Table of Contents
- Pregnancy Journey
- Birth and Early Life
- Medical Challenges
- Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
- Living with Cerebral Palsy
- Conclusion
FOR the initial months of her pregnancy, Hannah Sachs experienced a smooth journey.
However, everything changed during her 22-week scan when an abnormality was detected. Her unborn son was suspected to have an encephalocele, a condition in which part of the brain protrudes through a gap in the skull.
Little Liam was born with a ‘bubble’ on his forehead, affectionately named ‘squishy’ by his family.
The baby underwent surgery to drain and subsequently remove the sac when he was just a few months old.
The 32-year-old mother was fearful of losing her child, but remained under careful observation and welcomed little Liam into the world in March 2023 without complications.
Hannah, a research coordinator based in Cincinnati, shared with Sun Health: “Seeing him for the first time is a moment I will cherish forever.
“He was beautiful, and his very existence was a blessing.”
However, he did not resemble the other babies in the hospital.
Liam was born with a significant sac of fluid on his forehead, which his family affectionately called his “squishy,” and was immediately taken to the NICU.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster,” Hannah, who lives with her partner Gabriel, recalls.
“All I cared about was his ability to thrive outside the womb – everything else we would manage.”
After 13 days, he was discharged to go home but required oxygen as his levels frequently dropped throughout the day.
Liam seemed to be on the mend. However, two weeks later, he developed severe hydrocephalus, which is an accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
This condition can lead to brain damage and can be fatal, necessitating an emergency shunt to drain the fluid.
“He was just one month old and undergoing his first brain surgery,” Hannah recalls. “It was difficult to witness him endure that.
“He was already demonstrating incredible strength at such a young age.”
The surgery was successful, but doctors advised that he would require a larger operation at six months old to remove the encephalocele and undergo a full skull reconstruction.
The tiny infant underwent the 11-hour surgery in September 2023.
Hannah explains: “Due to the formation of the encephalocele, much of his skull was deformed, which they were able to correct during this surgery.”
Liam spent 11 days in recovery, with his eyes swollen shut for the first week.
Liam was taken directly into intensive care when doctors noticed the fluid sac on his face.
Until her 22-week scan, Hannah’s pregnancy had been progressing well.
Hannah, her partner Gabriel, and baby Liam from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hannah describes her son as a ‘miracle’ child.
“Every little thing startled him because he couldn’t see,” Hannah notes.
“Nurses and doctors would touch him to check his vitals or examine the incision, which frightened him.
“We constantly spoke to him to help him understand what was happening.
“Although he didn’t
