Harley had his surgery today...open heart surgery on a 8 day old, 6 lb pound 10 ounce baby! If you ever needed a reason to donate blood or to your local hospital, this is it! The surgeon was extremely pleased with his operation. They will keep him sedated for 24 hours and then slowly bring him around. Then start to remove tubes(and there are lots). As he recovers he'll be moved out of ICU to a regular ward and maybe home within 10 days...simply amazing what can be done! Thanks for all your well wishes, prayers and for listening???reading
Yippy ! Thanks for the update fannie. Yes, amazing things can be done. Giving birth is amazing. Giving birth to a healthy baby is never a sure thing. We will continue praying for the family. Glad things are going well.
Fannie, I am so glad to read/hear some happy news...got me out of my "bitter" I am so happy for Harley, and your entire family. I remember telling Ian how my little girl had some health problems and not to worry because...... ...I'm saying the same to you and family, won't be long and in a blink of a eye....... ....You and or Mom, and Dad! First day of school...... Dad and Harley, after first day of school..... Best wishes
Glad to thare the news about little Harley. We'll keep him in our prayers. Is this condition now permanently fixed, or is he going to need additional surgeries as he grows up (like changing heart valves as he grows..)?
Wow, open heart surgery on a 8 day old... You must have been nervous... I am glad the surgery was succesfull... I am new here. Is it your baby? I wish you all the best..
now what was wrong with harley exactly? i know Delaney had a hole between the l/r ventricle, one of her atriums, her aorta was crushing her windpipe, and the bridge between her two arteries that is supose to close when you are born, did not close. This coupled with us not knowing about it, lead to her having a heart attack on my wifes lap at 4 mo. she is all good now but it is the scariest thing in the world. that and we spent 4 weeks not knowing if she suffered brain damage from the attack. better to get it out of the way now!
OMG I could tell by so of your posts that Delaney had some serious issues but I didn't like to ask... how awful for you and your wife. But it sure brings home the importance of enjoying life on the day to day that we so often take for granted Actually, the bridge as you mentioned, in Harleys heart was starting to close(as it should) but the first hospital was right on top it when they relized that his blood was circulating, they gave him medication to keep this from closing so there would be blood circulation until he got to the IWK. Once there, after scans, etc. They inserted a balloon, through a vein in his leg, up into his heart and created an opening inside his heart that hadn't opened. This immediatedly increased the blood circulation in his heart. This then allowed them to stop the other medication to let the bridge close as it should. The only question now is during the first three hours of his life there was poor blood circulation through his body. Which is so important because as we all know, blood carries oxygen to the brain and all other organs in our bodies. So time will tell if there are any developemental delays When I mentioned this to my son yesterday, he doesn't seem to know anything about it...he couldn't have heard this when the doctor mention it in the beginning... The actual operation was to correct a defect with in his heart. [SIZE=-1][/SIZE] You see those two arteries(the red and the blue) that cross over each other, well Harleys didn't cross over. So there was very little mixing of blood with fresh oxygen in it getting to his body. The parts were all there they were running parallel instead of crossing over into the ventricules. Kinda like the radiator only circulating back into it'self without circulating through the engine. So they went in and crossed over these arteries(the size of a very small straw) to increase his blood circulation. Or attaching his hoses correctly, depending where your head is KK, there should be no further need for surgrey because all the parts where there and will grow with him. But he will be monitored by cardiologists forever and probably limited team sports activiate. meulmani, Harley is my first and maybe my only grandchild. I truely appreciate the question, you have made my day. Tedy, you are so right. Time flies by so quickly when there is a child in the picture because you can see them growing and changing just about everyday. Five years isn't very long until they start school. Which is really the only time you have your child to yourself. After that, once they start school, alot of outside infuences start to play there parts(and they should) in his or her life. So gentleman if you have young children or grandchildren PLEASE don't wait until they're older to think you'll send time with them DO IT NOW! Freinds, sleepovers, boyscouts, football, etc. will quickly get in your way of spending some great quailty time with these little people. Do you remember the time you spent with your dad or grand dad? Thanks guys I'm off to the hospital before I have to go to work...have a great day with your families
