March of Dimes --- March for Babies

Ok...before I lose this for the third time....

I'm not sure who reads this blog, if any, how many, etc....
I just want to call attention to the section on the right hand side of my blog that says.... Team Savannah.

Team Savannah is a team created by my younger sister to walk in the March of Dimes, March for Babies. My sister and team will be walking in the March for Babies in Holland, Michigan on April 18th.

Miss Savannah was born premature and was diagnosed pre-birth with Dandy-Walker Syndrome.


What is Dandy-Walker Syndrome?

Dandy-Walker Syndrome is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum (an area at the back of the brain that controls movement) and the fluid-filled spaces around it. The key features of this syndrome are an enlargement of the fourth ventricle (a small channel that allows fluid to flow freely between the upper and lower areas of the brain and spinal cord), a partial or complete absence of the area of the brain between the two cerebellar hemispheres (cerebellar vermis), and cyst formation near the internal base of the skull. An increase in the size of the fluid spaces surrounding the brain as well as an increase in pressure may also be present.

The syndrome can appear dramatically or develop unnoticed. Symptoms, which often occur in early infancy, include slow motor development and progressive enlargement of the skull. In older children, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as irritability, vomiting, and convulsions, and signs of cerebellar dysfunction such as unsteadiness, lack of muscle coordination, or jerky movements of the eyes may occur. Other symptoms include increased head circumference, bulging at the back of the skull, problems with the nerves that control the eyes, face and neck, and abnormal breathing patterns.

Dandy-Walker Syndrome is frequently associated with disorders of other areas of the central nervous system, including absence of the area made up of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres (corpus callosum) and malformations of the heart, face, limbs, fingers and toes.

Today, thanks to wonderful doctors and hospitals that are helped out by the March of Dimes, Savannah is a Very healthy, Very active, happy, talkative 2 1/2 year old.

Please if you can... even the smallest of donations add up and can help other children like Savannah. Any donations will be greatly appreciated by my sister, Miss Savannah, and myself.

Hugs and Love to all!!!