February 6, 2008

Ultrasound taken on December 31, 2007

McKenzie has been diagnosed with truncus arterious (a congenital heart defect) and with a microdeletion of chormosome 22q11.2, also known as DiGeorge's Syndrome or CardioVelo Facial Syndrome. We do not know the exact manifestations the DiGeorge's will have in McKenzie, except the heart defect. We do know that McKenzie will have to have open heart surgery within the first 6 weeks or so of her life and will not be able to come home with us until her surgery is complete. We are working with the doctors and surgeons at Children's Hospital and meet with the surgeon tomorrow. We will provide more information when it is available.

Absent any complications with my pregnancy, McKenzie is scheduled to be born (c-section) on the morning of March 17, 2008. She is a very active baby and we are very excited to meet her and get her the help she needs to get past these very serious problems in her early life.

If you would like any further information regarding truncus arterious, the Hearts of Hope website has a good description at http://www.heartsofhopemi.org/Default.aspx?ctl=UserControls/Content/Defect&id=f295f36b-93db-4a62-a22a-dd55fc0d36de.

Keep us in your thoughts and while we are busy at the hospital, please feel free to pay a visit to Phin. He will need a lot of support and fun because he is not old enough to even understand he is going to be a brother or that anything in his life will change.

Mel

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MESSAGES FROM CAREPAGE

Posted Jun 5, 2010 3:57pm

by June Spriggs

A normal day for Izzy is a medical marathon for anybody else! Here is hoping for a healthy happy Summer for the whole family. Nobody deserves it more!
Love, June & David
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Posted Feb 7, 2008 12:43pm

by Davina Stefanides

Thinking of you often
Know that you have lots of people praying and thinking of you guys during this tough time.

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Posted Feb 7, 2008 10:53am

by Liz Munroe

We are here for you!
Dale, Mel and Phin,
We want you to know that we will be available to help out in anyway. We will only be committed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays(happy sigh). So if you need a ride to hospital, sitter for Phin or dinner cooked just let us know.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers daily.
Love Uncle Ken & Aunt Liz

"Making the decision to have a child — it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
--by Elizabeth Stone

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Posted Feb 6, 2008 8:43pm

by Charlene Dehn

Mel, Dale, and Phin
McKenzie will hopefully have the opportunity to join the world on one of the happiest and most celebrated days of the year, my anniversary and St. Patrick's Day. Children born on the "green" day are always lucky. Even from Wisconsin, please let us know if you need anything. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Char, Bill, Morgan, and Logan Dehn
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Posted Feb 6, 2008 5:44pm

by Kristy Taxson

My Thoughts and Prayers are with you!
Mel and Dale:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family right now as McKenzie is going through this though stage before she is even born. But always remember that God is good and with all of our prayers coming your way, I know you and her will be bouncing and running around in no time!
Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you and your family, even from Virginia Beach!
I am praying for you all!
Love you and miss you much
Kristy and Dave
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Posted Feb 6, 2008 4:14pm

by Evelyn McKenzie

a message from Ma
You know we can hardly wait to meet little McKenzie. I can only imagine all of the things that have gone through your mind since the day you found out of her problems. You know your father and I will be there all the way for all of you. We will of course, be over to visit Phin. We will spend the night at your house whenever needed. We will be there whatever you need.
At your father's tea last week I was told that the people from Hospice need to be called when McKenzie is born. They also would like to be called if "Anything" is needed. So we know if there is something that needs to be done besides family we have friends who really want to help.
I love you guys very much. Ma