We received a call from Caden’s cardiologist at about 6:15PM this evening. It was great that Sherry and I were both at home so that we could talk to him together. Here is the scoop from Caden’s cardiologist.
The heart surgeon wants more information before proceeding with an open-heart surgery. The surgeon wants more accurate readings of the blood pressures inside the veins and arteries as well as inside of Caden’s heart. He wants this information gathered via a catheter. A catheter can give a much more accurate reading of the pressures on either side of a heart valve or a stenosis (narrowing) of an artery. The catheterization is expected to help the surgeon understand if the bicuspid aortic valve was causing any or all of the pressure differentials that led to the diagnosis of the Supra Valvar Aortic Stenosis. They will put Caden to sleep and then run a catheter up an artery to Caden’s heart, likely from a leg. They plan to approach this procedure with caution due to the low oxygen saturation numbers during the sedated echo cardiogram on Feb. 14. A normal trip to the cath-lab allows for the patient to go home the same day.
The cardiologist did not give us a date or time for this catheterization, but he expects it will be in the next couple of weeks. He did not give any indication that this procedure was being done to rule out the need for open-heart surgery. He did say that Caden’s surgery is still classified as urgent as opposed to elective or emergent. He said that this catheterization will help the surgeon go into the surgery with as much information as possible so that he can have a good solid plan from the start.
We believe that this is just one more chance for God to show his miraculous healing power. We are believing for a miracle cure for Caden. We stand on Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (NIV)
Friends, I can not impress upon you enough how this scripture has proven true over the past several weeks. We have asked in prayer for specific needs to be filled, believed, and have been absolutely amazed at how creative God has been at answering our prayers. A miracle cure is there for Caden. I am sure the manifestation of the healing will be just as creative as the other miracles we have recently witnessed. Please join us in asking in prayer, believing, and then we shall receive.
March 22nd, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Osbourne family,
Just wanted you to know that our hearts cry out to the heavens on your behalf. We know God has something great in store for you but understand that there is no way to be at complete peace when enduring a situation like this.
God, give them peace, give them serenity, and give them wisdom.
We love you,
CJ and the Jeffcoat’s
May 26th, 2006 at 8:41 am
[...] The heart surgeon took a look at Caden’s file and decided he wanted a heart catheter done for diagnostic purposes. The surgeon’s secretary called us and said that the cardiologist would contact us in a few days. This was the first time that anyone mentioned a heart catheter. The cardiologist did call within 24 hours and told us that the surgeon wanted some more information on Caden’s anatomy in that area of his heart. There was some concern about the proximity of the coronary arteries to the area where the repair of the aorta was needed. Three days later we had Caden in for the heart catheter. [...]