Eye exam leads to surgery
Since an optician spotted swelling behind Micayla Clark’s eyes during a free examination, her family’s lives have been turned up side down. The 11-year-old was found to have a potentially life threatening cyst on her brain.
The photos sent to a specialist by Specsavers on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula triggered an urgent call to mum Kim and dad Bruce, turning the next two weeks into a frightening whirlwind of specialists, examinations, CT and MRI scans and hospitals for Micayla and Kim.
Cerebrospinal fluid around the brain usually acts as a natural cushion to help prevent injury in case of a knock. Constantly being produced it usually drains away, taking with it waste released from the brain.
But a cyst growing in Micayla’s brain was stopping it from draining, with the continual build up of fluid putting pressure on her brain. Called hydrocephalus, if left untreated it can cause serious and irreversible brain damage, and ultimately be fatal.
At Micayla’s age symptoms can include headaches, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, bladder, vision, and memory problems and difficulty concentrating.
Her daughter had only had a couple of headaches over the last six months, says Kim.
Holes have been drilled into Micayla’s skull and also through the cyst to try and relieve the pressure. This may be a temporary measure with another operation to insert permanent drainage – a shunt – possible.
A shunt would drain the fluid away so it can be absorbed in another part of the body. It will need to be checked from time to time and Micayla will have it for the rest of her life.
The return to the neurological ward at Starship Children’s Health Hospital has been an emotional one for Kim.
A single parent at the time, her son Bradley was one of the first on the newly completed ward after a near-drowning 17 years ago.
Kim’s now husband Bruce was an orderly at the hospital and helped care for Bradley during those dark days.
The eight year old survived but died later as a teenager from pneumonia.
Though a rare occurrence Kim hopes other parents will get their children’s eyes checked and be mindful of the other symptoms.