Ava had a pretty good day. Her xray today showed even less irritation in her abdomen. Her stool came back negative for blood again and her blood work was fine. We think we're on the right track by giving her tummy a rest from feeds for a while. She is given lipids and TPNs by IV for nutrients. She is being a little champ about not getting fed. She's a little more fussy but doesn't seem to mind so much.
Dr. Hirsch changed her valve replacement surgery to Thursday, December 20th at 8:30 a.m. We are praying that nothing more comes up to get in the way of surgery and that all goes well on Thursday. They will close her chest in the O.R. this time which is good.
Going to spend time with Bray! Goodnight!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ava with Mommy & Daddy
Isn't she beautiful!
It's A Girl!
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.
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.
Before surgery
The Next Step
The next step in repairing Ava's heart was to fix what is known as Truncus Arteriosus. Truncus arteriosus is "characterized by a large ventricular septal defect over which a large, single great vessel (truncus) arises. This single great vessel carries blood both to the body and to the lungs". (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11073) Below is a picture of what Ava's heart was like before surgery.
Before Surgery
After Surgery
The above picture shows what the surgeon did to repair Ava's heart. "Surgery is required to close the ventricular septal defect and separate blood flow to the body from blood flow to the lungs. This is generally done early in infancy to prevent high blood pressure from damaging the lungs' arteries. A patch is used to close the ventricular defect. The pulmonary arteries are then disconnected from the single great vessel and a tube (a conduit or tunnel) is placed from the right ventricle to these pulmonary arteries. This is sometimes called a Rastelli repair". (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11073)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(67)
-
▼
December
(18)
- News
- Quick Update
- Stocking full of ODDS!!
- Odds equal Hope
- Critical
- 12 hours of surgery
- Praying for Another Miracle
- So Many to Thank!
- Long Day
- New Surgery Date
- Quick Update
- ECHO Results
- Echo date moved
- Hanging Out
- A Better Day
- "The Floor"
- Ava had a low grade temperature this morning but n...
- Change of Plans
-
▼
December
(18)
7 comments:
We are so glad to hear that Ava is doing good. We will all be praying that she continues on this path and is able to have her surgery as schelduled. She is such a little trooper!
Take care,
The Meek's
Jaime & Jaime (Oh and Brayden too!),
I know I haven't been by, been sick and didn't want to risk it. Just know Ava is always in our families prayers and I'm always reading/thinking about her. I'm not back until the 26th, hopefully by then she will be well on the way to recovery. You have a great surgeon and I have faith that all will go well. I will be watching from afar, wish I could be there for you.
Cheryl
Good morning little Ava. Good morning to bigbrother Bray!!!!!!!! I am so glad you are doing good right now. Keep it up pretty girl. Our angel Carol told me that since I saw you last, you are even prettier than when I saw you!!!!! You are sweet thing aren't you!!!!!!! Poppy and I will be there Wednesday night. I just know all will be ok. It has to be. I will go for now and let you enjoy your dad and brother. We love all of you and think of you all the time in any given day. And prayers-that is a given!!!!!!!!!!!
I will check in tonight as always!
love all of you
granny and poppy
Good news! I am so glad to hear that she is doing better! I was watching a movie with the boys tonight and Caiden(6) said out of the blue, "Mom, I just said a prayer for Ava." He is such a sweet, loving little boy...he melts my heart. I showed them Ava's blog and told them about her and that she needs lots of prayers. I knew Caiden would be thinking about her continuously :)
I hope tomorrow brings more good news. Keep the faith! Much love & prayers,
Good morning ava!!!!!! I pray you had a goodnight. It wont be long and I will be able to see you again thank goodness. Remind your mom that I need your wrist size little one. Poppy and I have a special treat for you!!!!
Well your Gram will be here soon. I best go for now. have a good day and keep on fighting little one.
all our love
granny and poppy
Zimmerman's~ Praying Ava's surgery happens as scheduled and brings her home soon. Your family remains in our thoughts and prayers...you are all amazing.
Goodnight ava and Jamie. I hope and pray all is well. Remeber I need Avas wrist size. (sorry!) Little Ava, tell your mom I will call tomorrow. Please sleep well, both of you. You have all our prayers.
We love you
granny and poppy
Post a Comment