and her family will be my thoughts!

Christy

Another update from Omaha...

Breanna had a decent night last night.  She was running a bit of a fever but they were able to control it pretty well with Tylenol and ibuprofin.  They didn't need to give her any pain meds after about 8am this morning and her fever came down slowly throughout the morning.  It reached the "normal range" around early in the afternoon.  Her poor eye is swollen shut but doesn't have much swelling near the incision.

She was fairly even keel most of the day and didn't talk or move around too much.  She was awake quite a lot and sat up every once in a while, for brief periods, to watch cartoons.

About 8pm tonight, she got up to go the bathroom and it was like someone had flicked on the light switch on her!  She didn't want to lay back down in bed, rather than sit up in the chair.  She started eating and didn't stop until she had finished two complete pieces of chicken!  Add to it some rice, cheese puffs, and part of a brownie.  She was talking a lot, laughing, playing with her toys, and just being silly.  It was AWESOME!  Tina and I couldn't believe it because it seemed like it just came out of no where.

I left around 11pm tonight and she was just winding down to go to sleep.

I'm sure they will be moving her out of the PICU tomorrow morning to her own room where all the toys are!  LOL

Anyway, wanted to share a few pictures witrh you real quick.  I'll add some more to the picture page later when I get home this weekend...

Before surgery...
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Tuesday, after surgery...
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Wednesday afternoon...
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Wednesday evening...
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Please keep Breanna, Tina, and the rest of their family in your continued thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!
[smiley=headbanger.gif]!

DJ,

Please tell Tina and Breanna that my thoughts and prayers are with them.  I'm sure that Breanna will recover quite nicely after her surgery.  She's such a cutie!  Tell Breanna that no matter what she does to keep a smile on her face and to laugh.  That is what will keep her going.  And I'm sure the swelling on her eye will come down in no time.  

Take care,
Michelle

Just goes to show you: Kids will surprise you everytime!

Glad to hear Breanna is doing well, I will keep her in my prayers.

Rena

So Glad to hear Breanna is doing well!  I will keep her and her family in my thoughts and prayers!

-Shari

What great news!  She is such a little trooper and I know mom must be so proud!  Will continue to keep her in my prayers.

Why were there no toys to play with after my surgery?????   :)

Chelsie

Oh my gosh she is so precious! I am so happy she bounced right back kids truley are amazing. Your the bomb for support D.J. I'm sure it helped alot. Good Luck and lots of prayers to Breanna and her family. ;;D

Thanks DJ,Wonderful news.she sure is a cutie!!!
mary Grace

Such GREAT news !!!!!  So glad you were with them, too.  The pictures are AWESOME...I've been taking pictures for almost 40 years.....and to see them so big so colorful so wonderful...puts happy tears, warm smile on my face...such a precious little girl !!!!  Cara's eye was exactly like that  in five days after surgery couldn't tell she had one by the time we left the hospital for the airport.   Will keep you guys in my prayers...tight hugs and kisses.  Cara turned seven today and sends good wishes your way, too.

hugs,  CarasMOM.

It's been another great day for Breanna.  She's been going full speed all day.  No pain, no fever... they pulled all of her lines except the IV line and moved her to a regular room upstairs.

Most of her swelling is gone from her eye and she still hasn't bruised any.

Wanted to pass on a few pics from today so you could see how good she looks!

Manning the phone...
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First picture in the new room... (still manning the phone, lol)
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or http://www.moyamoya.com/breanna06.jpg

Will post more tomorrow.  ;;D

Well Breanna was discharged from the hospital this morning!  She is doing very very well!  It's truly amazing how she recovered  so fast.  You would never know she had brain surgery.  Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  A special thanks to DJ for all your support.  You have won my lil girl's heart!  She is quite fond of you!!   ;)  

Well, I'm a couple of days late with this update but wanted you to see how sweet Breanna looked the last couple of days in the hospital....

Shortly after getting her hair washed for the first time Thursday...
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Combing Dora's hair...
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Nine year old brother (Brody) and dad...
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On the way home Saturday!
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or http://www.moyamoya.com/breanna10.jpg

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures as much as I've enjoyed sharing them!!!!!

;;D

Thanks DJ...enjoyed the pictures VERY much !!!! So glad all went well for  Breanna !!!! ;;D Tight hugs,  CarasMOM

Oh, Breanna is just too cute for words!  Thanks for sharing the pictures DJ, and Tina, please give her a big hug for me!

So glad to hear and see that she's doing so well, and will continue saying prayers for her recovery to be complete.

Keep the updates coming, o.k.?

Jill

Tina,

You have such a beautiful little girl.  She looks like such an angel.  The pictures have been great.  I am just such amazed by her recovery!  You can't ask for much more really!  I'll continue to pray for her and your family.  I have no doubt that she will be just fine!  

Michelle

Keep up the good work, Breanna (and family!)!  I've enjoyed seeing the pictures!

-Shari

Thanks to all for your thoughts, prayers and support.  Breanna continues to do well.  Thank the Lord!!!  I really could not ask for anymore, I am truly blessed!  She is an angel, a strong one at that..  I m still hesitant about sending her back to school.  She is only in preschool so I figure what's the hurry?  Gosh she just got discharged from the hospital last Saturday.  She is such a "mommy's" girl and has no desire to go back to school just yet.  So I love that she can stay home with me and be supervised 24/7.  Besides, spoiling her  is something I can surely do!  ;)

teetee,
        I totally know how you feel, Mandy started a day program she's 22 and I cried the first day like it was the first day of school. I was so worried because I couldn't see that she was o.k. the whole day and I'm used to her being with me all the time, it doesn't matter how old they are its still the same. Glad to see Breanna has done so well. The power of prayers.
                        Nancy

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to DJ!!!!! Thanks for all your support and kindness you have gave to Tina and Breanna... Thanks for being there for them..  

Glad to hear the surgery went well.  How is Breanna doing?

Ironically, our younger daughter's name is Breeana (slightly different spelling), 12 years old, and was just diagnosed with MM last week.  

We found this site (thanks a bunch DJ) and have already found tons of very valuable information.  Looking forward to possibly inputting some of the things we learn over the course of our daughter's treatment.

Reading through the message threads, my wife and I couldn't see who performed the surgery and at which hospital.  If you don't mind, can you share the information with us?

We are in the process of finding the neurosurgeon and the associated hospital for "our" Breeana to have the revascularization surgery performed on her.

Thanks much and please keep us posted on how "your" Breanna is doing.

Wow!  It's great that you found this site.  Breanna had her surgery in Omaha, at Children's Hospital.  Her neurosurgeon was, Mark Puccioni  402-398-9243.  We decided to go through with him because our insurance wouldn't let us go out of state.  Otherwise we would have taken her to Dr. Scott, because he simply has my experience.  Breanna goes back for her follow up the 24th of this month.  She seems to being doing great.  Of course after we see the next angiogram will will know more!   Where are you from?  I will keep you and your family in my prayers.  I believe the name Breeana, Breanna, however you chose to spell it, means TOUGH!  They are so innocent and dear.  If I can help you in anyway let me know...

Well The doctor has faxed a note to the school for Breanna to go back tomorrow.  She is excited to go back.  She hasn't been in school for about a month now.  So Im going to miss her terribly!   :'(  I know she has to have a normal life, and I have to let her go and trust in God.  But it's very emotional for me..... :-/

I felt the same way...when Cara went back...I ended up going to the school to check up on her...which helped but missing her too much after having her with me 24/7 !!!  I worry that others wouldn't recognize a TIA or something that I grew to recognize....slowly I began to let her go.   Cara said to me the other day...Mommy why are you wearing the band that says MoyaMoya on it.  I don't have it anymore don't I....(boy what a toughie for me to answer)....then I said because you "had" MM...its a rare one....we still have to follow it to make sure you get stronger all the time and nothing else goes wrong...and that the reason I am wearing the MM bracelet is to let other people know what MM is.  ...so glad Breanna is going back to school (or already has)...being with peers is the best thing for them.  hugs,  CarasMOM

Tina,

Wow, that's great news!  Glad to hear Breanna's doing so well.  Yes, it will be the hardest on you, but it's a necessary step to let her start resuming her life.  I'm sure you've made school aware of the situation and what to watch for. . .

Give your little cheetos queen a big hug for me, and keep us posted, o.k.?

Jill