Diagnosis: Intracerebral Hemorrhage that resulted in Mild Left Hemisphere Cerebral Palsy and also medicated for Seizures
Age at Diagnosis: 1 day old
Age at Brain Surgery: 2 days old
Current Age: 8 years old
Mason's story, as told by his mother, Chelsea LaPorte:
Mason was born October 20, 2009, in Virginia Beach General in Virginia Beach, Va. There were no signs to be worried about his arrival throughout the pregnancy and birth. I️t was the early morning of his first full 24 hours that the nurses informed my husband and I️ that Mason was having seizures in the nursery.
They quickly ordered CT scans, which showed a large brain bleed. I️t was then he took his first car ride in an ambulance to CHKD. I️ was quickly released from the hospital to meet him at CHKD. He was placed in the NICU there where we met with Nurses, Neurosurgeons, Neurologist and Pediatric doctors.
After one full day in the NICU and a lot of deliberation on how to approach this brain bleed, they opted that brain surgery was the best option for Mason. Giving us a 50% chance that he would make it through the surgery. I am happy to report he did. We spent 15 days in the NICU waiting for him to recover, and finally November 6, 2009, we were finally able to take our baby boy home.
He is now 8 years old and in the 2nd grade. Currently Mason is on seizure medication, but we are happy to say he has only had one known seizure since the surgery in 2014. He is left with a mild Left Hemisphere Cerebral Palsy and with developmental delay. Mason is thriving and happy even with these set backs.
With the help of CHKD he is followed by the wonderful doctors in Neurology, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. We are so thankful for their support in helping pave the way for Mason. There was one thing that I️ remember the doctors saying as I️ timidly packed all of his belongings up from the NICU to go home. They said that they will be there for him until he is 18 and they will help us with our journey, and CHKD has done just that.
We are forever thankful that our Neurosurgeon Dr. Dilustro, who was willing to take the risk with the support of our Neurologist Dr. Toor. Without their will to help and faith the surgery could be done, I️'m not sure where we would be today. They say he is our miracle baby at every appointment, we all believe they are right.
The above link will take you to our CrowdRise site. To donate in honor of Mason, please write Mason LaPorte or Mile 23 in the comments section of your donation.