Jaxon Eilers is like any 5-year-old. He likes riding his bike and going to the park. Until after November 14, 2006, it wasn’t easy for him to really enjoy those things. Dr. Arnold Menezes, neurosurgeon at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, diagnosed Jaxon with Chiari 1 Malformation. This gave Jaxon odd pains, like needles poking his arms and feet and knee pain. Jaxon’s eyes were also crossed.
When he was diagnosed, Jaxon’s mom, Rachel, was pregnant. Dr. Menezes told Rachel to focus on having her baby while he focused on helping Jaxon. While in the hospital, his roommate was another Chiari patient from South Africa. Jaxon was more concerned about helping his roommate get better than anything else. Just four days after his brain surgery, Jaxon was marching around the room, ready to go home. Now he spends time playing with his little brother. Someday Jaxon wants to be a doctor.
Jaxon is doing awesome! We just had an appointment May 7 in Iowa City. His scoliosis is almost gone, less than 10 degrees. The syrinx(cyst in spinal cord) has pretty much collapsed. There is still plenty of room for his brain and hopefully it will never become herniated again. So needless to say we again SO grateful to Dr. Menezes and UI Children’s Hospital!
