possible cp in 14 month old..questions

[cristin]

My daughter is 14 months old born at 31 weeks. On the second day she was born a NICU nurse made a mistake and flushed her iv line with verconium(paralyzing agent) instead of saline solution and caused her to flatline and be brought back. She seemed fine after a few days(breathing on her own but still in hospital for 2 months) and the doctors said she would have no harmful effects so we didn't pursue any action. She is now 14 months and just started crawling(very stiff in hips), she will not bring herself to standing and when I try to put her in a standing posistion her legs stiffen and she will not bend them when supporting her weight. She also only puts her feet down in a tip toe or curled posistion and seems in pain. She cannot get herself into a sitting posistion from any other posistion(lying or crawling) unless I put her in one. Her twin brother is walking and very mobile. She is growing and eating well, but seems to have problems with her lower extremities, she never brought her feet up when lying on her back when she was an infant and had extreme back arching.

She has been diagnosed with a neurological condidtion, but they are unsure if it is cp. Do you think she sounds as if she might have it and so do you think the lack of oxygen she suffered during the incident with the nurse could be the reason?

I am very happy that she has been approved for the medical therapy program, I guess I just would like to know what the outcome may be so that I can be prepared. In input would be great.

Thanks,
Cristin

[kathiehansen]

If I were you I would find a Shriner's Hospital or Cerbral Palsey Clinic close to you and take her there. You can't afford a misdiagnosis at this point. Go to someone who specializes in Cerbral Palsey and see what they think.
She is growing and needs some kind of therapy to help her now.
The cause is not as important as the treatment. Of course it will be nice to know what happened but what you need is help with a plan now to prevent further damage and to help her grow and be as functional as she can. Good Luck to you and feel free to ask me anything.
I raised a son who is now 34 years old with Cerbral Palsy so I have been around the block a few times.

[musicmaker650]

Originally Posted by cristin

My daughter is 14 months old born at 31 weeks. On the second day she was born a NICU nurse made a mistake and flushed her iv line with verconium(paralyzing agent) instead of saline solution and caused her to flatline and be brought back. She seemed fine after a few days(breathing on her own but still in hospital for 2 months) and the doctors said she would have no harmful effects so we didn't pursue any action. She is now 14 months and just started crawling(very stiff in hips), she will not bring herself to standing and when I try to put her in a standing posistion her legs stiffen and she will not bend them when supporting her weight. She also only puts her feet down in a tip toe or curled posistion and seems in pain. She cannot get herself into a sitting posistion from any other posistion(lying or crawling) unless I put her in one. Her twin brother is walking and very mobile. She is growing and eating well, but seems to have problems with her lower extremities, she never brought her feet up when lying on her back when she was an infant and had extreme back arching.

She has been diagnosed with a neurological condidtion, but they are unsure if it is cp. Do you think she sounds as if she might have it and so do you think the lack of oxygen she suffered during the incident with the nurse could be the reason?

I am very happy that she has been approved for the medical therapy program, I guess I just would like to know what the outcome may be so that I can be prepared. In input would be great.

Thanks,
Cristin

Cristin,

you know, you may still take legal action against the hospital. You can use all the resources you can get, to help with the future needs of your child. Too much oxygen was the cause of my CP...

edited a serious typo here... too much oxygen, not "lack of oxygen" was my cause. Either way, it's very serious to a newborn! Also, no matter what, don't leave your daughter out of your daily lives no matter what you do or, what her difficulties might be... Don't "wharehouse" her in any way, shape or form. I hope you never know what wharehousing means really!

[Zagreus]

I'd certainly be thinking about legal action too. Cerebral palsy is a funny term -- it refers to a very large pattern of symptoms that result from neurological problems. It's kind of difficult to define, I think. It's as much a description as a condition. I say this because no matter what the final clinical description is, you are dealing with serious health issues -- even if they don't apply the term CP to the condition. I'd take Musicmaker's point very seriously. If the hospital's mistake could have contributed to your child's condition, the hospital should try to make that right financially. Find an attorney and discuss the question with her or him.

[musicmaker650]

Originally Posted by Zagreus

I'd certainly be thinking about legal action too. Cerebral palsy is a funny term -- it refers to a very large pattern of symptoms that result from neurological problems. It's kind of difficult to define, I think. It's as much a description as a condition. I say this because no matter what the final clinical description is, you are dealing with serious health issues -- even if they don't apply the term CP to the condition. I'd take Musicmaker's point very seriously. If the hospital's mistake could have contributed to your child's condition, the hospital should try to make that right financially. Find an attorney and discuss the question with her or him.

I'm in the process of posting what CP is and what conditions are associated with it. I am not comfortable with CP becoming associated with conditions like MS or Muscular Distrophy. CP is a very different "animal", to be sure