March 20, 2008

Benefit dinner for Jackson Nichols

slated for March 28

Evergreen Implement, Inc., employees and concerned friends are sponsoring a donation-only spaghetti feed to benefit the family of Jackson Nichols, who recently had surgery to treat Craniosynostosis.

Larry Goodrich, an employee at Evergreen Implement, is organizing the benefit spaghetti feed on Friday, March 28, from 6-8 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.

Volunteers have contacted local residents and businesses to donate items for a silent auction that night, with all proceeds to help pay medical expenses for Jackson's stay at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Donations are still being accepted for the silent auction. Items may be dropped off at Evergreen Implement, 803 West First Avenue, Ritzville.

If you are unable to attend the benefit and wish to make a donation, contact the local business at 659-0510.

Jackson was born with Craniosynostosis, which is the early fusion of one or more of the sutures – specialized joint between skull bones that enable expansion of the skull during normal brain growth – between the bony plates of the skull and are commonly known as soft spots, according to family member Cheryl Nichols.

When the sutures fuse too early, the skull can't grow normally. Craniosynostosis occurs in one out of 2,000 babies and affects males twice as often as females.

Treatment typically requires a delicate operation in which a neurosurgeon and a cranialfacial plastic surgeon work together to remove, reshape and replace pieces of the skull.

Jackson's surgery was March 14 in Seattle. Jackson, Jamie and Michael returned home on Monday, and Michael was back at work on Wednesday.

(Editor's note: The following was written by Jamie at the Caring Bridge Web site www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacksonnichols.)

"When Jackson was born he was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis.

"Thankfully, my OB/GYN, Dr. Brasch noticed that he didn't have the normal amount of soft spots when he was born. We were then referred to the Children's Hospital in Seattle who confirmed this diagnosis. This began our many trips to Seattle.

"For those of you not familiar with it, Craniosynostosis is the early fusion of one or more of the sutures (specialized joints between skull bones that enable expansion of the skull during normal brain growth) between the bony plates of the skull. When the sutures fuse too early, the skull cannot grow normally. Jackson's case is a mild one; on a scale from 1 to 10 his would be about a 3.

"For Jackson's surgery they will make a zig zag line from one ear to the other ear, within the hairline. The neurosurgeon will then make an incision on each side of the affected suture and the craniofacial plastic surgeon will make 3 incisions on each side of the skull, this allows the skull to open like a flower. Then the plastic surgeon reshapes the skull bone into a more normal shape.

"If everything goes according as planned this will be the only surgery Jackson will need. We will have follow up CT scans to ensure that his skull is growing along with his brain.

"Michael & I are thankful it was caught early and that we are able to correct it before any permanent damage was done."