Another Successful Surgery!

 Another successful surgery



This is technically surgery number 3 for Baby Em. 2 heart surgeries and 1 g-tube. 


Robert and I were in the waiting room for 6 hours. We started to get VERY nervous at hour 5. “If something was wrong, they would call us, right?” Man. The wait was horrid this time. Last time, we also received a phone call from the nurse halfway through with an update… not this time. Last time, they were done within three hours... So all the worries.


The surgeon came and spoke to us and explained with pictures how he repaired the valve. Long story short, the surgeon went with Plan A- a repair.


 Basically, he cut some of the muscle that was around the heart that was preventing the valve from moving correctly. Next, he added some cow pieces to make a patch. This patch was essential to get the valve thicker so the two flaps can touch (or get close to touching) so that there isn’t much regurgitation. 


This repair is not the end. This surgeon truly took his time to look at the valve and all of the heart. His words, “it’s a really bad valve.” 


So, we wait. Again. We are getting much better with this wait thing. We continue to monitor him and keep up with all of the echocardiograms. We hope that this repair can last 2 years. We hope that he can lead a decent life. We hope. 


I did have a breakdown today. It was after talking to the surgeon. I know that Em will have more surgeries. I know that this will always be an issue, but it kind of just hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes were very watery, and I was trying not to think too much into it. But finally, I just said, “it really sucks that this is his normal. This is his life.”


This repair sounds very positive, and I’m truly optimistic that it will last longer than 5 months. Mom and dad need a break. Em needs a HUGE break. Holden needs his family back. This will never be easy. 


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