STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
By: Meredith Stone
Hi! My name is Tytan Josiah Stone and I am going to tell you a story about me. About June of 2012, my mommy had an ultrasound while I was growing inside“ the oven” and she received a scary report from the doctor. The test indicated my head was unusually large and he was not sure what happened to me. More tests were done and my mommy was freaking out as no one could diagnose the problem. About three weeks later, I was so uncomfortable, that I caused a lot of stress and insisted to come out and see the world even though I should have waited six more weeks. I’ ll let my mommy, Meredith, tell you more of the story.
The next few hours were the longest hours of my life. I was lying on an operating table from an emergency C-section, able to see six doctors huddling over Tytan and then they rushed him off to another area. My mother was able to observe everything from a distance and still stay with Tytan. Whisked next to the
NICU, Tytan was hooked up to several machines and immediately had a transfusion of platelets.
The diagnosis was vague as the doctors still were baffled and knew there were other abnormalities and that I needed to see a specialist. The preliminary issues were Hydrocephaly and Dandi Walker Syndrome. The only neonatal / surgeon was in St. Louis or Oklahoma City. So, within two hours, baby Tytan was life-flighted to the OU Children’ s Medical Hospital. Dr. Grosse was amazing. A thorough neurological exam revealed Tytan had a stroke intrauterine, which the doctor was familiar with but had never actually seen one during her career. She shared with me the need to operate as soon as Tytan’ s temperature could be brought up to normal. We put him in very warm clothes and kept him in a warming bed along with all tubes to keep him alive.
Dr. Grosse did a procedure to remove the dried-up blood and the dead brain cells from his little head. Tytan was left with 7 % of the right side and 32 % of the left side of his brain. Of course, I
“ Tytan’ s development and future is certainly in God’ s hands.” was devastated. I had two daughters earlier in life and was so thrilled to have a son, but a mom is never prepared for a“ special” baby. We stayed at OU Children’ s Medical Hospital for several weeks until Dr. Grosse could operate again to place a shunt in his head. Other medical issues surfaced after the surgery, including the fact he might not be able to see. Over time and several ophthalmologist visits, it was stated he was legally blind, but today he is able to see with a challenge of Cortical Vision Impairment.
We continued to travel back-and-forth to Oklahoma City five more times to keep updating the shunt, until it worked properly. To this day, if Tytan ever seems to be ill, the x-rays and c-scans are done to make sure the shunt is working. Unfortunately, Tytan has developed PTSD with doctors or anyone in a white coat! The good news is Tytan’ s head circumference began to shrink and he could finally hold his head up when he was eight months old. It really took extra time for him to reach his milestones and we nicknamed him Tytan Turtle. Everyone, especially other little kiddos loved Tytan Turtle!
An exciting day came when Tytan was enrolled at the Little Light House( LLH). The opportunities for him to grow and mature were amazing. He was able to receive all the“ therapists’ specialties:” speech therapy, low-vision therapy, physical and occupational therapies. Each LLH student receives an individualized educational plan with a goal for the child to function as independently as possible, considering their mental and physical challenges, although no limits are put on progress.
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