Baby Noor Updates
Baby Noor's Orthopaedic Surgery a Success
ATLANTA -- (Updated Feb. 24) - Michael T. Busch, M.D., performed orthopaedic surgery this morning to help correct an equinus contracture of Baby Noor’s left foot (photos). Baby Noor left Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Friday with a bright pink cast on her left leg after the successful outpatient orthopaedic surgery. She is resting comfortably at her host family’s home.
Everything went as planned today, according to Dr. Busch, who operated to release congenitally shortened tendons and overly tight ligaments in the back of her ankle. This arose from her spina bifida and associated spinal cord abnormalities. “The soft tissue release completely corrected the deformity in her left foot,” said Dr. Busch, who was the first to sign Baby Noor’s cast following surgery.
Baby Noor is expected to wear the cast on her leg for the next three weeks. She will later wear a custom-made, light-weight splint to keep the foot in the desired position for two to three months after the cast is removed, to help prevent recurrence of the contracture. Correcting the deformity should lower the risk of injuries and allow her to wear normal shoes.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Feb. 23) - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta orthopaedic surgeon, Michael T. Busch, M.D., is scheduled to operate on Baby Noor Friday, Feb. 24, to treat an equinus contracture, or contracture of the foot or ankle. Dr. Busch is the orthopaedic surgeon for the spina bifida program at Children’s. Through this program, Dr. Busch provides the pediatric orthopaedic care for hundreds of children in Georgia with spina bifida – many just like Baby Noor.
According to Dr. Busch, the contracture (congenital tightness) was causing the toes and heel of Baby Noor’s left foot to be stuck pointed in a downward direction. Dr. Busch will operate to release congenitally shortened tendons and overly tight ligaments in the back of her ankle. This arose from to her spina bifida and associated spinal cord abnormalities. Her lack of nerve signal to the leg muscles during development led to the contracture. Since she also has no protective sensation in her feet, she is particularly prone to injury. Correcting the deformity should lower the risk of skin breakdown, reduce injuries, and allow her to wear shoes.
Baby Noor is expected to wear a cast on her left leg for approximately three weeks following surgery. A team from the Orthotics Department at Children’s will take a cast impression of her leg after surgery and will fabricate a custom made light weight plastic brace to wear after the cast is removed. This brace will keep the foot in the desired position for two to three months afterward and should prevent recurrence. Dr. Busch does not anticipate that Baby Noor will require long-term bracing.
Children’s will release a statement and photos immediately following Baby Noor’s surgery Friday.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Feb. 17) - Baby Noor was evaluated Friday by urologist Andrew Kirsch, M.D. at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and she remains in good condition. She underwent a urodynamic study, and Dr. Kirsch determined that she will not need to undergo bladder surgery.
Baby Noor's condition can be maintained at home by her family with intermittent catheterization. It is expected that she will require monitoring on an annual basis by a urologist. Dr. Kirsch says she looks well and has an excellent prognosis in terms of her kidney health.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will not have any further information or updates until Baby Noor returns to Children's. At this time, her next appointment date has not been scheduled. We will provide an update with the results of her next appointment at Children’s.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 31) - Baby Noor was evaluated Tuesday by Roger Hudgins, M.D., at Children's and remains in good condition. The drain that had been expelling excess fluid from the surgery area on her back was removed, Dr. Hudgins said. He added that there is no evidence of progressive hydrocephalus and that she is healing well overall.
Dr. Hudgins said that among Noor’s next steps is an appointment with Children’s urologist Andrew Kirsch, M.D., to assess her bladder function. That appointment tentatively is scheduled for mid-February.
Childspring International reports that Noor’s grandmother and father are celebrating her latest milestone. Noor's grandmother remarked, "It is a blessing to see Noor so happy now that her condition is improving with each passing day."
Childspring and Noor's family thank the community for its support. Noor has received many gifts, clothes and cards wishing her well. In fact, Childspring Boy Scout Wolf Den 5 in Atlanta donated calling cards Monday for Noor's family to use during their stay. Childspring also reported that Noor loves looking at her "get well" balloons and is learning to pull the strings to make them move.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 26) - Baby Noor has been discharged from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She was evaluated today by Roger Hudgins, M.D., and she remains in good condition.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will not have any further information or updates until Baby Noor returns to Children's. She is scheduled to return to Children’s next week for a check-up, and we will provide an update once results of that checkup are released.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 19) - Roger Hudgins, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, reports Baby Noor remains in good condition on Thursday. Children’s staff continues to drain fluid from the surgery area in the infant’s back, though at a decreased rate. This further supports the initial assessment that the fluid is seroma, or tissue fluid buildup, and not spinal fluid.
Dr. Hudgins adds that Baby Noor is healing well, active, playful and eating heartily. Baby Noor will remain at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta through the weekend to rest and for further observation.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 18) - Roger Hudgins, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, reports that today’s procedure on Baby Noor went well. She will remain at Children's for the next several days to rest and for further observation.
Dr. Hudgins inserted a drain in the surgery area in the infant’s back where swelling was detected Tuesday. The swelling appears to be seroma, or tissue fluid buildup, and not spinal fluid. Dr. Hudgins and his team, however, will continue to drain and monitor the fluid for any changes.
While Baby Noor's grandmother and father were prepared for the possibility of more surgery, the family is relieved that surgery went well today and the good news continues for Baby Noor. "When we learned that a shunt is still not needed we were relieved," said Baby Noor's grandmother. "Noor is a good baby and is doing so well. 'Shokran lil Allah' [thanks be to God]."
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 17) - Baby Noor returned to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on Tuesday morning for a CT (computed tomography) scan and a checkup with Roger Hudgins, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at Children’s (photos).
Dr. Hudgins is pleased with Baby Noor’s progress since the initial surgery January 9. The CT scan revealed no additional fluid buildup in the brain, the issue that may have led to a shunt surgery. However, there is some fluid around the surgery area on the infant’s back. It is not certain at this time if the fluid is spinal fluid or fluid that has resulted from post-surgery swelling. Dr. Hudgins plans to drain the fluid and continue to monitor Baby Noor during the next few days. The time/date for this procedure has not yet been scheduled.
Childspring International was with Baby Noor and her family during today’s visit to the hospital. Baby Noor returned home with Childspring, her family and her host family after her CT Scan and checkup. At this time, she is not admitted as a patient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. We will update you when that changes. Until then, we will not be able to provide any additional information about Baby Noor.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 12) - Baby Noor has been discharged from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She was evaluated today by Roger Hudgins, M.D., and there is no change to her condition.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will not have any further information or updates until Baby Noor returns to Children's. A return date has not been scheduled. Until that time, any questions regarding Baby Noor, her family or the host family should be directed to Childspring International.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 11) - Upon examination of Baby Noor today at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Roger Hudgins, M.D., reports that surgery to insert a shunt will not occur today. Baby Noor’s head circumference and “soft spot” remain unchanged from Tuesday’s examination.
Dr. Hudgins and his team will continue to monitor Baby Noor for any changes to her condition. Dr. Hudgins reports that Baby Noor continues to rest comfortably at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 10) - A CT scan was performed this morning on Baby Noor at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Led by Roger Hudgins, M.D., an exam of the scan and of Baby Noor (photos) revealed no change to her condition since yesterday’s surgery. There is no head swelling or changes to the “soft spot” on her head that would indicate fluid buildup in the brain. Such indicators likely would necessitate surgery to insert a shunt to drain the fluid.
Dr. Hudgins will keep Baby Noor on the surgery schedule for a shunt tomorrow, however, in the event that fluid buildup is detected within the next 24 hours. A final decision regarding the shunt surgery will be made Wednesday.
In the meantime, Dr. Hudgins reports that Baby Noor continues to rest comfortably at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
ATLANTA -- (Updated Jan. 9) - At a press conference held today at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Roger Hudgins, M.D. declared the surgery for Baby Noor (photos) was a success and exceeded expectations. Hudgins said it was a difficult procedure, complicated further by the fact that she is 3 months old and these procedures are usually performed on newborns.
Using state-of-the-art technology provided by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Dr. Hudgins dissected the skin covering the spinal cord and removed the growth on her back. He was assisted by plastic surgeon Fernando Burstein, M.D., who moved a muscle to cover the area on her back and proceeded to close the skin.
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, Baby Noor will have a CT scan of her brain. Dr. Hudgins will compare that scan with the one she had when she first arrived at Children's to see if fluid levels in the brain have increased. If so, he plans to move forward with a procedure on Wednesday. The exact procedure is yet to be determined.
Baby Noor is still not expected to have movement in her legs. She is also expected to have bowel and bladder control issues. However, Dr. Hudgins said his hope is that she will be developmentally and mentally normal. She radiates good feelings and has a certain charisma. He said, "We have gone beyond just caring for this child, and we are getting to where we love her."
In the 10 days since her arrival in the U.S., Dr. Hudgins said the developmental progress she has made is amazing. According to him, she had a hint of a smile when she first arrived, and now she is just beaming. She even cooed for the first time at his office.
Baby Noor is expected to stay in the U.S. for the next two to three months while she recovers from the surgery(s). She is expected to undergo rehabilitation and will need assistance from orthopaedic surgeons for bracing on her feet.