Thursday, October 8, 2009

Complex Transposition Superstar!


Graysen had the best cardiologist visit to date! His heart looks really good and there is no need for any procedures in the near future. We only received good news and Graysen has been cleared for six months!!!

His pulmonary branch pressures are still high, but they have not gotten any worse since his last visit. This was great news and a surprise to the PC (pediatric cardiologist). He stared at Graysen and said, "He just looks so ... healthy!" He said that Graysen's health is very rare for a complex transposition baby. He also said that there is a chance that Graysen may outgrow the need for a heart cath before his next surgery around 5 years old.

The restriction is at the point where the bovine conduit meets the two pulmonary branches. Two out of the three are living tissue, so if the branches grow and the scar tissue does not get worse, there is a chance that he will be fine until he outgrows his bovine conduit. Right now, the estimate is that he will outgrow his bovine conduit around five years old. Then, he will need another open-heart surgery to replace the conduit, valve, and do work on the pulmonary branches. However, that has always been expected and unavoidable.

It is getting more and more difficult to get Graysen to stay still for his echocardiograms. He had to be bribed with two lollipops, one for each hand, and the technician was only able to look at the pulmonary branches which is the main concern for Graysen. I do not know what we are going to bribe him with next time!!! I will not be happy if he earns himself a sedated echo. Those are a much bigger deal and way more expensive due to the anesthesia issues. It is the same procedure, but it has to be done in a hospital under anesthesia and takes all day due to anesthesia protocals with heart babies. The pictures are the same, it is just a way of getting the baby to stay still. The PC threatened it this time because Graysen did not seem like he was going to cooperate. However, I recommended giving him lollipops. The PC said, "We are all about lollipops," and it worked! (Although marginally...)

We are thrilled that Graysen is doing amazing! This was the best news that we have received his entire life and the doctor cleared him for six months, which is awesome!!! We went out to Cici's Pizza this evening to celebrate and then stopped into Party City which is nearby. The boys each ended up getting cool baseball hats. Daddy is a sucker for Transformers (Caleb's favorite) and Star Wars. (We have noticed that Graysen is obsessed with light sabers. He goes around the house pretending most objects are light sabers, makes the sounds, and imitates the light saber fights that he has seen on TV. It is hilarious. Lee has started calling him Lord Vader.)

Overall it was a great day!

4 comments:

deelmeyer said...

I am so happy to hear the good news. I guess my prayers are being heard. The boys look so good. When I show my friends Grayson's pictures they can't believe that there is anything wrong with his heart. Thank you for keeping me up-dated. Love you - Grandma

Evie's Story said...

Laura
I am just thrilled for you guys! I KNOW what an overwhelming sense of relief this brings! Praising the Lord with you that he is doing so unexpectedly well!! Thats AWESOME!

I saw your suggestion of the 22nd of October (somehow I missed it for like a month after you sent it...sorry!)
Thursdays are hard for us because we have three gymnastics classes AND soccer games that day:-) Im thinking you guys are close to Greenville....is that right? or am I remembering wrong?

We have a church that we work with in Greenville and come there some Sundays. IF thats where you are, maybe we could meet some Sunday for lunch and our guys could be there too.

If I have that completely off, then lets plan another day...just not a Thursday:-) You guys would be WELCOME to come play...we have LOTS of space. But am happy to meet you guys somewhere too. LEts try to get this together...really want to see Grayson and Evie together!

Uncle Gordon said...

That is unbelievable news about Greysen!!That holy water from Fatima is helping and all our prayers!!

Kara Jess and Charlie said...

That is GREAT news. So glad to hear the boys are doing well!