Can you hear me? He's my son...

In about an hour, Thaddaeus will be taken down for his first open heart surgery.  This is the surgery that most children who are born with half of a heart have as an infant.  The first thing that the surgeon said to me yesterday was that Thadd is WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY more complicated than Lily Grace.   I asked Dr. Jonas if that is why the surgeons in China would not operate on him - because he was so complex.  He told me that Thadd is too complicated for anyone, and that he has a very unfortunate combination of congenital heart defects.  We are so thankful that the surgical team here at CNMC is willing to try to bring our little dude some relief so that he can breathe easier.  Of course our HOPE, is that this surgery will eventually open the door to more surgical options for our son.

Thaddaeus' heart has two Superior Vena Cavas.  He has Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) where the pulmonary artery and the aorta—the heart’s two great arteries—both arise from the right ventricle.  His pulmonary valve is completely closed, and his body has developed such a complex network of collateral vessels to oxygenate himself that his pulmonary arteries are not even being used.  As a matter of fact, where they typically like to place the BT Shunt that Thadd will receive today, is smack dab where he has two huge collateral vessels.  The team will need to improvise where they place his shunt, and it will not be as effective as it could be.  The biggest risk for an older child receiving a BT Shunt are that they will develop a blood clot in the shunt, or that the shunt will cause him to be oxygenated.  Either one of these factors could require a trip back to the Operating Room, so the team in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit will be watching him very closely.  And so will Mommy.

I am so thankful that the Almighty God of our universe,

who created all of Thadd's intricate anatomy,

is the same God who does hear our prayers.

He is sovereign...He is Faithful.

And only in Him do we find our HOPE!

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. 

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you and help you. 

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand!
Isaiah 41:10