Seems another baby had an emergency this morning that required the Operating Room. Which pushed back Elizabeth on the depth chart. Then the surgery went longer than expected. So right now, we're waiting. Looks like the earliest Elizabeth is going to have surgery is tomorrow morning. But even that is iffy right now. Steph and I should receive a call sometime tonight from the surgeon himself as to what time we're looking at for Elizabeth's surgery.
Please pray for patience for Steph and me, Steph especially. It's really hard not having our little girl home. And then to have her return pushed back at least one more day is just that much more difficult.
Elizabeth is doing well though. She's stable and strong, eating quite a bit and starting to open her eyes more. It's a wonderful sight to behold, lemme tell ya.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Surgery
Elizabeth is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) at or a little after noon. Should be a five to six hour surgery.
They will first patch the hole in her heart (Tetralogy of Fallot) and then move on to fixing the valve issue (Pulmonary Atresia). To fix the valve, they will first try to cut thru the extra muscle that is blocking the valve and see if that allows the valve to work correctly. If that doesn't work, their aim is to make a detour for the blood to run around the blockage and then back to the pulmonary artery.
Please pray the hole gets patched well and that they are able to do the first option for the valve. The first option is a bit more permanent. The second option for the valve involves follow up surgeries later in Elizabeth's life as she grows (like at age 5 and then again in teenage years). And prayers of peace, comfort, trust and patience for Steph and myself are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again. Will let you know how it goes when we can.
Grace and peace,
Allen
p.s. If you've got a prayer chain/list that all this can go on, please add us! We've got lots and lots of folks praying and I would love to have us all beating on God's door (Luke 11:1-13). Thanks!
They will first patch the hole in her heart (Tetralogy of Fallot) and then move on to fixing the valve issue (Pulmonary Atresia). To fix the valve, they will first try to cut thru the extra muscle that is blocking the valve and see if that allows the valve to work correctly. If that doesn't work, their aim is to make a detour for the blood to run around the blockage and then back to the pulmonary artery.
Please pray the hole gets patched well and that they are able to do the first option for the valve. The first option is a bit more permanent. The second option for the valve involves follow up surgeries later in Elizabeth's life as she grows (like at age 5 and then again in teenage years). And prayers of peace, comfort, trust and patience for Steph and myself are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again. Will let you know how it goes when we can.
Grace and peace,
Allen
p.s. If you've got a prayer chain/list that all this can go on, please add us! We've got lots and lots of folks praying and I would love to have us all beating on God's door (Luke 11:1-13). Thanks!
Monday, June 27, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Results of the Baby Pool
For those who submitted guesses in the baby pool, your scores were as follows:
Congratulations Greg! The prize patrol will be contacting you shortly. :-)
| Name | Date | D.o.W. | Time | AM/PM | Weight | Height | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Knute | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grandma H | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Rexfords | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Jenn N | 0 | 10 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Molly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 30 |
| Jen L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Papa & Nana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Aunt Lissa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Eli (-45) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | -30 |
| Adam | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Tré | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Greg | 50 | 10 | 25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Kristal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| David (-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Melissa (-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -15 |
| Jed (-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -15 |
| Lisa (-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Congratulations Greg! The prize patrol will be contacting you shortly. :-)
Procedures and Surgeries
Friday afternoon about 2pm Elizabeth had the cardiac catheter procedure to address the Pulmonary Atresia. Turns out that she has quite a bit of muscle right in front of the pulmonary valve, so that's why so the blood is not getting through. So, in effect, the procedure ending up being exploratory if nothing else.
This means that sometime this upcoming week, she will be having heart surgery. The surgeons will go in and create a new passage way from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, basically by-passing the valve and the aforementioned blocking muscle. Since they will be working in her heart, they will also 'patch' (cardiologist's word) the hole connecting the left and right ventricles (part of the Tetralogy of Fallot issue). No sense in waiting the normal 6-12 months to do that surgery if they are already in there.
We find out when the surgery will be tomorrow (Monday) night. Each Monday afternoon, the docs get together to plan out the weeks surgeries/procedures. As soon as we know a time, we'll let you all know.
As for right now, Elizabeth is doing great. Her skin tone is wonderful (lots of color), she is feeding well and her oxygen saturation level (the big issue in all of this) is fantastic. Yesterday was the highest it's been. And all of her plumbing is working just like it's supposed to. :-)
I even got to feed her yesterday! Woo hoo! It was great. My dad took a bunch of pictures, so as soon as I get them from him, I'll post em. I took a bunch of pictures yesterday too, so if I have the energy, I'll post em later. She looks wonderful. She is stable and content and we like it that way. :-)
Thanks again for all your prayers.
This means that sometime this upcoming week, she will be having heart surgery. The surgeons will go in and create a new passage way from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, basically by-passing the valve and the aforementioned blocking muscle. Since they will be working in her heart, they will also 'patch' (cardiologist's word) the hole connecting the left and right ventricles (part of the Tetralogy of Fallot issue). No sense in waiting the normal 6-12 months to do that surgery if they are already in there.
We find out when the surgery will be tomorrow (Monday) night. Each Monday afternoon, the docs get together to plan out the weeks surgeries/procedures. As soon as we know a time, we'll let you all know.
As for right now, Elizabeth is doing great. Her skin tone is wonderful (lots of color), she is feeding well and her oxygen saturation level (the big issue in all of this) is fantastic. Yesterday was the highest it's been. And all of her plumbing is working just like it's supposed to. :-)
I even got to feed her yesterday! Woo hoo! It was great. My dad took a bunch of pictures, so as soon as I get them from him, I'll post em. I took a bunch of pictures yesterday too, so if I have the energy, I'll post em later. She looks wonderful. She is stable and content and we like it that way. :-)
Thanks again for all your prayers.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Elizabeth's Health
Hi everybody,
Didn't have the energy to post this last night. Elizabeth is stable and doing well right now, but she does have two heart defects. One is Pulmonary Atresia, the other is Tetralogy of Fallot. The Pulmonary Atresia is more pressing and she is going to have a procedure done this afternoon (Friday) to take care of it. The tetralogy will be taken care of in a later procedure six to twelve months down the road.
She is up at Doernbecher's on the hill (OHSU). She couldn't be in a better place.
Will update when we get home tonight. Please pray that God would have the doctor's hands be accurate and quick. It's about a four hour procedure. We greatly appreciate your prayers.
Didn't have the energy to post this last night. Elizabeth is stable and doing well right now, but she does have two heart defects. One is Pulmonary Atresia, the other is Tetralogy of Fallot. The Pulmonary Atresia is more pressing and she is going to have a procedure done this afternoon (Friday) to take care of it. The tetralogy will be taken care of in a later procedure six to twelve months down the road.
She is up at Doernbecher's on the hill (OHSU). She couldn't be in a better place.
Will update when we get home tonight. Please pray that God would have the doctor's hands be accurate and quick. It's about a four hour procedure. We greatly appreciate your prayers.
Picture of our Princess, Pt 1
Elizabeth Blair Hutchison6 lbs. 7 oz.
19.25 inches long
born 6:25 pm on June 22, 2005
one hour old and already smiling
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
1 hour Countdown
Our appointment is in an hour in the Family Birth Center of Southwest Washington Medical Center. Both of us are as nervous as freshmen the night before the first day of high school. Don't know what else to say. I'll update again when I can. Your prayers are appreciated.
Grace and peace,
Allen
Grace and peace,
Allen
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