Posted Jul 2, 2008 4:49pm

McKenzie has gained 6 ounces in about a week and is now 11 pounds 8 ounces and 21.5 inches long. She is doing well. She saw her cardiologist and primary care doctors today. Everything went swimmingly at primary care (even the shots), but her cardiologist thinks another catheterization is needed. Her sats (percent oxygen saturation) were good at 84-88%, but her pressures in the lungs were too high and there was a large gradient between there and the pressures elsewhere. They did another echocardiogram. It was the second one in a row where they couldn't see the entire shunt. That could most likely mean: (1) the machines couldn't pick up the shunt; or (2) the shunt is blocked or outgrown. On top of all that, McKenzie's cardiologist thinks that the pulmonary arteries are still too small. So, the docs need to see what is going on to see if a new shunt is needed, to see if her collateral vessels are providing too much blood to the lungs, so some need to be cut off, or if something else entirely is going on. The first choice is to see if the cath can be done in conjunction with McKenzie's surgery next week to limit the number of hospital stays. Otherwise, it will be done some time in the next month or so. While this is not what I expected today, I'm hopeful that the cath will give us more information and help McKenzie get to the point where she can have her full-fix surgery. (That was some more unfortunate news from today---it is probable that her next heart surgery will not be the full-fix, but just a larger shunt. We knew that was a possibility, but we had been told it was not highly probable because of the size shunt they used. We will see.)

On a positive note, we got the formula we ordered in today. And her cardiologist thinks her eating problems had less to do with the heart and more to do with the gastro issues (gerd and food allergies). That means she was stronger than we thought.
Melonie

1 Message(s)

Posted Jul 9, 2008 11:56am

by Courtney McKenzie-Moore

Good Thoughts
I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of all of you the day before McKenzie's surgery. I know she'll do well. Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. Sebastian's been praying for McKenzie, too.