Kylie's MRI

On May 10th, Kylie and I headed to Little Rock to stay with my sister, Lynn, and her family. My mom met us there, and on May 11th, Kylie went to Arkansas Children's Hospital for a MRI of her brain. Her doctor just wanted to rule out any anatomic reason that could possibly explain some of the developmental delays that Kylie has experienced since infancy.

I had a knot in my stomach for weeks just thinking about the MRI. Not that I thought it would be abnormal. I fully expected it to show a normal brain for her age. But I did not like that she could not eat after midnight, did not understand what we were doing and why, and that she required anethsia to keep still during the MRI. I was also dreading the ride home, as I was not sure how the anesthia would affect her.

Kylie feel asleep in the car on the way to Lynn's house, and all the while, I kept repeating the 23rd Psalm in my head over and over. I felt great comfort from it, and just meditated on it while she slept.

(Below) Kylie asleep in the SUV on the way to Lynn's house.


Kylie did not understand at all what was happening on the morning of May 11th, a.k.a. the morning of the MRI. I would not let her eat anything, and she kept asking for her lunchbox over and over, so innocently, and was so understanding when I told her that she could not have her lunchbox until after we went and "took a picture". Looking back I just cannot believe how well she accepted that answer. Kylie can throw one great fit when she wants to, but on this morning, she really tolerated the uncertainity and anxiety well.

I told mom that I felt like Abraham taking Isaac to the "offer the sacrifice" as we were going to ACH. Every mile or so, Kylie would ask in the sweetest little voice "Mama, where are we going?" I kept telling her we were going to "the children's building to take a picture" and that "they would have a playground." She knew something was up! She is super smart!

Mom kept Kylie entertained while we waited for the MRI. Kylie was a trooper! She waited so patiently for "the picture" to be over so she could eat.

(Below) Mom and Kylie talking together as we wait to go in for the MRI.

I got to hold Kylie as she breathed in the gas to go to sleep. She went right to sleep, no problems at all. As I laid her down on the gurney, she reached up instinctively and grabbed her blanket from my shoulder. Everyone laughed that in her sleep she would do that. The next time I saw her was in the recovery room. She was still asleep. The nurse told me that Kylie was a wonderful patient throughout the whole MRI.

(Below) Kylie asleep in the recovery room.

I warned the nurse that Kylie would sit straight up when the anesthesia wore off, and I was right! She sat straight up, wide-eyed. She sailed right through recovery and finally got to eat some crackers out of her lunch box.

Twenty minutes later we headed home to Springdale. I think she ate out of her lunchbox for the entire three hour trip!

(Below) Nana and Kylie happy to be leaving ACH and going home to Springdale!

Psalms 23

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me besides still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.