Opening up about her 5-month-old’s medical problems was not something Teddi Mellencamp was certain about doing. But in the end, she decided to update her fans on Instagram as to how her daughter Dove is doing.
According to a lengthy Instagram post, the mom of three shared that going into the month of July her anxiety was at an all-time high. And dealing that sort of stress while in the public eye is never easy.
Teddi Mellencamp Opens Up About Her Daughter’s Health Struggles
Along with a stunning photo of baby Dove, Mellencamp began to revealing how torn she was about sharing her daughter’s medical journey publicly. “Dealing with anxiety, especially when in the “public eye,” isn’t easy; and going into July it’s at an all-time high. I was torn as to whether I should share this information.”
However, Mellencamp continued, “as someone who tries to be as transparent as possible, and knowing I have a platform to reach others in similar situations,” the mom decided to update her fans via social media.
“Our sweet baby Dove was diagnosed with Lambdoid Craniosynostosis and has to undergo neurosurgery at the end of the month. We are so grateful to have an amazing team of doctors and surgeons who have caught this early and will be working on her.”
According to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, “lambdoid craniosynostosis, also called lambdoid synostosis, refers to the premature fusion of bones near the back of an infant’s skull. Lambdoid synostosis is a type of craniosynostosis. This condition occurs when the bones at the back of an infant’s skull close up or fuse together prematurely. Normally, the bones of the skull close after reaching adulthood.”
As Mellencamp added, they originally believed that, like her son Cruz, Dove had Torticollis and would likely need a doc band for re-shaping. As Kids Health reports, torticollis is when the muscles of the neck cause the head to tilt down. As they would later come to find out that wasn’t the case.
“Instead, a CT scan showed Lambdoid Craniosynostosis. The recovery is about a week in the hospital and a couple of weeks at home with a very high success rate. So although we are filled with nerves as neurosurgery sounds scary, we have our faith that she will be ok.”
The mom then concluded her post by asking her followers to “please keep baby Dove in your prayers.” Mellencamp also asked those who “have had a child with this same surgery to please let me know below.”
RELATED: Angelina Jolie Pens Compelling Op-Ed About Child Safety During the Coronavirus Health Crisis
“I would love any additional insight and support,” she wrote. It’s unclear when exactly Dove will undergo surgery but she will surely be in many people’s thoughts over the coming weeks.
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.