Our HH Family

Kenzi McCormick

Kenzi was born on August 27, 1999 and was diagnosed with HH when she was 2 years old.

She started in April 2001 with early breast bud development followed by two menstrual cycles. Unaware of why our daughter had precocious puberty, and under the advisory of her pediatrician, Dr. Chartrand at Scott A.F.B. Hospital, we headed in November 2001 to Childrens Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri to consult with Dr. Bethin, and an Endocrinologist Specialist.

From there we were sent to Dr. Ogamin, a Neurologist Surgeon who was pro-surgery (Dr. Bethin being anti-surgery due to the Lupron injections that are controlling the percousious puberty.) At this consultation, Kenzi was diagnosed with HH and we, as her parents, were instructed to do research on the internet and make a choice. Once we discovered the benign tumor in center of the brain, the questions started. And the answers have not been easily found.

Since that time, Kenzi has began to have seizures, so Dr. Neil, her Pediatric Seizure Specialist at Childrens Hospital, placed her on Tegretol 100mg and presented to us to consider speech and life skills therapy. His intern (unfortunately I do not recall his name) gave us the HHugs website information which to date has been a life changing moment. Also under the guidance of Pam, Dr. Chartrands nurse, (and an outstanding, compassionate individual), I have learned to give Kenzi her Lupron 11.25mg injections at home. (These control the precocious puberty)

I do highly suggest to anyone having a child with HH to get as involved in your childs' medical and developmental treatment as possible. Not only does it allow me as a mother to be my daughters #1 advocate, but also it minimizes the frustration of feeling helpless about her condition.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about this syndrome, and a lot of research still left to do, to make it easier for future parents and children of HH.

On April 4, 2002 we will be returning to Childrens Hospital to conduct another MRI and consult with Dr. Ogemin regarding surgery options. We are leaning towards Dr. Jeffrey Rosenfeld, a Neurosurgeon currently in Australia, but are due in May to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. In regards to Dr. Rosenfeld's technique, we are more comfortable with that than that of the American technique we have researched.

But, we proceed with caution and prayer about the future of our beautiful daughter, Kenzi.