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Gavin SilvestriLittle American with Cystic Hygroma
Date of Birth: 01.01.2018
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Birth of a Warrior: Gavin's Journey with Cystic Hygroma
- A Medical Obstacle
- The NICU Battle
- A Mother's Perspective
- "I only saw my baby and nothing else."
- "A lot of moms take for granted when their babies come home."
- Waiting for Recovery
- "He's got everything ready for him here."
- Understanding Cystic Hygroma
- Most often, cystic hygromas appear on the neck and armpits.
- Cystic hygromas can be detected during fetal ultrasound.
Birth of a Warrior: Gavin's Journey with Cystic Hygroma
A Rare BeginningGavin Silvestri, a newborn American, entered the world with an uncommon medical condition known as cystic hygroma. At the tender age of three months, he emerged from the womb with hundreds of cysts covering the lower half of his face, hindering his ability to utter a single sound. His mother, 27-year-old Victoria, yearns to hear her baby's cry and longs to take him home.
A Medical Obstacle
Gavin's cystic hygroma, a collection of fluid-filled cysts, had been detected through ultrasound at 18 weeks of pregnancy. The cysts, present on his cheeks, chin, lips, and neck, narrowed his airways, necessitating the insertion of a breathing tube during his unplanned Caesarean section.
The NICU Battle
Upon birth, Gavin was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Florida. He has since undergone critical procedures, including a seven-hour surgery to remove dead tissue from his face. Despite respiratory stabilization, his journey to a healthy life is far from over. Multiple procedures await him before he can be deemed out of danger. His parents remain hopeful that by early summer 2018, their son will be strong enough to be discharged home.
A Mother's Perspective
Victoria, who had planned for a Caesarean section delivery on February 8, experienced premature labor on the very day her husband, 27-year-old basketball coach Joe, was out of state for a tournament game. "I had about 30 doctors and nurses helping me deliver this baby," Victoria recalls. "It was like an episode of 'Grey's Anatomy.' The risk was high, but everything went as planned."
"The moment I saw Gavin, it wasn't a shock. I had prepared myself for that, since I knew about his condition."
"I only saw my baby and nothing else."
A Growing ChallengeIn addition to the cysts on Gavin's face, they had begun to develop around his trachea during his time in the womb. His airway was compromised, necessitating the breathing tube.
"Gavin was whisked away to NICU right after he was born," Victoria remembers. "It's very hard to process this."
"A lot of moms take for granted when their babies come home."
"I have a hard time when people talk about their sleepless nights because their babies are crying, because I've never heard Gavin cry. He's physically not able to."
"He tries, but nothing happens. Day by day, we're getting used to it, but we're looking forward to the day we hear our son laugh, or hear him cry."
Waiting for Recovery
The medical team is currently allowing Gavin to recover from his recent procedure before initiating further treatment.
"Our main focus right now is to get his exposed areas to heal," Victoria explains. "Hopefully, the trach situation will go away and maybe we can get him home."
A tracheostomy tube is inserted directly into the patient's windpipe to assist in breathing.
"I'm just ready," Victoria adds. "Every couple hours, I go home and I go in Gavin's room and I think about how good it will feel for him to be here."
"He's got everything ready for him here."
A Brave Little SoulReflecting on the hardships her tiny son has endured in his first three months of life, his mother says, "He's a little warrior. He's amazing. And Gavin is so chill, he's so easygoing."
"I was lucky to have met a mom who had her son, who had the same thing that Gavin has, for months, and he's thriving today. It gives me hope."
"While we're taking it day by day, it would be nice to get back to a normal life with a healthy baby."
Understanding Cystic Hygroma
Cystic hygromas are collections of non-cancerous cystic growths filled with fluid.
Approximately 1% of babies born in the United Kingdom (UK) develop cystic hygromas.
Most often, cystic hygromas appear on the neck and armpits.
Hygromas begin when the lymphatic system develops abnormally during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
Since the disorder develops early in pregnancy, it cannot be prevented.
Cystic hygromas can be detected during fetal ultrasound.
The painless, translucent, soft-to-the-touch growths are either visible at birth or appear early in infancy.
Treatment is not always required, but may include surgical removal of the cystic hygroma or injection sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy involves an inflammatory reaction that causes the cystic hygroma to shrink.
Cosmetic surgery may be performed later in life to reduce the size and prominence of scars.
