Lorenzo Pontone was suffering from hydrocephalus, which is a buildup of fluid on the cerebral surface. Parents were provided the option of terminating their child’s education up to the end of the school year, but they declined. Lorenzo also suffered from severe ventriculomegaly, which is an enlargement of the ventricles of the brain. This resulted in a rupture of the brain.
Hydrocephalus affected the four-week-old baby, born with a head swollen to the size of a football, defying doctors who warned his mother to terminate her pregnancy because he would not be able to survive the birth process. During his mother Nikki Lewis’s 20-week ultrasound, Lorenzo Pontone was diagnosed with severe hydrocephalus, a disorder that causes fluid to build up in the skull, causing the brain to expand, leading to hospitalization.
Because of the high likelihood that Lorenzo would be born deaf, blind, unable to move, and prone to convulsions, Miss Lewis, 28, and her partner Fernando Pontone, 33, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were offered the option of terminating the pregnancy at any point up to full term. Little Lorenzo was born by C-section after 36 weeks because his head was growing so swiftly. Thanks to the insistence of his mother, Miss Lewis, who stayed at home with him. In addition to requiring a colostomy bag due to being born without an anus, an MRI scan performed shortly after his birth revealed that he had significantly less brain matter than he should have, indicating that he is only being kept alive by his brain stem. In the meantime, he has gone on to beat the odds by breathing on his own and is now able to close his eyes, something he was unable to do at the time of his birth.
Miss Lewis expressed her belief that her pregnancy and subsequent birth were predestined because she became pregnant while using contraception. According to her, she does not believe in abortion, and she was taking contraception when she became pregnant; therefore, she believes the pregnancy was meant to be. “Well, we contemplated it since experts advised that it was the wisest course of action. We ultimately opted to let nature take its course because he was already halfway there,” says the author. As the pregnancy progressed, the doctors informed them that he was at great risk of being stillborn or not surviving after birth. They predicted that he would be blind, deaf, and prone to convulsions. “We couldn’t figure out how they could detect that from a scan,” says the team.
When Lorenzo was born, he developed hydrocephalus, which caused the ventricles or cavities in his brain to grow excessively enlarged, resulting in a condition known as severe ventriculomegaly. This also resulted in a rupture of a portion of his brain. A recent study by the International Association of Hydrocephalus found that hydrocephalus affects approximately one in every 1000 births, making it as frequent as Down syndrome and even more common than spina bifida or brain tumors.
It is caused when fluid becomes trapped in the brain and accumulates, increasing pressure inside the skull and squashing the surrounding brain tissue, as described above. In some situations, this might result in the head steadily growing in size, convulsions, and brain damage as a result of the trauma. If left untreated, it has the potential to be lethal. After his birth, his brain stem, which governs basic body processes such as breathing and swallowing, was discovered to be the only thing that was keeping him alive, according to an MRI scan performed after his birth. However, after physicians implanted a tube known as a shunt, which drains the excess fluid into his abdomen, the fluid on his brain has begun to decrease. This indicates that the swelling on his head will gradually diminish over time. According to Mr. Pontone, “I am quite grateful that we did not go through with the termination. It crossed our minds because we anticipated it would be difficult, and we weren’t sure we’d be able to get through it. But he’s a fighter, and we knew we could. I couldn’t possibly imagine going through what he’s gone through. As soon as we laid eyes on him, we knew we were in love. I couldn’t keep the shivers at bay, and we were sobbing our hearts out. We’re quite pleased with him. Everything the doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to do, he has accomplished.”
When the kid eventually cried after a 10-minute wait when he was born, Miss Lewis described it as a very emotional experience. “We underwent a planned C-section at 36 weeks because Lorenzo’s head was growing at an alarming rate,” she explained to the newspaper. “At first, he didn’t cry, and we just sat there waiting for him to cry for what felt like a good ten minutes,” says his mother. “We were overjoyed when he finally did, and it was a very emotional moment. I was beginning to believe he wouldn’t make it. His eyes were continually open because he couldn’t blink. At first, the physicians had no choice but to sew the corners of his eyelids together. He’s now able to blink and open his eyes, proving a lot of doctors wrong,” said the mother.
They’re unsure how their son’s illness may affect him in the long run, but they believe that the fact that he’s lived after birth is nothing short of a miracle. The tiny boy has been presented to his siblings: Kobe, age 12; Lily, 10; Thomas, 8; Bella, 5; and Gino, 10 months. Kobe is the oldest of the siblings, while Lily is the youngest. According to Ms. Lewis, “We’re simply taking it day by day, and we’ll sort it out when he meets his developmental goals. A lot of people admire him for his intelligence and food demands. His brothers and sisters adore him as well. We have a lot of learning to do because he’ll be on medication for the rest of his life,” the couple says. They must learn how to change his colostomy bag and feed him, but it will be all worth it in the end. Mr. Pontone has been obliged to take time off from his job as a supermarket manager to care for the couple’s other five children, prompting the creation of a fundraising campaign by the couple. The couple alternates between staying at the hospital with Lorenzo and going home. “We just want to point out that doctors are not always correct in their diagnoses,” said Fernando, the father of the children. “Who died. I have proof that he’s still alive and well.”
What is hydrocephalus and how does it work? Hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the cavities or ventricles deep within the brain. The extra fluid expands the size of the ventricles, putting pressure on the brain and increasing the risk of stroke. In normal circumstances, cerebrospinal fluid circulates through the ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column. However, the pressure created by an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid associated with hydrocephalus can damage brain structures and result in a variety of cognitive defects. It’s possible to develop hydrocephalus at any age; however, it’s more common in infants and in persons over the age of 60. Hydrocephalus can be treated surgically, which can help to restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain. Different therapies are frequently necessary to effectively manage the symptoms or issues associated with hydrocephalus.
Causes: Hydrocephalus is caused by an imbalance between the amount of cerebral spinal fluid produced and the amount of fluid that’s absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s created by tissues lining the ventricles of the brain and it’s known as cerebrospinal fluid. It travels through the ventricles by way of interconnected channels and out the other side. The fluid eventually finds its way into the areas around the brain and spinal column and becomes trapped there. In the brain, it’s largely absorbed through blood arteries and tissues located on the surface of the brain. Cerebral spinal fluid, or CSF, plays a crucial part in brain function by performing the following functions: It’s necessary to keep the brain buoyant in order for the relatively hefty brain to float within the skull, providing protection for the brain to prevent injury, getting rid of waste materials produced by the brain’s metabolism, a fluid that circulates back and forth between the brain cavity and spinal column in order to maintain a constant pressure within the brain, compensating for changes in blood pressure within the brain. Too much cerebral spinal fluid in the ventricles can arise for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is obstruction. An obstruction in the flow of cerebral spinal fluid either from one ventricle to another or from the ventricles to the other regions around the brain is by far the most prevalent problem. Absorptive capacity is low, a less common complication is a problem with the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. This is frequently associated with inflammation of the brain tissues as a result of disease or damage. Overproduction: In some cases, cerebrospinal fluid is produced at a faster rate than it can be absorbed. Factors that increase risk: It’s often difficult to determine the source of hydrocephalus in its early stages. Hydrocephalus, on the other hand, can be caused or exacerbated by a variety of developmental or medical disorders.
Newborns: Hydrocephalus that’s present at birth (congenital) or that develops shortly after birth can be caused by any of the factors listed below. Developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system that might cause the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to become obstructed. Premature birth can result in bleeding within the ventricles, which is a potential problem. It’s possible to contract an infection in the uterus during pregnancy, such as rubella or syphilis, which can induce inflammation in the embryonic brain structures. Other considerations that play a role: There are a variety of other variables that can lead to hydrocephalus in any age range, including brain tumors or lesions of the spinal cord, common infections of the central nervous system such as bacterial meningitis or the mumps, brain bleeding is a result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury, traumatic harm to the brain in other ways.
Complications: In a majority of cases, hydrocephalus advances, which means that if it’s not addressed, it can lead to difficulties such as intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, among other things. It has the potential to be life-threatening. The treatment of less severe instances may result in few, if any, major problems when they’re handled properly. Thank you for reading.
