Family of 3...soon to be 5!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Procedure Date Set
Brycen will have his procedure at Children's on Thursday, October 9. If all goes as planned he will be in ACH overnight and then sore and cranky for a few days after that.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Children's Check-Up #2
We had to go back to Children's today for Brycen's second check-up since his surgery. Unfortunately, we didn't get the news we were expecting today. The visit today included an echo (ultrasound) of Brycen's heart and it showed that there is recurrence of coarctation in his aorta.
What appears to be happening is that the patch that was put in during surgery is healing, but is forming too much scar tissue around the suture. The scar tissue is now causing blockage/narrowing in the aorta. This is a very common side effect from the type of surgery that Brycen had. For the problem to be fixed, Brycen will have to have a balloon procedure (we hoped for this the first time, remember) in which they will insert a long tube through his leg and that will go up to his heart. Once they find the narrow spot they will inflate the balloon and expand the area. The procedure will take about an hour and Brycen will be kept over night at the hospital for monitoring.
The good news out of this visit is that once again they caught the problem early. It is NOT life threatening at this time, but if let go, it would be. The scar tissue isn't an immediate threat to the blood flow, as was the PDA valve closing when the problem was first discovered. In fact, Dr. Fontenot wants to actually wait for another month before doing the procedure so that the patch can scar even more and become even stronger. That will also lessen the chance of having to repeat this procedure in the future.
Not the news we were wanting to hear, but we are so thankful the problem has been found again. We are so thankful for Dr. Fontenot and the staff at Children's, if not for them we wouldn't have this little guy.
What appears to be happening is that the patch that was put in during surgery is healing, but is forming too much scar tissue around the suture. The scar tissue is now causing blockage/narrowing in the aorta. This is a very common side effect from the type of surgery that Brycen had. For the problem to be fixed, Brycen will have to have a balloon procedure (we hoped for this the first time, remember) in which they will insert a long tube through his leg and that will go up to his heart. Once they find the narrow spot they will inflate the balloon and expand the area. The procedure will take about an hour and Brycen will be kept over night at the hospital for monitoring.
The good news out of this visit is that once again they caught the problem early. It is NOT life threatening at this time, but if let go, it would be. The scar tissue isn't an immediate threat to the blood flow, as was the PDA valve closing when the problem was first discovered. In fact, Dr. Fontenot wants to actually wait for another month before doing the procedure so that the patch can scar even more and become even stronger. That will also lessen the chance of having to repeat this procedure in the future.
Not the news we were wanting to hear, but we are so thankful the problem has been found again. We are so thankful for Dr. Fontenot and the staff at Children's, if not for them we wouldn't have this little guy.
We will keep you posted on the situation and let you know when they schedule the procedure. Brycen already can't wait to go back and kick butt again!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Yum!
I like carrots!!
I can't wait until I can feed myself! I try now but it doesn't work very well.
I can't wait until I can feed myself! I try now but it doesn't work very well.
Monday, September 8, 2008
3 Months Old
Brycen turned 3 months old last week. He is enjoying rice cereal, his "Hop 'N Pop," Chillin' in the bath, and of course Razorback football.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)