When we first adopted Sir Noggin, unofficially, after he had been rescued from traffic by a friend, we knew something was bugging the little guy. While he behaved perfectly normally most of the time, he would have these bad days, where he seemed to have a headache. He had a soft lump on his head, and at first glance, his vet thought it was a cyst. It was also clear his skull wasn't formed properly, and that we'd have to get internal imaging in order to fully diagnose the problem.

After months of seeking donations and treatment on a limited budget, we are not only thankful for all those who have helped us along the way, but also amazed by the generosity and fellowship we have seen. Here, we'll retrace Noggin's path.

External examination of Sir Noggin's noggin seemed to present a cyst on top of a hole in his skull. There was also evidence of hydrocephalus, a condition in which water builds up where it shouldn't and applies pressure to the brain. Theoretically, it seemed Noggin would need the cyst removed, an artificial skull, and a shunt to take the water pressure off his brain.

After getting a look inside, though, thanks to an MRI donated by the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, in Woburn, MA, the diagnosis and treatment plans needed to be reconsidered and shifted. Sir Noggin had a rare genetic defect called an encephalocele (with cranium bifidum). These are very rarely seen because the animals usually die at birth or are put down by vets. Most of the animals would not behave normally, but Noggin was always a very active kitten, developmentally normal, so he was unique in this way.

At 4 months, Noggin spent several days at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, where he would have his surgery. Nobody knew how he would do in surgery, and whether or not he'd survive. His vet told us to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. His physical examination revealed that aside from his head/brain, he had an ideal body condition and that he was neurologically normal. The team went forward with surgery.

An elliptical incision was made around the encephalocele, and the lump was removed carefully, so as to keep the brain tissue in tact. A titanium mesh plate was placed to cover the skull defect and then screwed in place. After surgery, they checked with a CT scan to make sure everything was in place as needed. Sir Noggin, fortunately, did not have hydrocephalus, so a shunt was not needed. The healing process began uneventfully and Noggin began behaving like his old self quicker than anyone had anticipated. 3 days after surgery, Sir Noggin was bright and alert, playing, eating, and using the litterbox on his own, and ready to go home.

Sir Noggin's head is just about healed now, a little over a month after his surgery. He continues to play, grow, and learn and he hasn't had a headache since his surgery. He has a tiny visible scar on the front of his forehead, where the cyst used to be, and his fur covers the rest of the scar, which travels down his back to his shoulder blades.