Here is a description of the surgeries needed.
- Blalock-Taussig shunt
The first operation creates a pathway for blood to reach the lungs. A connection is made between the first artery that branches off the aorta (called the right subclavian artery) and the right pulmonary artery. Some of the blood traveling through the aorta towards the body will "shunt" through this connection and flow into the pulmonary artery to receive oxygen. However, the child will still have some degree of cyanosis since oxygen-poor (blue) blood from the right atrium and oxygen-rich (red) blood from the left side of the heart mix and flow through the aorta to the body.
- Glenn shunt
A second operation, often performed at about 4 to 12 months of age, replaces the Blalock-Taussig shunt with another connection to the pulmonary artery. In this operation, the Blalock-Taussig shunt is removed, and the superior vena cava (the large vein that brings oxygen-poor blood from the head and arms back to the heart) is connected to the right pulmonary artery. Blood from the head and arms passively flows into the pulmonary artery and proceeds to the lungs to receive oxygen. However, oxygen-poor (blue) blood returning to the heart from the lower body through the inferior vena cava will still mix with oxygen-rich (red) blood in the left heart and travel to the body, so the child will remain mildly cyanotic. This operation helps create some of the connections necessary for the final operation, the Fontan procedure.
- Fontan procedure
This operation is often performed at about 18 to 36 months of age, and allows all the oxygen-poor (blue) blood returning to the heart to passively flow into the pulmonary artery, greatly improving the oxygenation of the blood. The Glenn shunt, connecting the superior vena cava to the right atrium, is left in place. A second connection is made directing blood from the inferior vena cava to the right or main pulmonary artery. This connection can be created in slightly different variations, depending on the method your child's surgeon prefers, and what is best for your child's anatomy and heart pressures measured prior to the operation. Terms often used to describe the Fontan variations include: classic, lateral tunnel, and extra-cardiac. - http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/cardiac/ta.html
"How can I help?" This is a question that Dede and I have been hearing lately. It can be a little awkward to answer. So, I will make you a deal. I will promise not to feel guilty for asking for help if you promise not to feel obligated to do anything. While Dede and I most certainly appreciate the help that has/is being given, we certainly don't expect anyone to do anything, so if it is not your thing, that's cool, if it is, read on.
Never having done this before I am not entirely sure what we will all need but here is a list of things that I think would help in no particular order.
Scrip cards for gas, fast food, or grocery stores such as the following: Kwick Trip, BP, Subway, Taco Bell, Walmart, Festival, Pick and Save, Pig, ect.
Single serving meals that don't need to be kept frozen for the kids to eat in the van, or Dede to eat while she is in Milwaukee.
Also, snacky foods to eat in the van like jerky, or meat sticks or flavored nuts (it helps keep me awake when I drive), or something for the kids to eat.
If you are around Milwaukee the weekend of the delivery, I'd seriously love a pizza. They feed Dede but they don't feed me . . . .
Books or travel games (regular or electronic as long as there is a mute, please) for the kids to do in the van or in the hospital. Color Wonder books are good.
Reading lights.
After the first week, when my sister-in-law is gone, I will need to make arrangements for someone to watch Quintin during the school day, every day. Sebastian has pre-school out at St. Paul's Town of Forest Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the other days he will need someone to care for him as well.
If you are the out of the box type, I read that WE Energies has gift certificates.
Another item for the folks near Milwaukee you could donate blood. As I mentioned last time, I am planning on giving blood for Thaddeus'' surgery. Anyone else is invited to give also. There are some catches though. They are pickier about blood for infants. We also don't know what blood type he will be. Probably A+ or A-, so O- of course is great, O+, A+, or A- all might be good. lastly they the want blood that is at the max four days old, and even better is two days old. So you have to give right around the time of the surgery, which hasn't been scheduled yet.
Assuming that Dede does in fact get a room at the Ronald McDonald house, you could give money to them in our name to cover the daily fee, or just to help out what they do.
Diapers are always a good thing.
Meals that can be frozen and then put right into the oven (or grill, like pre-made hamburgers and buns), or out of a box would be good. I enjoy, and do quite a bit of the cooking, so that isn't the problem, but I am anticipating time being an issue. So anything that is quick to prepare is good.
That is all I can think of for now, but if you know something I don't know, anything is appreciated. The only other thing is to ask for your continued prayers. As some of you know, one possible meaning for Thaddeus is heart, the other possible meaning is God's gift. Some of you have been praying for a miracle. The fact that he is here at all, that we know what is up with his heart and that he has a fairly good chance to survive are three miracles that have happened already. Whatever happens we thank God for giving us Thaddeus and the time we have with him no matter how long it may be. So do one last thing for me, tell God, thanks for me.
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