Seth Bernard and May Erlewine upbeat after baby daughter undergoes surgery for rare skull condition

Baby Iris recovering “like a champion” at home near Traverse City; May takes time off from the stage, with couple “inspired” by those helping out financially.

 

Michigan folk icons Seth Bernard and May Erlewine consider their baby daughter, Iris, “a beacon of light” – especially now that the eight-month-old is recovering “like a champion” after undergoing surgery to reshape her skull last month at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

The couple discovered in June that Iris suffers from a rare condition called craniosynostosis, or the premature fusing of sutures in the skull. Without the surgery, doctors worried that as Iris grew, her head would become too long and narrow to properly accommodate the growth of her brain, leading to developmental delays and an odd head shape.

So, Iris underwent surgery on Oct. 28 which involved “cranial vault reshaping,” in which a neurosurgeon removes the top of the skull and dissects the bone from the brain, and a plastic surgeon makes cuts in the bones of the skull to reshape it.

Bernard told Local Spins that the surgery went well for their only child, though it will take time for swelling to subside and she must sleep “at an angle” for two months. Full recovery for Iris will take six months “till the bone is totally strong again.”

“It has been an ordeal and there have been some times when I’ve felt like I was at the bottom of the ocean, there are so many challenging layers to the situation, but being on the other side of surgery with Iris healing so well is incredibly relieving,” he said.

ERLEWINE TAKING TIME OFF FROM PERFORMING

“We are very grateful to all of the people who have helped our family along the healing road. It is a great reminder not to take anything for granted and to give thanks whenever possible.”

The recovery means that Erlewine will stay off the stage and remain at home with Iris outside Traverse City until a New Year’s Eve performance with the Starlight Six at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre. Bernard, meanwhile, continues to tour behind his latest Americana/rock/folk album, “Reconciliation and the Great Beyonda,” and plans to share some new songs he’s written while spending time with his wife and daughter in recent months.

The couple didn’t formally announce word of Iris’ condition until after the surgery.

But the additional expenses sparked by the medical ordeal and the loss of income from cutting back on performances have left the musician couple seeking “financial support to stay afloat as we continue on our journey and support Iris through the healing process,” according to a posting on the website for the Earthwork Music collective they founded many years ago. “If you would like to make a donation to help our family through this difficult time, we are humbled and thankful for your support.” (Get more information about donating to the cause and details about Iris’ condition online here.)

“It is truly touching to see how naturally people reach out with authentic love and support when there is hardship in the community. It is one of the most consistently inspiring things about human nature,” Bernard said.

“We have seen this from both sides and have made it a part of our vision for Earthwork Music, to offer music to give comfort and courage to people during hard times. To be on the receiving end with our dear daughter is humbling and continues to strengthen our family and our faith in this community we get to belong to. … The generosity of spirit is incredible. People have been very kind and encouraging. … Our minds are blown.”

Copyright 2014, Spins on Music LLC