llywela | (no subject)

Something that happened last week that I didn't get a chance to talk about because I wasn't really online last week: my cousin Gareth's 10-month-old baby son Evan underwent brain surgery to correct the craniosynostosis he was born with - it is a condition wherein the plates of the skull are fused far, far too early and can lead to deformity, brain damage or even death. Thankfully, little Evan's surgery went well and was a success. It is now a week later and he is doing famously. It is a huge relief - he's such a happy, placid baby, but this has been a cloud hanging over everyone since he was born, the knowledge that he would have to have this life-saving but dangerous surgery some day. Hopefully his recovery will continue apace now.

In other news, I caught the first episode of the new BBC2 costume drama Desperate Romantics last night - a light-hearted show based loosely around the early career of the mid-19th century artists known collectively as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. It was great fun - I think I will keep it on my to watch list and see how it develops.

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Glad that the surgery went well!

Desperate Romantics, would I like it? I couldn't decide when I saw it in the Radio Times

No, I couldn't decide either, based on the adverts, so I thought I'd give it a go. It's light-hearted fluff so far, and great fun. I find myself rather enamoured of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's lovely smile...

Wow. You sure have been through it, you and your family. So very pleased the surgery went well.

Yeah, that branch of the family hasn't had an easy time of it lately, between Evan's condition (although luckily it hasn't affected his development - he's a little sweetie) and Stan's death (Evan's grandfather, Gareth's dad). Hopefully things will be on the up now, though.

It's great news that Evan is doing so well. :)

Thanks. It's the good news we've all been waiting for!

I'm really glad it went well! How awful for you all - It must have been terribly frightening waiting for the surgery and then going through it. :::HUGS:::

His mum and dad have coped amazingly well - especially since Gareth lost his father just a couple of months ago, so has had that to deal with as well as Evan's condition. And they've been lucky that Evan is such a placid and happy baby, that his development wasn't affected by the condition. They'd been told, though, that the surgery had to take place before he was a year old, because after that point he would start to deteriorate, as his brain wouldn't have room to grow. Just so thankful it didn't come to that, that he's doing well.

Aww, poor little mite, but I'm glad to hear that he's recovering from the op well.

Thanks. It's a relief to know that it's all over.

I'll be keeping Evan and your family in my good thoughts as his condition keeps improving!
:-)

Thank you :) I'm so pleased for my cousin and his family - they've been through the mill this year.

Poor dears.

I'm so glad the surgery was a success. What relief you and your family must feel. Little ones are very resilient and stronger than they look, hopefully he'll continue to push forward with his recovery. *crosses fingers*

Thanks. He's such a little sweetheart, the most placid baby I think I've ever met. At another cousin's wedding earlier this year, when he was only 6 months old, he sat and laughed his way through the entire service and reception, didn't cry or get crochety even once. Apart from the slightly mishapen head, you'd never have known there was anything wrong with him. But as he grew, there wouldn't have been room for his brain to develop, which is why the surgery needed to take place sooner rather than later. Hopefully now he can grow up free from any concerns, with nothing to hinder his development.