The Lucknow Sentinel, 1984-10-03, Page 5Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, October 3, 1984—Page 5
Megan Traphsel is a $
Editor's note; The following article appeared
In the Tisdale Recorder July 11. It features.
the granddaughter of Isabel and Bill
MacPherson of West • Wawanosh Township,
Megan, Trachsel. The article Is reprinted
here for the Interest of our readers.
By Irene Puchala
Megan Trachsel is the 11 -month-old baby
of Gordon and Margaret Trachsel of rural
Tisdale. She is cute, bright, and receives an
Over abundance of attention like most other
babiesher age.
But Megan is a specialchild.. She was born.
with a serious defect that left her paralyzed
from the navel line down. However, her
parents are developing her basic skills with
as much ,hope 'for a bright, encouraging
future as any other child her age. And
Megan is not about to let any physical
barrier slow her down.
Before Megan's birth, her doctors had
discovered that_ there had been complica-
tionsin.:the .formation of her body. Different
opinions from different doctors - had made
her diagnosis confusing to the Trachsels.
Not until she had been born, did they
determine thatshe had a rare and serious
disease called spina bifida.
Spina bifida (myelomeningocele or men-
ingomyelocele). begihs its formation in the
early .stages.. of pregnancy.. During the
formation of the fetus, the spinal cord of the
child does not form properly. Usually, the
spinal. cord lcirms into a straight column,
first: covered by a. membrane, and then bony
spines. However, when spina bifida is
present, the membrane pouches out to ;form
a sac at a point along. the back. The
membranous sac prevents the spine from
forming properly, and the spinal cord,
instead of following a straight column, grows
►eGal child k•Iernrined to live .
Megan Trachsel
into 'a sac. The .spinal cord does not formin
the normal way in the sac, and the result.is
that the nerves coming out of the spine
below the sac are not hooked up properly
into the spinal cord and thus to the brain.
The opening in the skin along the spinal
column is evidence at the time of birth that
the baby has spina bifida. Because, the spot
on Megan Trachsel's spinal column had.
been large and relatively high on her column.
(below the shoulder blake), all nerves in her
lower body has been . affected.. Her doctors
had considered her defection a serious case,
a. fourth . degree !spot. The baby had been
paralyzed from the, navel down.
The Trachsels had reacted to the'situation
with shock and confusion. They were'told by
their docto s that Megan had one, week to
one year US live.
Shortly after birth, the child had had
several surgeries. The defected, spinal
column with its nerves were readjusted and
grafting of the skin had covered the spot. A
shunt was inserted into the tiny body to
allow the circulation of fluid from the brain
to other parts of the body.
Now, Megan is developing and respond-
ing to most normal activities in a baby's life.
But, because she has lost all voluntary
control of her bladder and bowel muscles,
she is cathetorized every, two hours.
To help strengthen muscles in her arms
and torso, therapists work with Megan in
special exercise sessions. The maximum
amount, of maneuverability that Megan
achieves with these muscles will help to
compensate for that movement that she does
not have.
Every two weeks, a hometeacher from the
North East ' Early Childhood Intervention
Prograin„I4EECIP).visits. Megan to check on..
her progress and her difficulties. Mr. and
Mrs. Trachsel, along with the 'hometeacher,.
work with Megan and different therapeutic
exercises to advance the muscles that she is
able to use. ,
Once a month, , the Trachsels visit the
Children's Rehabilitation Center in Saska-
toon for further consultation. Margaret
Trachsel says that the CRC has' been a great
source of help for Megan' and themselves.
Every three months, the family . visits the
Spina Bifida. Clinic ..(University .Hospital,
Saskatoon) for a regular clinic including
therapy and .consultation for, victims of spina
bifida. Megan's, doctors have anopportunity
to examineMVtegan and observe her progress
and difficulties. .
Soon, Megan will be in a castercart; a
three wheeled vehicle that stands about one
foot off the ground. This device will help to
replace the first stage of a baby's movement,
creeping.
If Megan's trunk muscles are strength-
ened successfully in her exercises, sie may
be able to use a walking cast. If her muscles
do not develop to this point, she w ill have to
use a wheelchair.
When Megan is three to four years old,
she will be taken to Saskatoon to be taught
how to fully cathetorize .herself. This will
allow her a greater independence, and she
will be eligible to attend school. Megan will
have the opportunity to. participate . in most
activities of a normal ' life, and . Gordon and
Margaret Trachsel are doing all possible to
reassure her.
The cause of spina bifida has not yet been
determined. It is thought to be, partly
hereditary and partly environmental, : but
recentdiscoveries in recent cases are
confusing present conclusions. While the
odds are still in favor of the Trachsels having
a normal child, there is a greater chance of
their having a child with spina bifida than
' there would be for families who don't
already have such a child.
The .Trachsels attain a great. amount .of
hope for their child and are very encouraged
about her future.. "In today's day and age,
Megan should have few problems. With the
use of her hands and ' mind, her future looks
very bright," Gordon said.. The Trachsels
have adopted .a quote that they tell friend
' . Turn to page 16•
R. G. Sorter, , President of .Signal Star Publishing. Limited, has
announced that Patricia Livingston has been named General
Manager of The Lucknow Sentinel, effective immediately.
I ,
Mrs. Livingston joined the Sentinel staff in December 1977 as • a
bookkeeper. She was promoted to Office Manager In 1980 and has
since served In all departments of the newspaper, becoming
fa lllar with every aspect of the business In Lucknow.
In her new duties, Mrs. Livingston will have responsibility for all
the daily operations of The Lucknow Sentinel and Its business,/
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