Baby McKenna Hovenga is held in the arms of her mother Kassy on Mother's Day. The infant is showing signs of improvement after an overthrown softball hit her head at her father's game earlier this month. (Healing for McKenna) The 7-week-old baby who was hit on the head by a softball earlier this month in Iowa is showing signs of recovery, according to a Facebook page devoted to her. McKenna Hovenga was struck at her father's game while in her mother’s arms on May 2 in the town of Shell Rock, which is about 95 miles northeast of Des Moines. She was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She has had setbacks, and just recently a report said doctors believe she suffered “significant” damage in one area of the brain. The Facebook post on Tuesday, however, showed glimmers of optimism. "McKenna is doing fantabulous! Her chest x-ray is looking better and they aren't getting as much mucous out when they … [Read more...] about Baby McKenna shows signs of improvement after softball accident severely injures head
Mayo northeast clinic
Iowa baby struck by softball may have suffered brain damage
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Doctors say an infant may have suffered brain damage when struck by an overthrown softball at her father's game in northeastern Iowa. Mayo Clinic physicians in Rochester, Minnesota, have been balancing various medications as they treat 8-week-old McKenna Hovenga, whose skull was fractured. She was struck while in the arms of her mother, Kassy, on May 2 in Shell Rock, some 95 miles northeast of Des Moines. A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page says doctors have pinpointed her seizures to two areas of the brain that appear to have been damaged, areas related to motor skills and development. The extent of any damage remains unclear.Another post says Kassy was allowed to hold McKenna on Mother's Day for the first time in 10 days.Click here for more stories, photos, and video from around the U.S. … [Read more...] about Iowa baby struck by softball may have suffered brain damage
Baby Hit by Softball Healing From Fractured Skull, Seizures
A 7-week-old baby hit by a softball is being treated for skull fractures and brain bleeds; the injury occurred during a game in which her father played in northeastern Iowa. Authorities say the overthrown softball struck McKenna Hovenga and her mom, Kassy, as they watched the game Wednesday in Shell Rock, some 95 miles northeast of Des Moines, The Associated Press said. McKenna's father, Lee Hovenga, was in the game. McKenna was taken to a local hospital then flown to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page said that after 48 hours without a seizure, doctors have started to wean McKenna off her seizure medication. A neurologist told the family that McKenna's brain activity is calming down. … [Read more...] about Baby Hit by Softball Healing From Fractured Skull, Seizures
Baby hit by softball treated for fractured skull, brain bleeds
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A 7-week-old baby is being treated for skull fractures and brain bleeds after she was hit in the head by a softball while watching her father play in northeastern Iowa. Authorities say the overthrown softball struck McKenna Hovenga and her mom, Kassy, as they watched the game Wednesday in Shell Rock, some 95 miles northeast of Des Moines. McKenna's father, Lee Hovenga, was in the game. McKenna was taken to a local hospital then flown to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is currently intubated and has a feeding tube and the doctors are currently working to stabilize her seizures due to traumatic brain injury, according to a YouCaring page set up by her family. A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page said that after 48 hours without a seizure, doctors have started to wean McKenna off her seizure medication. A neurologist told the family that McKenna's brain activity appears calmer than before. "Asking for … [Read more...] about Baby hit by softball treated for fractured skull, brain bleeds
Iowa baby hit by softball has fractured skull, brain bleeds
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A 7-week-old baby is being treated for skull fractures and brain bleeds after she was hit in the head by a softball while watching her father play in northeastern Iowa. Authorities say the overthrown softball struck McKenna Hovenga and her mom, Kassy, as they watched the game Wednesday in Shell Rock, some 95 miles (150 kilometers) northeast of Des Moines. McKenna's father, Lee Hovenga, was in the game. McKenna was taken to a local hospital then flown to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A post on the Healing for McKenna Facebook page said that after 48 hours without a seizure, doctors have started to wean McKenna off her seizure medication. A neurologist told the family that McKenna's brain activity is calming down. … [Read more...] about Iowa baby hit by softball has fractured skull, brain bleeds