Teddi Mellencamp‘s baby daughter Dove is set to undergo neurosurgery at the end of this month.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her five-month-old baby has Lambdoid Craniosynostosis and must have the surgery in order to deal with the condition.
“Dealing with anxiety, especially when in the ‘public eye,’ isn’t easy; and going into July it’s at an all-time high,” Teddi shared in an Instagram post on July 6. “I was torn as to whether I should share this information, but as someone who tries to be as transparent as possible, and knowing I have a platform to reach others in similar situations, I would like to update you all. Our sweet baby Dove was diagnosed with Lambdoid Craniosynostosis and has to undergo neurosurgery at the end of the month.”
According to Mayo Clinic, Lambdoid Craniosynostosis is “a birth defect in which one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of your baby’s skull (cranial sutures) close prematurely (fuse), before your baby’s brain is fully formed. Brain growth continues, giving the head a misshapen appearance.”
The definition continues in saying that treating the condition “involves surgery to correct the shape of the head and allow for normal brain growth. Early diagnosis and treatment allow your baby’s brain adequate space to grow and develop.”
Teddi went on in her Instagram post to share how “grateful” she was for “an amazing team of doctors” who caught the condition early and will be working diligently to fix it.
“The recovery is about a week in the hospital and a couple 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,” Teddi continued in the post. “Please keep baby Dove in your prayers and if you have had a child with this same surgery, please let me know below, as I would love any additional insight and support. Sending ???? to you all.”
Baby Dove’s diagnosis is the second medical predicament the Arroyave family faced this month, as Teddi’s other daughter, Slate, 7, is currently recovering from a finger injury.
Even so, the family continues to stay strong, coming together for a sweet Fourth of July photo with Dove front and center.
“In lieu of fireworks Dove decided to light us all up with a big ol smile on this 4th of July. ???????? ????,” she captioned the post.
Photos Credit: Shutterstock, Instagram