Yesterday Daves mom and I took Brent to see his cardiologist, Dr. Dyer (Dave helped take care of Bryce since it was a long appointment). Brent is now 3.5 kilos (7 lbs. 11.5 oz); up 1 lb. and 8 ounces from when he was discharged two weeks ago from the hospital. This is a HUGE improvement from his hospital stay when he was barely gaining any weight, as you can see from the picture posted below. (Also pictured is the plastic cover we purchased to keep Brent safe from germs when we go out in public; I saw this on another heart warriors stroller). The goal now is for Brent to gain weight for his first major open heart surgery, called the Glenn. They would like him to reach 6 kilos (or around 13 pounds). The PA band also looks like its working; Brents oxygen saturation levels are now down from 100 to 98! 100% meant that too much blood was flowing to his lungs. The goal is for it to get down to 80-85. Brent is still on lasik 3 x a day to drain the fluid from around his lungs. I was a little disheartened to find that I did not understand what heart failure truly meant. I thought Brent was in heart failure only before the PA banding surgery because his breathing was really labored, but the cardiologist said that Brent is currently in heart failure and will probably still be until after his last open heart surgery. Maybe thats why they say he may eventually need a heart transplant later in life. I am encouraged, though, by the stories I have read of single ventricle patients who are in their 50s who have not had a heart transplant, and, if we have to go through that, this verse will remind me that God will see us through: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:21:12 +0000
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