Cardio Appointment...DONE! I'll be honest...I was very nervous this morning. Not "vomit" nervous like I get every time Macy has to go under general anesthesia, but very nervous. Someone asked me why I was so nervous this time as compared to last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc. Those years were just following her open heart surgery she had at 20 months. I knew it was too soon to need another surgery. But over this last year, I started watching Macy's heart friends go through additional surgeries, and realized that this could be the year. This could be the year I hear those words....those words every heart parent fears....that there is enough concern that there needs to be some sort of intervention...SURGERY.
Macy was a big girl today! She wasn't scared at all...which she shouldn't be since nothing they did hurts her. Still, I was so proud of her. She laid so still as they placed leads all over her chest for her EKG. She laid still again for the 30 minute ECHO they performed on her heart. She watched TV, and asked the technician lots of questions about what she was looking at on the screen. It was so adorable! She once again won over the hearts of staff at cardio-pulmonary and got to go to the staff room to pick out a special toy!
We met with Dr. Hubbard who told us that Macy's ECHO looked good enough for now, and that nothing needed to be done right now. She said that Macy has mild-moderate leakage around her pulmonary valve, and a slight decrease in flow to her lungs. She said that this all will progress as she grows, and will lead to another heart surgery.
I asked her about a new procedure for kids with Tetralogy of Fallot (what Macy has). This procedure places a melody valve in place of the pulmonary valve in the cath lab. A cath is done by going in through the femoral artery in the leg. Macy has had 2 heart caths in the past so they could get a better look at her heart prior to her surgeries. With this new procedure, they are able to place the valve without ever opening the chest. This would be FANTASTIC!!!! It would definitely reduce recovery time. Dr. Hubbard said that it is very new, but they are making quick strides in the procedure, but that not everyone is a candidate. She said that Riley Hospital is prepared to start these procedures, but have not yet. So I guess when time comes for Macy to have her next surgery, we'll take it from there. Please pray that when the time comes, Macy is a candidate!
After telling me that no surgery was necessary, she did inform us that she wanted Macy to wear a 24 hour heart monitor. We have never done one of these before, so I was a little curious as to why she wanted this. She said they simply want to check her heart rhythms and see her highs and lows of her heart rate. I asked her whether there was something in her EKG or ECHO that prompted her to do this, but she said it was just routine. Therefore, after 4 hours spent at Riley, we were headed home, heart monitor and all!!!!
Macy doesn't mind it a bit! And not only is Macy wearing a 24 hour holster, but so it her baby :) Dr. Hubbard said I could take it off of her before school in the morning so that she doesn't have to wear it there, although I think she would probably love it. She flashed 3 of our neighbors this afternoon to show them her wires, in addition to flashing the 2 men from Stanley Steamer who came to clean our carpets this afternoon. And yes, the baby's heart monitor was made from and old Ipod :)
We have had a very busy, tiring day! Girls are sleeping, and Jeremy and I are relaxing in bed already. I am feeling so blessed right now for another year before heading back to cardiology :) Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers today!
Have a great weekend!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment