Hello everyone and welcome to Ava Christine's Blog.
First a little info about the new edition to our family.
This beautiful little girl comes to our family after many years of trying on her parents part as well as her being the first girl in 19 years. Yes 19 years! So to say that she is going to be a little spoiled is putting it very lightly.
Ava Christine was welcomed into this world on September 29 2007 by her mommy Jamie, Daddy Jamie, big brother Brayden, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends. Shortly after Ava's arrival the wonderful medical staff at Memorial hospital of South Bend found what they called a murmur in Ava's heart. After some testing little Ava was transported to Motts' Children Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Jamie and Jamie were informed that little Ava has a heart defect that could be life threatening and that she needed to undergo open heart surgery to fix the defects. So, on Tuesday October 2 2007 Ava was operated on by the wonderful medical staff at the U of M. What this team of doctors did to Ava is incredible. First of all Jamie explained to me over the phone today just what problems Ava's heart has endured. Ava's heart has a couple of different problems. The first is known as Interrupted Aortic Arch. The following info about interrupted aortic arch is best explained by the U of M Cardiac website, "Interrupted aortic arch is a very rare heart defect that occurs when the aorta does not develop normally while the baby is in the mother’s womb. It comprises about 1% of all congenital heart defects. It usually occurs along with other heart problems such as
truncus arteriosus,
ventricular septal defect,
transposition of the great arteries, and
aortic stenosis.The aorta is the large blood vessel that arises from the left side of the normal heart and takes red blood out to the body. The first part of the aorta, called the ascending aorta (1) arises upwards. It then curves leftward forming the aortic arch (2). The aorta then curves downward towards the lower body, and this part is called the descending aorta (3). Three blood vessels exit from the aortic arch and supply the head and arms with red blood. These vessels are called the innominate artery (4), the left carotid artery (5), and the left subclavian artery (6).In babies with interrupted aortic arch, there is a complete blockage between the ascending and the descending aorta (1). This means that there is no direct way for red blood leaving the heart to reach the body parts that are "downstream" from the blockage. The site of the defect varies (2) and may or may not involve the take-off of the head and neck vessels. In most babies with interrupted aortic arch (70-90%) there is also a large
ventricular septal defect (3).In newborns with interrupted aortic arch, the only way for blood to bypass the blockage is via the
patent ductus arteriosus (4). Prior to birth, this small blood vessel permits blood to by-pass the baby’s fluid-filled lungs. One or two days after birth, this vessel usually closes on its own. In a baby with interrupted aortic arch, if the duct closes, blood can no longer reach the lower body. This can cause the baby to suddenly become very ill. Therefore, after the diagnosis is made, a medicine called prostaglandin is used to keep the ductus arteriosus open until surgery". (
http://www.med.umich.edu/cvc/mchc/parint.htm)
So how did the doctors fix this? "Interrupted aortic arch is a serious heart defect that requires surgery soon after birth. The goal of surgery is to create remove the blockage. This used to be done in a two-stage operation but is now done most of the time in one stage. The two ends of the aorta are sewn together (1) and the patent ductus arterious (2) is tied off. Sometimes a patch is needed to reinforce the repair. If present, a patch is sewn over the VSD (3)". (
http://www.med.umich.edu/cvc/mchc/parint.htm)
In #1 of the picture below is the part of Ava' heart that was repaired.
7 comments:
Ava Christine-may God look over you and your family every second of the day. Please have a good night sweetheart. We all love you, your mom, dad, and we can never forget your big brother Brayden!!!! Please all of you sleep tight and have good dreams and know all of os are saying extra prayers. Remember Ava, you are a fighter!! You are a Weaver/Zimmerman!!!
All our love
granny and poppy
Hey guys, remember, "IN HER TIME", not ours.
Give kisses to both little angels from Aunt Trace.
Love U
We will pray even harder for Ava tonight!
Love,
Emilee
Sweet Ava, is is 10pm. I want to say goodnight and hope all is well. Rememebr, you are a fighter, a tough cookie, and a sassy pants!!! Please tell your big brother Bray good night and we love him and tell your mom and dad to call if they need us or you need us!!!! Thank you Grandma and grandpa Zimmerman for being there!!! We love all of you. Good night Ava! Sweet dreams.
love
granny and poppy
Jamie,
Ava's recovery reminds me of how a baby comes into this world. Being a labor and delivery nurse I sit with many mothers as they push and push and push to have a baby. What on earth does this have to do with your sweet little Ava? As a mom pushes the baby comes down in the birth canal, the mom stops and the baby regresses back. This happens over and over sometimes for hours. At some point this forward progress, followed by going back stops and the baby makes only forward progress until it is born. This happens only when the baby is good and ready. The baby has to get in just the right position, the head has to mold, and the mother has to push just right to help the baby come. Babies are amazing and Ava is extrodinary. She has already shown us how strong she is her body is trying so hard. She is fighting for each step to healing. Sure there is a stumble here and there, but in her time she will progress forward. You are there every step of the way supporting her and "pushing" her in the right direction.You all give her strength and she gives you strength to get through this. Hang in there, we are praying like crazy for you all. Sorry to babble, been up researching cancer and I checked in on your little one and for some reason this is what came to my mind.
Take care,
April
Good morning little miss Ava! I wish I had all the right words of wisdom to give you and your mom and dad. But the end result is words are just words. But Ms. Ava, just remind your mom that you are going to have the curves in the road for awhile. That does not make all of this any easier for any of you, but with all the good does come with some back steps. But you are tough Ava. I see it we all do. Please Ava, hang in there our little cookie. You have to get stronger so your mom and dad can also. Jamie, what April wrote is a very good translation for you. Please hon, keep your chin up and know that Ava will be better in her way and her time. Right now think all the happy thoughts. Ava tried to give you strength by giving you those moments in a room with her. Take those memories and let it give you strength to lean on. I love all of you. Keep us informed. May God be with you.
love
granny and poppy
Jamie,
Hang in there, girl. God knows what he is doing! He only gives you what you can handle; but He gives you what you can handle with HIM by your side!!
Be strong,
Love,
Lori Brawley
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