Microcephaly: Alainah’s story

Sixteen-month-old Alainah Therrien of Cape Cod was probably never exposed to the Zika virus. But she has a smaller-than-normal head and was diagnosed with microcephaly even before she was born. “I was told when I was 24 weeks pregnant that we would have a daughter who was mentally retarded,” recounts her mother Melissa. Melissa’s labor was induced at 36 weeks because Alainah had stopped growing. After Alainah was born, a tiny 5 pounds, Melissa saw the word microcephaly for the first time on the bottom of a medical form. The pediatrician didn’t know what microcephaly was, but thought perhaps the bones of Alainah’s skull had fused together prematurely. If so, she would need neurosurgery. “I’m going to refer you to a neurosurgeon in Boston,” she told Melissa. Alainah’s skull was fine, and she did not need neurosurgery. Instead, she began seeing neurologists Drs. Jeffrey Neil and Ganeshwaran Mochida at Boston Children’s Hospital. Mochida, a specialist in microcephaly, brought Alainah into Boston Children’s Brain Development and Genetics clinic, which sees children with a variety of brain malformations and seeks to discover the causes. Alainah’s developmental delay “We didn’t know if anything was really wrong at first,” says Melissa. “As Alainah started to get older, she seemed a little delayed, so we began early intervention at 3 months. Right now, at 16 months, her development is at a 9-, 10- or 11-month mark.” Alainah can walk — a huge relief...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Research Brain Development and Genetics Clinic Dr. Ganeshwaran Mochida Dr. Jeffrey Neil microcephaly Source Type: news