GREAT RESULTS!!!!

After only 2 1/2 hours in the cath lab, my pager beeped. My first thought was, this can't be good, as they led me into a small conference room. The cath lab cardiologist came in and said... and I quote... "We're finished! It couldn't have gone better! His pressures are beautiful, pretty close to perfect for Glenn* pressures. I'm not sure if it's the medications, or if it was something we did in the cath, but we were surprised. With pressures like these, at close to 4 yrs of age, these are Fontan* pressures good! His heart function is mild-moderately decreased, not aweful. "

*Fontan is the third stage surgery for HLHS kids. Owen's heart pressures and function were not good enough to tolerate this surgery, and may still not be. Only time will tell. What this means is that, transplant could be in a more distant future!!!

After jumping up and down, and maybe screaming a little, I was brought back to recovery to see Mister Owen. He was happy until he saw me and then he lost it. Poor guy. He was so sad and in pain. He had wraps keeping his legs straight, so he didn't bleed out of the cath sites in his groin. An IV and board on his right arm, and a blood pressure cuff on his left arm.

After an IV dose of Fentanyl, he was feeling groovy. I left to go grab some lunch and found Victoria, Moriah's mom. She was so sweet to help me with Owen, push the stroller to his post op room in the "short stay area". It was great to meet you Victoria and we can't wait to meet Moriah!!

We were brought to a tiny little room that we share with patients getting IV infusions. On the way, Owen's left groin bled out... everywhere. He was in pain and screaming as the nurse was applying pressure to his already sore leg to stop the bleeding. I couldn't hold it and it was just plain aweful. He was given Motrin for pain, some chicken broth and just now started his Pediasure.

I just signed the consent to get Owen a big bed so that I can cuddle him tonight. We should have this room to ourselves tonight and be discharged first thing in the morning.

I am still smiling from our great cath results! We'll meet with Dr Rosenthal in the morning and hear the next plan of action. I'm pretty sure H-O-M-E is what's next, and in time for Halloween!!

Thank you for all your prayers and love! We met another family in the operating waiting area, their little girl, Abigail, was flown here from Salt Lake and had a pretty big open heart surgery this morning. Keep this sweet family in your prayers. It was 21 months ago, but I still remember the feeling of sitting in the waiting area during Owen's first open heart surgery like it was yesterday.

((HUGS from Palo Alto))