After nine months of waiting, Salvador "Salvy" Sante Silvestri came into the world Christmas Eve 2013. The doctor noticed soon that little Salvy was exhibiting seizure activity and became concerned that he was not eating. After 24 hours of being out of the womb, Salvy was sent to Cook Children's Medical Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. My wife (Sabra) and I drove two and a half hours to where Salvy was taken. Our minds were frantic and unsure of the future of our first born. 

        Salvy arrived first at the NICU and was taken to a room, where he was monitored through the night. Sabra and I arrived late in the night on Christmas to be with Salvy. The next morning, doctors of different medical practices crowded the room to discuss the situation. Salvy had suffered an Interventricular Hemorrhage (IVH), Grade 3 on one side of his brain and a Grade 4 on the other. Grade 4 is the most severe type of IVH. In the following days, we learned that significant white matter damage had occured. White matter was explained to us as the highway of the brain, carrying nerve pulses to their respective locations.  Each day brought new information. Salvy slowly gained the strength to breath then eat on his own. After 40 days in the NICU, Salvy was released to finally be home. The doctors wanted routine follow-ups though due to Salvy having excess fluid in his verticals. From the Traumatic Brain Injury Salvy suffered from, Hydrocephalus was apparent.

        At three months old, Salvy had a VP shunt placement surgery. The CSF was not draining. The worst part of Salvy's healing process came from the pain he suffered at the stomach incision. He only felt comfortable sitting slightly upright in his little rocker. But Salvy pushed through. His continued development amazed us. PT and OT therapy became a weekly routine. His first month of visits focused on encouraging Salvy to simply roll over on his own. Doctors were not sure how Salvy would develop. After the success of rolling over, Salvy continued to meet and exceed therapy goals.

      In January 2015, Salvy required another head surgery. A cyst wall had formed, blocking CSF flow to his shunt. Once again, Salvy went through and came out better. To this day, no one knows what caused the initial hemorrhaging. Salvy's neurologist exclaimed that he should be mentally retarded with severe Cerebral Palsy. God had a different testimony for Salvy though. He walks with only a slight awkwardness. He is well spoken, knows his alphabet and does not need special education at this time. 

        Salvy suffers from chronic migraines but always has joy in his heart. He loves music, singing and playing instruments; especially the guitar and drums. While Salvy was dealt many obstacles early in his life, his resiliency never ceases amaze us.  

 

         May every Hydro Family never give up hope. There is a song in each of our hearts and 'where words fail, music speaks'.