Ammon's diagnosis

We were able to learn today that Ammon has "an arachnoid cyst in the left middle cranial fossa" of his brain. It is 4 centimeters in size. It is very likely congenital and could very well be the cause of his seizures. It is 4 times more likely in boys and it is common for symptoms to start appearing when the child is about 1 year old. Interestingly, Ammon was abandoned when they estimate he was 14 months old. He had a seizure soon after entering the SWI so it is very likely that he started having seizures and his family couldn't or didn't know how to take care of him.

You have read our blog and know that Ammon has been such an interesting boy from the very beginning! He tested his (and our) limits pretty good and we just chalked it up to transitional stress, institutional behaviors, lack of experience and boundaries. Well, learning the many symptoms that are common with an arachnoid cyst in the left middle fossa reads like a checklist of the concerns we've stated on his Individual Education Plan (IEP) Let me share them here and you too will be able to see how this describes Ammon right on.

Headaches (we don't know if he has these but often will bang his head against a door or wall. Maybe this isn't just institutional behaviors but trying to tell us his head hurts?)
Seizures
Increased intracranial pressure
ADHD (a study showed a strong correlation with ADHD and affected children)
Developmental delay, including delays in expressive and receptive language, global delays in development
Behavioral changes
Ataxia (muscle weakness and problems with balance and coordination)
Auditory halluciantions or periodic paranoia

Hmm. I don't know about the auditory hallucinations and paranoia but that is the only one that isn't obvious he has. This would explain so much of behavior that we just couldn't figure out. So next time anybody describes these symptoms in their child I will make sure to recommend a CT scan or MRI!

We are waiting now to have our consultation with his pediatric neurologist at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. I will keep you updated on our progress and just when we will be able to have his neurosurgery.

Again, we have been so touched by all the good wishes going out for him and are so relieved that it does not appear to be a cancerous tumor. Thank you everyone.