Ava Christine Zimmerman: January 2008

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Counter Keeps Going Up

Hello everyone.
I have noticed in the past few days that the "counter" keeps rising. This means that people are still checking Ava' blog. PLEASE feel free to comment on anything that you would like. We will keep this blog going as long as needed for everyone.
FIY: I am making this blog into a book for Jamie, Jamie & Brayden, so please continue to post!
Again, thank you to everyone for your thoughts & prayers.

Tracy

Monday, January 7, 2008

Thank You

To all of Ava's "Followers", family and friends. Jamie, Jamie, Brayden, and the rest of the Weaver-Zimmerman family would like to give thanks to EVERYONE for all of your prayers, and support during these last few months. Believe us when we say that without family and friends, this time would have been harder than it was. We know that Ava is and will continue to be loved by everyone forever and always.
We would also like to extend our thanks to Cheryl and Amy (Ava's nurses) and Dr. Bocks (spelling?) for coming to be with us during this difficult time. We were told that Ava's surgeon Dr. Hirsch would of liked to have been with us today as well but could not, due to her schedule. Thank you Dr. Hirsch, not only for your wonderful medical expertise, but for your heart felt sympathy and everything that you have done for Ava these last few months.
Again, thank you everyone, and please keep us in your prayers as you are in ours.
Weaver-Zimmerman Family

Friday, January 4, 2008

More Info About Arrangments

Following the funeral at Halbritter will be a ceremony at Mission Hills Cemetary near Sumnerville, north of Niles. Immediatly following burial services a luncheon will be provided at the 7th Day Adventist Church on Grant St. in Niles. Everyone is welcome, and the family would also appreciate a dish to be shared.
Thank you everyone, Weaver-Zimmerman Family.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Ava Christine Zimmerman

Arrangments for Ava will be held at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.
Family visitation will begin at 5pm Sunday January 6, with open visitation
from 6pm - 8pm.
The funeral will be Monday January 7 at 2pm with a luncheon to follow. Details of where and when the luncheon will be will be posted as soon as possible.
Again, thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. Please continue to do so.
God bless you.

Weaver-Zimmerman Family

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

The Angels came

At 1:30 pm this afternoon, Ava Christine went with the angels.
Jamie, Jamie, Brayden and the rest of the Weaver-Zimmerman family would like to thank everyone for your prayers, thoughts, words of kindness and support.
Arrangements will be posted as soon as possible.
Again, thank you, and God bless everyone.

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.