Brice, Ethan and I had the opportunity to do a recording for a radio "spot" promoting Children's Mercy Hospital. Beginning today, you can hear it on the following radio stations: KBEQ 104.3, KPRS 103.3, KUDL 98.1, Mix 93.3, Jack 105.1 and Star 102. It is my understanding that it will run for several weeks. We felt honored to be able to help promote an incredible children's hospital that God has used so much in Ethan's life. It was fun to do!
For those of you outside KC, you can listen online. Here is a website of KC radio stations and then you can select a specific radio station and be directed to that site.
http://kansascity.about.com/od/communityinformation/a/RadioStations.htm
Cards, cards and more cards!
For about the past two weeks, we have received at least one card a day (some days two, three and even four!) from someone who is praying for our family. Thank you so much to all who have sent cards and emails. They are so encouraging and we are blown away by the support and encouragement.
Surgery is RESCHEDULED!
Ethan's surgery has been moved back a couple of weeks to Tuesday, April 24th. Why? Because there are currently a high number of kids in the hospital (some in the PICU) who have RSV and the surgeon doesn't want to risk exposing Ethan. We thought that April 5th was a "safe" enough date, but Dr. O'Brien prefers that it be later in the month. We were frustrated at first, but how can we argue with the fact that the surgeon has Ethan's best interests in mind?
It is a reality check, though. Ethan's surgery date could still get bumped if a case comes up that is an emergency. Fortunately, Ethan can safely wait a couple more weeks for surgery.
We will be able to spend Easter at home now!
It is a reality check, though. Ethan's surgery date could still get bumped if a case comes up that is an emergency. Fortunately, Ethan can safely wait a couple more weeks for surgery.
We will be able to spend Easter at home now!
Website Link
Check out the web link I posted to the right under "helpful links". It gives an explanation of Ethan's heart defect and also shows a great diagram of a normal heart vs. Ethan's heart. Ethan also has three other defects to the left side of his heart, but Coarctation of the Aorta is the most severe defect and the reason he will be having surgery.
Mix 93.3 Radiothon
Just wanted to ask all those in Kansas City to tune into Mix 93.3 today and tomorrow. They are live at Children's Mercy Hospital talking to families who have had experiences with CMH. Have your box of tissue handy! We are so fortunate to live close to such a great children's hospital with wonderful doctors and nurses. God used them to save Ethan's life!
You can also listen online at http://www.mix93.com/default.asp. Click "listen online" to the left of the page.
You can also listen online at http://www.mix93.com/default.asp. Click "listen online" to the left of the page.
Surgery is Scheduled!
If someone had told me while I was growing up that I would give birth to a little boy who would go through two heart surgeries by the time he was a year and a half, I don't think that I would have wanted to have kids. I am so glad that I did not know back then what the future would be because I would have made the wrong decision. And I am so glad that we have a faithful God and wonderful family and friends to carry us through.
Ethan will have his second heart surgery on Thursday, April 5th. It is a relief to have it scheduled and we are ready to have it behind us. No more "putting it off". Sometimes I get asked if we have ever checked into getting a second opinion. Well, we get about 10 opinions on Ethan every time his case is reviewed and the overwhelming consensus is that he needs this surgery now.
This surgery will not have to be open heart. It will be a "closed heart" surgery, where the surgeon will make the repair through a side incision (thoracotomy). Dr. O'Brien will clamp Ethan's aortic artery, cut out the narrow segment of his aortic artery and sew the wider ends back together. Sounds pretty straightforward, doesn't it?!? That is why he makes the big bucks (and deserves every penny, in my opinion!)
The good news about this type of heart surgery is that Ethan will not have to be on bypass (heart/lung machine), like he was the first time. This always adds increased risk. No one can tell us how long Ethan will be in the hospital after surgery - it will depend on how he does. But, we are planning on spending Easter in the hospital! I'll just have to pack Ethan's Easter basket along with all our other stuff.
Ethan's cardiologist is not going to treat Ethan's blood pressure increase right now - he really isn't too concerned about it. Ethan's BP is high in his upper extremities and normal in his lower extremities and putting him on BP meds would lower his blood pressure too much in his lower extremities. Surgery should hopefully correct his BP in his upper body, but time will tell on this.
The day before surgery, we will take Ethan in for all the "fun" pre-op tests. We will also meet with the anesthesiologist and the surgeon at that time. He will be in the PICU after surgery. Recovery will be rough. Ethan will be in lots of pain - it will hurt for him to breath and it will hurt for him to move, let alone be held. I can't even think about that - way too difficult.
It is important that Ethan stay healthy for the surgery so that we don't have to reschedule. Fortunately, we are headed into a healthier season soon.
We are so grateful for your faithfulness to pray for Ethan and our family.
Ethan will have his second heart surgery on Thursday, April 5th. It is a relief to have it scheduled and we are ready to have it behind us. No more "putting it off". Sometimes I get asked if we have ever checked into getting a second opinion. Well, we get about 10 opinions on Ethan every time his case is reviewed and the overwhelming consensus is that he needs this surgery now.
This surgery will not have to be open heart. It will be a "closed heart" surgery, where the surgeon will make the repair through a side incision (thoracotomy). Dr. O'Brien will clamp Ethan's aortic artery, cut out the narrow segment of his aortic artery and sew the wider ends back together. Sounds pretty straightforward, doesn't it?!? That is why he makes the big bucks (and deserves every penny, in my opinion!)
The good news about this type of heart surgery is that Ethan will not have to be on bypass (heart/lung machine), like he was the first time. This always adds increased risk. No one can tell us how long Ethan will be in the hospital after surgery - it will depend on how he does. But, we are planning on spending Easter in the hospital! I'll just have to pack Ethan's Easter basket along with all our other stuff.
Ethan's cardiologist is not going to treat Ethan's blood pressure increase right now - he really isn't too concerned about it. Ethan's BP is high in his upper extremities and normal in his lower extremities and putting him on BP meds would lower his blood pressure too much in his lower extremities. Surgery should hopefully correct his BP in his upper body, but time will tell on this.
The day before surgery, we will take Ethan in for all the "fun" pre-op tests. We will also meet with the anesthesiologist and the surgeon at that time. He will be in the PICU after surgery. Recovery will be rough. Ethan will be in lots of pain - it will hurt for him to breath and it will hurt for him to move, let alone be held. I can't even think about that - way too difficult.
It is important that Ethan stay healthy for the surgery so that we don't have to reschedule. Fortunately, we are headed into a healthier season soon.
We are so grateful for your faithfulness to pray for Ethan and our family.
Another Surgery
Just wanted to let everyone know that Ethan's surgeon and cardiologist (and the team of cardiologists at CMH) have decided that Ethan should have another surgery. The "coarctation" (narrowing) in his aortic artery needs to be repaired again and they don't see any reason to put it off any longer. (We have been putting it off since last July).
I will hopefully talk to the surgeon's office next week to set a date. So...we wait some more.
Would appreciate your prayers for all the details to come together and also for our family as there are so many emotions involved in going through surgery again.
God has a plan somewhere in all of this. It is just so difficult when you can't see that plan right away. But we trust God to continue to protect Ethan.
I will hopefully talk to the surgeon's office next week to set a date. So...we wait some more.
Would appreciate your prayers for all the details to come together and also for our family as there are so many emotions involved in going through surgery again.
God has a plan somewhere in all of this. It is just so difficult when you can't see that plan right away. But we trust God to continue to protect Ethan.
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