We just got back from Elijah's cardiology check-up. It had been six months since he had seen Dr. Gremmels. That's a record!
Elijah was a very brave boy. He was scared, but a little bit less scared than he normally is. We usually are not able to distract him at all (through all the tears), but this time distraction worked. He became preoccupied with a model of a human heart. For some reason he thought it was a coo-coo clock, so he kept opening and closing the "door" to the right ventricle and saying "poo-poo clock!" He also sat all by himself for the 20-minute echo for the first time ever and didn't fuss once!
He weighed 28 lb. 6 oz., he was 34 inches tall (growth, yay!), his oxygen saturations were at 100% and his blood pressure was 105/86.
His heart function is great and his valve is leaking slightly more than it was at the echo six months ago (which was then classified as "mild"). It's hard to see what is going on with his distal arteries through the ultrasound because the arteries are so small, so we'll have to wait till the next heart cath on that.
Dr. Gremmels (who Elijah calls "Doctor Guess") wants Elijah to come in for a heart cath in the next two months. From there we will have a better idea about how well his arteries are (or aren't) growing, and we will have a better idea about when his next open heart surgery will be.
It sounds like surgery could be anywhere between six months and two years from now. The two main things that will determine the timing of it are: 1. how quickly he outgrows that pulmonary valve, and 2. what the cath reveals about the bloodflow in his arteries (mainly the right pulmonary artery).
Dr. G said YES about getting the H1N1 vaccination. Apparently the majority of the children in the ICU who are sick with H1N1 right now are non-cardiac kids. Typically, families that have children with no underlying medical conditions are not being as cautious, so BE CAUTIOUS.
I know the media has blown H1N1 into distorted proportions, but it is just as serious as the seasonal flu and many children die from that every year. ALL children under the age of 5 are at high risk for serious complications from H1N1, so talk to your pediatrician and make the decision that is right for your family. And do lots and lots of hand washing!
9 comments:
Thanks for the updates of Elijah's cardiology visit. I hope your little man has a good result of a heart cath in the next two months.
Give him a big hug from us! xoxo
So glad today went well! And yep... our doctors said the same thing.... H1N1 vaccine is a must!
So happy to hear the appointment was uneventful. That is a nice break. Good luck with the vaccination for H1N1. We didn't make it. Harrison had influenza A (which Dr. says would come back + for H1N1) last week and the lord was on our side...uneventful, of course we will watch closely for secondary infection. Will had it too and his asthma was not affected...prayers and luck.
So happy to see all of Elijah's stats look so great. O2, blood pressure, height, and weight.
Until the heart cath, enjoy the season and each other. We will pray for a good cath day for Elijah.
Tiffany
I agree with Dr. G.....get the shot! It is made by in the same factories in the exact same way as the seasonal shot. In fact, if H1N1 had emerged 2 months earlier than it did, it just would have been included in the seasonal shot. The WHO is saying that after tracking the initial side effects, it is the safest vaccine to date. My kids are getting it the first day that it is available. I would just say make sure he gets the shot instead of the spray, as the spray is a live virus. I have polled about 30 MDs that I trust and everyone has strongly recommended it.
I HATE the thought of more heart surgeries. I prefer to pretend that is ALL in the past. I'm glad all appears well now though!
I have to tell you...I was on your facebook looking at CA pics and Emma walked in. She said..."oh he is so cute!" Not sure if she knew who it was...I asked her. She was all...Elijah mom. *duh!* Too cute...I love that she knows Grace's heart "friends". :0)
CooCoo clocks...how does he even know about them?? I tell ya...that kiddo is TOO smart! You're going to have your hands full!
YEAH for an awesome card report...nothing's better! Sorry that he has to go through another cath...but, I hope it shows the blood just flowing through his pa's and you have years before another surgery.
smooch on his little fat face for me!!!
and 28 pounds...holy cow...is your back ok??
kathy
6 months?!?! I'm sooo jealous of that!! We've gone 3 months & maybe next appointment will be able to go longer!
Good to know you have a plan formulated, although the thought of more procedures and surgeries is never a good one.
Sounds like Elijah did great with the appointment!
I feel like waiting is such a big part of our lives as heart moms. And waiting is HARD! Praying for peace as you await results of the heart cath. Hopefully you will have a bit more definite timeline after that.
And the pictures of you guys at the pumpkin patch are SO GOOD! Elijah has such a good camera smile! Luke just does this cheesy show-your-teeth thing :)
Love to you guys and glad you are all home safely!
Jesse
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