Gabriel, was born September 25, 2000, 5 months earlier than his original due date. His birth weight was 2lbs 2 1/2 oz’s a few hours after his birth Gabriel’s weight decreased to 1lb. He had complete hemorrhaged on the left side of his brain, and small portion on the right side, and some blood went into his ventricle. Gabriel has a condition called hydrocephalus (cerebrospinal fluid: CSF. A watery fluid, continuously produced and absorbed, which flows in the ventricles (cavities) within the brain and around the surface of the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is produced by the choroid plexus, a series of in folded blood vessels projecting into the cerebral ventricles, and it is absorbed into the venous system. If production exceeds absorption, the CSF pressure rises and the result is hydrocephalus) and cerebral palsy.

Gabriel, had a hard time feeding and breathing on his own so he was placed on many different machines to save his life. He had spinal taps and other procedures done to him to release some fluid from his brain also during this time he began having continuous seizures and had to be put on strong medication to stop the seizures. He was placed in ICU where he stayed for a lengthy time until the doctors were able to finally stop the hemorrhaging and seizures. December 18th a VP Shunt (hydrocephalus is most often treated by surgically inserting a shunt system. This system diverts the flow of CSF from the CNS to another area of the body where it can be absorbed as part of the normal circulatory process) was placed in his brain to drain the fluids. Gabriel was later released to go home from the hospital on December 25th, 2000.

I am happy to say that Gabriel is 7 years old now and things are much better now than they were during his birth he still has disabilities but he’s such a trooper. I have sent you 5 pictures of him one is when Gabriel was in the toddler program at school learning how to walk, another is his pre-school picture in his classroom, another is his picture when he turned 5 yrs old which shows he’s really growing up, another one of him playing out in the snow in his snow pants, and lastly a picture of my little angel sitting in his high chair drinking coffee early in the morning.

Thanks for sharing Gabriel’s story on your website!

Beth Owens