Rare condition doesn't let St. Petersburg kid sleep

Friday, May 9, 2008

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Rhett Lamb, 3, has a condition called Chiari Malformation.

ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- Three-year-old Rhett Lamb, of Petersburg, has never been able to fall asleep.

He will undergo brain surgery Thursday for a condition called Chiari Malformation.

His parents knew something just wasn't right the day he was born.

"We take it day by day, hour by hour with him, minute by minute," said Rhett's father David Lamb. "Because one minute we don't know if he's going to be good or bad because of the mood he's going to be in."

Doctors weren't much help figuring out what was wrong with him.

"You go to one and one says 'no he's not autistic', said Rhett's Mother Shannon Lamb. "Then you go to a development pediatrician. 'No he's not.' Then you go to a neurosurgeon. 'Have you checked into autism?' 'Well, we've done that.' 'Well we need to send you back to this doctor.' It's a vicious circle."

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Rhett's parents are hopeful surgery will be successful.

"He does not have enough room for the brain fluid from the spinal fluid to flow around the brain," Shannon said.

The rare condition is one possibility for Rhett's symptoms.

"With sleep deprivation it really starts messing with your mind," Shannon said. "And a lot of behavioral issues he has once the sleep is taken care of we can start addressing the behavioral stuff."

Rhett's parents are hopeful surgery will be successful.

It hasn't been easy for the Lambs. David had to leave his job earlier this year to stay home with his sleepless son and Shannon continues to work full time to pay for Rhett's ever-increasing medical bills.

"He's got the day shift," Shannon said. "I get the afternoon shift. Then we share the night shift because no one can sleep in the house when he's up anyway."

The surgery isn't guaranteed. Doctors say there's a 50-50 chance for success.

"I would give anything for Rhett to be this normal little boy that plays and has a good time," Shannon said. "And if it takes going to every single solitary doctor I will do it."